Labcorp Holdings 10-K 2023-12-31
Filed 2024-02-26. 23 sections, 622K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[☒] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
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
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, $0.10 par value | LH | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [X] No [ ].
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes [ ] No [X].
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [ ].
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | ||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes ☒ No [ ].
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements
of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. [☐]
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant
to §240.10D-1(b). [☐]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [☐] No [X].
As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $17.3 billion, based on the closing price on such date of the registrant’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date: 84.1 million shares as of February 23, 2024.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K into which the document is incorporated:
Portions of the Registrant’s Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement to be filed no later than 120 days following December 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference into Part III.
Index
| Page | ||||||||
| Summary of Material Risks | 4 | |||||||
| Part I | ||||||||
| Item 1. | Business | 9 | ||||||
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 33 | ||||||
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | 48 | ||||||
| Item 1C. | Cybersecurity | 49 | ||||||
| Item 2. | Properties | 51 | ||||||
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | 52 | ||||||
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 52 | ||||||
| Part II | ||||||||
| Item 5. | Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 53 | ||||||
| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | 54 | ||||||
| Item 7. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 54 | ||||||
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 66 | ||||||
| Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 67 | ||||||
| Item 9. | [Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure](#i002b8ba57e3e4b34b4b16f2f9dc2c7e6 |
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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investors should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this Annual Report, including the following risk factors, before deciding to invest in any of the Company’s securities. The risks below are not the only ones that the Company faces. Additional risks not presently known to the Company, or that it presently deems immaterial, may also negatively impact the Company. The Company’s business, consolidated financial condition, revenues, results of operations, profitability, reputation or cash flows could be materially impacted by any of these factors.
Risks Related to the Company's Business Including Global Economic and Sociopolitical Factors
General or macro-economic factors in the U.S. and globally may have a material adverse effect upon the Company, and significant fluctuations in global economic conditions and an increase in the costs of goods and services could negatively impact testing volumes, drug development services, cash collections, profitability, and the availability and cost of credit.
The Company’s operations are dependent upon ongoing demand for diagnostic testing and drug development services by
patients, physicians, hospitals, MCOs, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies and others. Fluctuations in global economic conditions, including inflation and the risk of short- or long-term recessions, could negatively impact demand for diagnostic testing and drug development services, the ability of customers to pay for the Company's services, and the Company’s profitability. In addition, uncertainty in the credit markets and interest rate volatility could reduce the availability and increase the cost of credit and impact the Company’s ability to meet its financing needs in the future.
Operations may be disrupted and adversely impacted by the effects of adverse weather, natural disasters, geopolitical events, public health crises, hostilities or acts of terrorism, acts of vandalism, disruption to supply chains, inaccessibility of natural resources, and other events beyond the Company's control.
Natural disasters, such as adverse weather, fires, earthquakes, power shortages and outages, geopolitical events, such as terrorism, war, political instability, or other conflict, public health crises and disease epidemics and pandemics, criminal activities, disruptions to supply chains, inaccessibility of natural resources, and other disruptions or events beyond the Company’s control could negatively affect the Company’s operations. Any of these events may result in a temporary decline of testing volumes and other work in both segments. In addition, such events may temporarily interrupt the Company’s ability to transport specimens, efficiently commence, continue, or complete its work on studies, utilize information technology systems, utilize certain laboratories, and/or to receive material from its suppliers. Such events can also affect customer operations and thereby impact testing volume. Long-term disruptions in the infrastructure and operations caused by such events (particularly involving locations in which the Company has operations), could harm the Company's operating results.
An inability to attract, retain, and develop experienced and qualified personnel, including key management personnel, and increased personnel costs, could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The loss of key management personnel or the inability to attract, retain, and develop experienced and qualified employees, at the Company’s clinical laboratories, drug development, and diagnostic facilities, and increased costs related to such personnel and employees, could adversely affect the business. The success of the Company is dependent in part on the efforts of key members of its management team. Success in maintaining the Company’s leadership position in genomic and other advanced testing and diagnostic technologies will depend in part on the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled research professionals. In addition, the success of the Company’s early discovery, clinical, and commercial laboratories also depend on employing and retaining qualified and experienced professionals, including specialists, who perform laboratory research activities and testing services. The same is true for patient-facing staff with specialized training required to perform activities related to specimen collection or clinical research activities. In the future, if competition for the services of these professionals increases, the Company may not be able to continue to attract and retain individuals in its markets. Changes in key management, or the ability to attract, develop, and retain qualified personnel, as a result of increased competition for talent, wage growth, or other market factors, could lead to strategic and operational challenges and uncertainties, distractions of management from other key initiatives, and inefficiencies and increased costs, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Continued changes in healthcare reimbursement models and products (e.g., health insurance exchanges), changes in government payment and reimbursement systems, or changes in payer mix, including an increase in third-party benefits management and value-based payment models, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's revenues, profitability and cash flow.
Diagnostics Laboratories' (Dx) testing services are billed to MCOs, Medicare, Medicaid, physicians and physician groups, hospitals, patients, and employer groups. 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 MCOs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s revenues.
The Company serves many MCOs. These organizations have different contracting philosophies, which are influenced by the design of their products. Some MCOs contract with a limited number of clinical laboratories and engage in direct negotiation of rates. Other MCOs adopt broader networks with generally uniform fee structures for participating clinical laboratories. In some cases, those fee structures are specific to independent clinical laboratories, while the fees paid to hospital-based and physician-office laboratories may be different, and are typically higher. MCOs may also offer Managed Medicare or Managed Medicaid plans. In addition, an increasing number of MCOs are implementing, directly or through third parties, various types of laboratory benefit management programs that may include laboratory networks, utilization management tools (such as prior authorization and/or prior notification), and claims edits, which may impact coverage or reimbursement for commercial laboratory tests. Some of these programs address commercial laboratory testing broadly, while others are focused on certain types of testing such as molecular, genetic and toxicology testing. An increase in the use of such programs could lead to increased denial of claims, extended appeals, and reduced revenue.
Some MCOs use capitation rates to fix the cost of laboratory testing services for their enrollees. Under a capitated reimbursement arrangement, the clinical laboratory receives a per-member, per-month payment for an agreed upon menu of laboratory tests provided to MCO members during the month, regardless of the number of tests performed. Capitation shifts the risk of increased test utilization (and the underlying mix of testing services) to the commercial laboratory provider. The Company makes significant efforts to obtain adequate compensation for its services in its capitated arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2023, such capitated contracts accounted for approximately $369.9 million, or 3.9%, of Dx's revenues.
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Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management and Strategy
Protecting the information maintained by the Company about its patients, customers, colleagues, and partners against external and internal threats is a priority for the Company. Accordingly, the Company invests in the development and implementation of cybersecurity policies, control standards, and control procedures, including a risk management and assessment program, security and event monitoring capabilities, an incident response plan, and other detection, prevention, and protection capabilities, including practices and tools to monitor and mitigate external and insider threats. The Company engages in a risk monitoring process through its Office of Information Security (OIS) within the Information Technology organization that seeks to identify the likelihood and impact of threats to its systems and data, and assesses the effectiveness of the controls in place.
Consistent with business requirements, components of the Company’s information technology and controls are assessed by independent third parties against various frameworks and standards. With the assistance of these frameworks and standards, the Company assesses risks from cybersecurity threats, monitors its information systems for potential vulnerabilities, and assesses those systems pursuant to the Company’s cybersecurity policies, control standards, and control procedures. Mitigation of identified threats and vulnerabilities may be delayed.
The Company has implemented an Incident Response Plan (IR Plan), which is aligned to its overall crisis management program. The IR Plan provides a framework for responding to and managing cybersecurity incidents. The IR Plan identifies applicable requirements for incident response, outlines processes for any applicable reporting, as well as provides protocols for incident evaluation, processes for notification and internal escalation of information to the Company’s senior management, and the Board and/or appropriate Board committees, as applicable. The IR Plan is reviewed, tested, and updated under the leadership of the Company’s Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO) and Chief Information Risk Officer (CIRO).
The Company’s cybersecurity team also provides enterprise-wide cybersecurity training for employees to maintain and continuously improve the Company’s mitigation against human-driven risk.
Engagement with External Cybersecurity Professionals
The Company engages with third parties to assess the effectiveness of, and assist with, its cybersecurity risk and response systems and processes. These third parties include cybersecurity assessors, consultants, and other cybersecurity professionals who assist in the identification, verification, and validation of cybersecurity risks, as well as support associated mitigation or incident response plans when necessary.
Oversight of Third-Party Service Providers
The Company’s processes also are designed to evaluate the cybersecurity threat risks associated with its use of third-party service providers that have applicable levels of access to the Company’s data or information technology systems. The Company performs due diligence on third parties that have access to its systems, data, or facilities that house such systems or data, and it monitors cybersecurity threat risks identified through such due diligence.
Cybersecurity Incident Impact
The Company describes whether and how risks from identified cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect it, including its business and operating results, financial condition, and impact on the Company’s reputation and customer relationships, under the Summary of Material Risks section of this Annual Report, and under the “Risks Related to Technology and Cybersecurity” heading and subheadings thereunder in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report, which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein.
In July 2018, the Company experienced a ransomware incident which affected certain Dx information technology systems. The incident also temporarily affected certain other information technology systems involved in conducting Company-wide operations. An investigation determined that the ransomware did not and could not transfer patient or client data outside of Company systems and that there was no theft or misuse of patient or client data. This incident did not have a material effect on the Company.
On May 14, 2019, Retrieval-Masters Credit Bureau, Inc. d/b/a/ American Medical Collections Agency (AMCA), an external collection agency, notified the Company about a security incident AMCA experienced that may have involved certain personal information about some of the Company's patients (the AMCA Incident). The Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation related to the AMCA Incident, as well as various government and regulatory inquiries and processes. For additional information about the AMCA Incident, see Note 15 Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Cybersecurity" and “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Technology and Cybersecurity”.
Governance
The Company’s board of directors has oversight responsibility for the Company’s enterprise risk management process and it delegates oversight responsibility for certain significant functional areas of risk management to the board’s committees. The Audit Committee of the board of directors is responsible for oversight and review of the Company’s cybersecurity and other information technology risks, controls, and procedures, including the potential impact of such risks on the Company’s business, financial results, operations, and reputation, as well as the Company’s plans to mitigate cybersecurity risks and to respond to cybersecurity incidents.
The CIRO and CITO routinely present cybersecurity reports to the Audit Committee at its regularly scheduled meetings. These reports may address cyber risks and threats, the status of projects to strengthen the Company’s information security systems, assessments of the Company’s security program, prior incidents, and the emerging cyber threat landscape. In addition, the full Board receives briefings from the CIRO and CITO on at least an annual basis.
Management is responsible for day-to-day assessment and oversight of cybersecurity risks. At the senior management level, the CITO is responsible for overseeing the Company’s information technology systems, technology capabilities, and cybersecurity practices. The CITO has more than 30 years of experience working in information technology-related roles and is a member of the Company’s executive leadership team and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining the Company, the CITO held various chief information officer roles with global companies.
The CIRO, under the direction of the CITO, is responsible for overseeing the OIS. In this role, the CIRO oversees the cyber risk management function, which identifies cybersecurity threats, assesses cybersecurity risks, and supports the CITO and the Company in managing such risks. The CIRO has over 30 years of experience in information security, and prior to joining the Company held various chief information security officer roles, including seven years at a global healthcare company. The CIRO has also served on the board of directors of Health-ISAC, an organization of critical infrastructure owners and operators within the health and public health sectors.
The CITO and CIRO together lead efforts to design, implement and operate controls deemed appropriate for the management of Company information assets and systems. OIS manages the policies, control procedures, and control standards designed to identify, detect, protect against, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats and cybersecurity incidents. This group includes a cybersecurity operations team that is responsible for the information technology security monitoring and incident response activities, the latter covering the response coordination to cybersecurity incidents under the leadership and pursuant to the direction of the CIRO. OIS also oversees the Company’s cybersecurity training program for employees.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Burlington, North Carolina, and include facilities that are both owned and leased.
Labcorp Diagnostics (Dx) operates through a network of patient service centers, branches, rapid response laboratories, primary laboratories, and specialty laboratories. The table below summarizes certain information as to Dx's principal operating and administrative facilities as of December 31, 2023.
| Location | Nature of Occupancy | ||||
| Primary Facilities: | |||||
| Birmingham, Alabama | Leased | ||||
| Phoenix, Arizona | Owned | ||||
| Los Angeles, California | Leased | ||||
| Monrovia, California | Leased | ||||
| San Diego, California | Leased | ||||
| San Francisco, California | Leased | ||||
| Shelton, Connecticut | Leased | ||||
| Tampa, Florida | Leased | ||||
| South Bend, Indiana | Leased | ||||
| Wichita, Kansas | Leased | ||||
| Baltimore, Maryland | Leased | ||||
| Westborough, Massachusetts | Leased | ||||
| Troy, Michigan | Leased | ||||
| St. Paul, Minnesota | Owned | ||||
| Raritan, New Jersey | Owned | ||||
| Burlington, North Carolina (5) | Owned/Leased | ||||
| Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (3) | Leased | ||||
| Dublin, Ohio | Owned | ||||
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | Leased | ||||
| Brentwood, Tennessee | Leased | ||||
| Dallas, Texas | Leased | ||||
| Houston, Texas | Leased | ||||
| Herndon, Virginia | Leased | ||||
| Seattle, Washington | Leased | ||||
| Spokane, Washington (2) | Leased | ||||
| Oak Creek, Wisconsin | Leased |
Biopharma Laboratory Services (BLS) operates on a global scale. The table below summarizes certain information as to BLS's principal operating and administrative facilities as of December 31, 2023.
| Location | Nature of Occupancy | ||||
| Primary Facilities: | |||||
| Mechelen, Belgium | Leased | ||||
| Shanghai, China (2) | Leased/Owned | ||||
| Muenster, Germany | Owned | ||||
| Bangalore, India | Leased | ||||
| Kawagoe, Japan | Leased | ||||
| Singapore | Leased | ||||
| Geneva, Switzerland (2) | Owned/Leased | ||||
| Eye, United Kingdom | Owned | ||||
| Harrogate, United Kingdom | Owned | ||||
| Huntingdon, United Kingdom | Owned | ||||
| Shardlow, United Kingdom | Owned | ||||
| York, United Kingdom | Leased | ||||
| Los Angeles, California | Leased | ||||
| Greenfield, Indiana | Owned | ||||
| Indianapolis, Indiana | Leased | ||||
| Bedford, Massachusetts | Owned | ||||
| Ann Arbor, Michigan | Leased | ||||
| Somerset, New Jersey | Owned | ||||
| Denver, Pennsylvania | Leased | ||||
| Brentwood, Tennessee | Leased | ||||
| Chantilly, Virginia | Leased | ||||
| Madison, Wisconsin | Owned |
All of the Company’s primary facilities have been built or improved for the purpose of providing commercial laboratory testing or biopharma laboratory services. The Company believes that these existing facilities and plans for expansion are suitable and adequate and will provide sufficient production capacity for the Company's currently foreseeable level of operations. The Company believes that if it were unable to renew a lease or if a lease were to be terminated on any of the facilities it presently leases, it could find alternate space at competitive market rates and readily relocate its operations to such new locations without material disruption to its operations.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 15 Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
The Company's common stock, par value $0.10 per share, or Common Stock, trades on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE under the symbol “LH.”
Holders
On February 23, 2024, there were approximately 1,188 holders of record of the Common Stock.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for the Company's Common Stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, 48 Wall Street, Floor 23, New York, NY 10005, telephone: 800-468-9716, website: www.https://equiniti.com/us/.
Dividends
The Company initiated a quarterly dividend beginning in the second quarter of 2022. The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on earnings from operations, the adequacy of capital and the availability of liquid assets for distribution.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $254.0 million in Common Stock dividends. The Company expects common dividend declarations, if made, to occur in January, April, July, and October with payment dates in March, June, September and December, and are subject to Board approval. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends at the current rate or at all.
Common Stock Performance
The graph below shows the cumulative total return assuming an investment of $100 on December 31, 2018, in each of the Company’s Common Stock, the Standard & Poor’s, or S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Health Care Index, and assuming that all dividends were reinvested. For the purpose of this graph, the distribution of 100% of the outstanding Common Stock of Fortrea Holdings Inc. (Fortrea) to the Company's shareholders, pursuant to which Fortrea became an independent company, is treated as a non-taxable cash dividend of $33.11 per share, an amount equal to the opening price of Fortrea Common Stock when it began trading on June 20, 2023, that was deemed reinvested in the Company’s Common Stock at the closing price on June 20, 2023.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
| 12/2018 | 12/2019 | 12/2020 | 12/2021 | 12/2022 | 12/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $ | 100.00 | $ | 133.88 | $ | 161.09 | $ | 248.66 | $ | 187.97 | $ | 213.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 131.49 | $ | 155.68 | $ | 200.37 | $ | 164.08 | $ | 207.21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Health Care Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 120.82 | $ | 137.07 | $ | 172.89 | $ | 169.51 | $ | 173.00 |

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (all amounts in millions, except per share amounts)
The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases of shares of the Company’s Common Stock made during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, by or on behalf of the Company:
| Total Number of Shares Repurchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program | Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Repurchased Under the Program | ||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 - October 31 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 531.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 1 - November 30 | — | — | — | 531.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 1 - December 31 | 1.1 | 206.85 | 1.1 | 530.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1.1 | $ | 206.85 | 1.1 | $ | 530.4 |
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company purchased 4.8 shares of its Common Stock at an average price per share of $206.85 for a total cost of $1,000.0. When the Company repurchases shares, the amount paid to repurchase the shares in excess of the par or stated value is allocated to additional paid-in-capital unless subject to limitation or the balance in additional paid-in-capital is exhausted. Remaining amounts are recognized as a reduction in retained earnings. At the end of 2023, the Company had outstanding authorization from the Board to purchase up to $530.4 of the Company's Common Stock. The repurchase authorization has no expiration date.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company purchased 4.7 shares of its Common Stock at an average price per share of $233.48 for a total cost of $1,100.0. When the Company repurchases shares, the amount paid to repurchase the shares in excess of the par or stated value is allocated to additional paid-in-capital unless subject to limitation or the balance in additional paid-in-capital is exhausted. Remaining amounts are recognized as a reduction in retained earnings.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (all amounts in millions, except per share amounts or as otherwise noted)
General
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company's revenues from continuing operations were $12.2 billion, an increase of 2.5% from $11.9 billion in 2022. The 2.5% increase in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the corresponding period in 2022 was due to acquisitions, net of divestitures of 1.7%, organic revenue of 0.6%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 0.2%. The 0.6% increase in organic revenue was due to an 8.7% increase in the
Company's organic Base Business (Base Business includes the Company's business operations except for COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing (COVID-19 Testing)), partially offset by an 8.1% decrease in COVID-19 Testing.
The Company defines organic growth as the increase in revenue excluding the year over year impact of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency. Acquisition and divestiture impact is considered for a twelve-month period following the close of each transaction.
On June 30, 2023, the Company completed the previously announced spin-off of Fortrea from the Company.
The spin-off of Fortrea was achieved through the Company’s pro-rata distribution of 100% of the outstanding shares of Fortrea Common Stock to holders of record of Labcorp Common Stock. Each holder of record of Labcorp Common Stock received one share of Fortrea Common Stock for every share of Labcorp Common Stock held at 5:00 p.m., Burlington, North Carolina time on June 20, 2023, the record date for the distribution.
In June 2023, Fortrea, prior to the spin-off and while a subsidiary of the Company, issued $570.0 of 7.500% senior secured notes due 2030 (the Fortrea Notes). The proceeds from the Fortrea Notes were used to fund cash payments of approximately $1,600.0 to the Company in connection with the spin-off. The Company does not guarantee the Fortrea Notes following the spin-off. Also in June 2023, Fortrea Holdings Inc. entered into three floating secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) credit facilities totaling $1,520.0. These are comprised of $450.0 Revolver maturing June 30, 2028; $500.0 Term Loan A maturing June 30, 2028; and $570.0 Term Loan B maturing June 30, 2030.
Upon closing of the spin-off transaction, Fortrea made a cash distribution to the Company of approximately $1,600.0 as partial consideration for the assets that the Company contributed to Fortrea in connection with the spin-off. The Company used these proceeds toward a 1000.0 accelerated share repurchase program and paying down $300.0 of debt that matured in 2023, with the remaining funds to be returned to shareholders through additional future share repurchases and/or cash dividends.
All current and historical operating results of Fortrea are presented as Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the consolidated statement of operations. The spin-off is expected to be treated as tax-free for the Company and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
As a result of the spin-off of Fortrea, the Company recast segment results to exclude the historical results of the CDCS business for all periods presented. The remaining operations of the previously reported Drug Development segment has been renamed the Biopharma Laboratory Services segment.
Following the spin-off, the Company believes that it is positioned to:
-
invest in R&D and innovation to develop and launch diagnostic advancements globally in key clinical areas including oncology, women's health, autoimmune disease and neurology through organic and inorganic opportunities;
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utilize its worldwide laboratory network to serve a broad, growing and global customer base including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, physicians, health systems, consumers, and other start-ups and laboratories that require lab services or diagnostic testing; and
-
launch innovative tests globally, providing patients, physicians, health systems and pharmaceutical companies with access to its advanced science, technology and diagnostic capabilities.
Results of Operations
The following tables present the financial measures that management considers to be the most significant indicators of the Company's performance.
Years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Revenues
| Years Ended December 31, | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dx | $ | 9,415.1 | $ | 9,203.5 | $ | 10,363.6 | 2.3 | % | (11.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| BLS | 2,774.2 | 2,697.3 | 2,860.7 | 2.9 | % | (5.7) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intercompany eliminations | (27.7) | (36.9) | (88.2) | (24.9) | % | (58.2) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,161.6 | $ | 11,863.9 | $ | 13,136.1 | 2.5 | % | (9.7) | % |
The 2.5% increase in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the corresponding period in 2022 was due to acquisitions, net of divestitures of 1.7%, organic revenue of 0.6%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 0.2%. The 0.6% increase in organic revenue was due to an 8.7% increase in the Company's organic Base Business, partially offset by an 8.1% decrease in COVID-19 Testing.
Dx revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $9,415.1, an increase of 2.3% compared to revenues of $9,203.5 in the corresponding period in 2022. The increase was due to acquisitions of 2.3% and higher organic revenue of 0.2%, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation of 0.2%. The 0.2% increase in organic revenue was due to a 10.7% contribution from organic Base Business, partially offset by a 10.5% decrease in COVID-19 Testing. Total Base Business growth compared to the Base Business in the prior year was 14.6%.
Total volume, measured by requisitions, increased by 0.6% as acquisition volume contributed growth of 2.5% and organic volume decreased by 1.9%. Organic volume was impacted by a 6.6% decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 4.8% increase in Base Business. Price/mix increased by 1.7% due to higher Base Business of 5.9%, partially offset by lower COVID-19 Testing of 3.8%, unfavorable foreign currency translation of 0.2%, and acquisitions of (0.2%).
BLS revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $2,774.2, an increase of 2.9% over revenues of $2,697.3 in the corresponding period in 2022. The increase in revenues was primarily due to organic Base Business growth of 1.6% and favorable foreign currency translation of 1.5%, partially offset by divestitures, net of acquisitions of (0.3%). BLS backlog expected to convert to revenue in the next 12 months is $2,470.0 or 30.0%.
The 9.7% decrease in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the corresponding period in 2021 was due to lower organic revenue of 10.0% and unfavorable foreign currency translation of 0.7%, partially offset by acquisitions net of divestitures of 1.0%. The 10.0% decrease in organic revenue was due to a 12.3% decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 2.3% increase in the Company's organic Base Business.
Dx revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $9,203.5, a decrease of 11.2% compared to revenues of $10,363.6 in the corresponding period in 2021. The decrease was primaril
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Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK (dollar in millions)
Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and other relevant market rate or price changes. In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in foreign currency exchange and interest rates, and the Company regularly evaluates the exposure to such changes. The Company addresses its exposure to market risks, principally the market risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and 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 forward contracts, cross currency swaps and interest rate swap agreements. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
Approximately 12.9% and 13.8% of the Company's revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (USD). The Company's financial statements are reported in USD and, accordingly, fluctuations in exchange rates will affect the translation of revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies into USD for purposes of reporting the Company's consolidated financial results. In both 2023 and 2022, the most significant currency exchange rate exposures were to the Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, euro and British pound. Excluding the impacts from any outstanding or future hedging transactions, a hypothetical change of 10% in average exchange rates used to translate all foreign currencies to USD would have impacted income before income taxes for 2023 by approximately $24.1. Gross accumulated currency translation adjustments recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity were $183.1 and $(336.4) at December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company does not have significant operations in countries in which the economy is considered to be highly inflationary.
The Company earns revenue from service contracts over a period of several months and, in some cases, over a period of several years. Accordingly, exchange rate fluctuations during this period may affect the Company's profitability with respect to such contracts. The Company is also subject to foreign currency transaction risk for fluctuations in exchange rates during the period of time between the consummation and cash settlement of transactions. The Company limits its foreign currency transaction risk through exchange rate fluctuation provisions stated in some of its contracts with customers, or it may hedge transaction risk with foreign currency forward contracts. At December 31, 2023, the Company had 9 open foreign exchange forward contracts with various amounts maturing monthly through January 2024 with a notional value totaling approximately $305.8. At December 31, 2022, the Company had 27 open foreign exchange forward contracts with various amounts maturing monthly through January 2023 with a notional value totaling approximately $629.5.
The Company is party to USD to Swiss Franc cross-currency swap agreements with a notional amount of $600.0, maturing in 2024 and 2025, as a hedge against the impact of foreign exchange movements on its net investment in its Swiss Franc functional currency subsidiary.
Interest Rates
Some of the Company's debt is subject to interest at variable rates. As a result, fluctuations in interest rates affect the Company's financial results. The Company attempts to manage interest rate risk and overall borrowing costs through an appropriate mix of fixed and variable rate debt including the utilization of derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps.
Borrowings under the Company's term loan credit facilities and revolving credit facility are subject to variable interest rates, unless fixed through interest rate swaps or other agreements.
In May, 2021, to hedge against changes in the fair value portion of the Company's long-term debt, the Company entered into fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements for the 2.70% senior notes due 2031 with an aggregate notional value of $500.0 and variable interest rates based on three-month LIBOR (changed to SOFR in 2023) plus 1.0706%.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements of the Company required in this item are set forth beginning on page F-1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, the Company carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no 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 quarter ended December 31, 2023, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
The internal control over financial reporting at the Company was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
-
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
-
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.;
-
provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of the Company; and
-
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
The Company's management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework 2013” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, the Company's management determined that, as of December 31, 2023, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board.
Deloitte and Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who audited and reported on the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this Annual Report, also audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, as stated in its report, which is included herein immediately preceding the Company’s audited financial statements.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Insider Adoption or Termination of Trading Arrangements:
During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company's directors or officers informed it of the adoption, modification or termination of a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as those terms are defined in Regulation S-K, Item 408, except as described in the table below:
| Name and Title | Date Adopted | Character of Trading Agreement | Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock to be (Sold) Purchased Pursuant to Trading Agreement | Duration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark S. Schroeder | 12/7/2023 | Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement | Up to | (17,044) | (1) (2) | 12/6/2024 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President, Diagnostics Laboratories and Chief Operations Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amy B. Summy | 12/7/2023 | Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement | Up to | (4,916) | (1) (2) | 4/1/2024 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Marketing Officer |
(1) The figure presented represents the shares to be sold on the vesting of equity awards before reduction for shares to be withheld for tax purposes.
(2) Mr. Schroeder’s plan provides for the exercise of vested stock options and the associated sale of up to 2,119 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.
(3) This trading arrangement permits transactions through and including the earlier to occur of (a) the completion of all sales on the respective order entry date or (b) the date listed in the table.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by the item regarding directors is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2024 (the 2024 Proxy Statement) under the caption Election of Directors. Information regarding executive officers is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2024 Proxy Statement under the caption Executive Officers. Information concerning the Company’s Audit Committee, including the designation of audit committee financial experts is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2024 Proxy Statement under the captions Corporate Governance and Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports, respectively. Information concerning the Company's code of ethics is incorporated by reference to the Company's 2024 Proxy Statement under the caption Corporate Governance Policies and Procedures.
Insider Trading Arrangements and Policies:
The Company is committed to promoting high standards of ethical business conduct and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. As part of this commitment, the Company has adopted the Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of its securities by the Company's directors, officers, employees and designated contractors, as well as by Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings itself, that the Company believes is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and the exchange listing standards applicable to us.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation.”
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
See Note 14 Stock Compensation Plans to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the Company’s Stock Compensation Plans. Except for the above referenced footnote, the information called for by this item is incorporated by reference to information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Holders and Management,” “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the captions “Board Independence” and “Related Party Transactions.”
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the caption “Fees to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) List of documents filed as part of this Annual Report:
| (1) | Consolidated Financial Statements and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included herein: | ||||
| See Index on page F-1 | |||||
| (2) | Financial Statement Schedules: | ||||
| All schedules are omitted as they are inapplicable or the required information is furnished in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto. | |||||
| (3) | Index to and List of Exhibits | ||||
| 21** | List of Subsidiaries of the Company | ||||
| 23.1** | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm | ||||
| 24.1** | Power of Attorney of Kerrii B. Anderson | ||||
| 24.2** | Power of Attorney of Jean-Luc Bélingard | ||||
| 24.3** | Power of Attorney of Jeffrey A. Davis | ||||
| 24.4** | Power of Attorney of D. Gary Gilliland, M.D., Ph.D. | ||||
| 24.5** | Power of Attorney of Kirsten M. Kliphouse | ||||
| 24.6** | Power of Attorney of Garheng Kong, M.D., Ph.D. | ||||
| 24.7** | Power of Attorney of Peter M. Neupert | ||||
| 24.8** | Power of Attorney of Richelle P. Parham | ||||
| 24.9** | Power of Attorney of Paul B. Rothman, M.D. | ||||
| 24.10** | Power of Attorney of Kathryn E. Wengel | ||||
| 24.11** | Power of Attorney of R. Sanders Williams, M.D. | ||||
| 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) | ||||
| 97** | Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy, effective October 11, 2023 | ||||
| 101.INS** | Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||
| 101.SCH** | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | ||||
| 101.CAL** | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | ||||
| 101.DEF** | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | ||||
| 101.LAB** | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase | ||||
| 101.PRE** | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | ||||
| 104** | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||
| + | Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements | ||||
| † | Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request. | ||||
| * | Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2)(ii) and Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K, as applicable. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of the exhibit to the Commission upon its request. | ||||
| ** | Filed or furnished herewith, as required |
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
Registrant
| By: | /s/ ADAM H. SCHECHTER | ||||||||||
| Adam H. Schechter | |||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
| Dated: | February 26, 2024 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant on February 26, 2024 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | |||||||
| /s/ ADAM H. SCHECHTER | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
| Adam H. Schechter | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||
| /s/ GLENN A. EISENBERG | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | |||||||
| Glenn A. Eisenberg | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||||||
| /s/ PETER J. WILKINSON | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | |||||||
| Peter J. Wilkinson | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Kerrii B. Anderson | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Jean-Luc Bélingard | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Jeffrey A. Davis | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| D. Gary Gilliland, M.D., Ph.D. | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Kirsten M. Kliphouse | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Garheng Kong, M.D., Ph.D. | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Peter M. Neupert | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Richelle Parham | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Paul B. Rothman, M. D. | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| Kathryn E. Wengel | ||||||||
| * | Director | |||||||
| R. Sanders Williams, M.D. |
- Sandra van der Vaart, by her signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this Annual Report on behalf of the directors of the Registrant after whose typed names asterisks appear, pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such directors and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| By: | /s/ Sandra van der Vaart | |||||||
| Sandra van der Vaart | ||||||||
| Attorney-in-fact |
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive earnings, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Valuation of Labcorp Diagnostics (Dx) Segment Net Accounts Receivable— Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company recognizes Dx revenue and accounts receivable net of negotiated discounts and anticipated adjustments, including historical collection experience for each of its four payer portfolios (clients, patients, Medicare & Medicaid, and third party). Management has a formal process to estimate implicit price concessions for uncollectable accounts. Anticipated write-offs are recorded as adjustments to revenue at an amount considered necessary to record revenue at its net realizable value. In addition to negotiated contractual discounts, other adjustments including anticipated payer denials and other external factors that could affect the collectability of its receivables are considered when determining revenue and the net receivable amount.
Given the significant judgment and estimates necessary to determine the net realizable value of accounts receivable related to the Dx segment, auditing such estimates required extensive audit effort and a high degree of auditor judgment when performing audit procedures and evaluating the results of those procedures.
F-2
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to Dx Net Accounts Receivable included the following, among others:
-
We tested the effectiveness of controls over the valuation of net accounts receivable.
-
We evaluated management’s methodology for recording Dx net accounts receivable by performing a retrospective comparison of actual cash collected to the prior year estimate of net accounts receivable.
-
We developed an independent estimate of net accounts receivable by taking into consideration historical collections, write-offs, and other relevant internal and external factors.
-
We tested the completeness and accuracy of underlying historical data used as an input to management’s methodology and our independent estimate.
Tax Free Spin-Off – Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
On June 30, 2023, the Company completed the spin-off of its Clinical Development and Commercialization Services business comprised of certain clinical research business units within the former Drug Development segment into a standalone, publicly traded company named Fortrea Holdings, Inc. (Fortrea). The transaction was executed by distributing shares of Fortrea to the Company’s shareholders (the “Distribution”). The Company concluded the Distribution to be a tax-free transaction for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. We identified the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be a critical audit matter because of the complexity of the interpretation and application of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), the materiality of the potential tax consequences, and the need to involve our income tax specialists when performing audit procedures to evaluate the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
With the assistance of our income tax specialists, the audit procedures we performed related to the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes included the following, among others:
-
We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Company’s conclusion that the Distribution was a tax-free transaction.
-
We inspected the Private Letter Ruling (PLR) received by the Company from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the external opinions received by the Company from third-party advisors, which were relied upon in the Company’s evaluation of whether the Distribution qualified as a tax-free transaction.
-
We evaluated the key factors addressed in the PLR and external opinions regarding the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction in comparison to the corresponding criteria prescribed by the Code, including interpretations of the Code and related statutes.
-
We evaluated the tax-free transaction materials prepared by the Company and used in its evaluation of whether the Distribution qualified as a tax-free transaction.
-
We searched for contradictory evidence regarding the qualification of the Distribution as a tax-free transaction by reading relevant documentation, such as income tax returns and historical financial, tax, and legal information, of the Company and the legal entities included in the Distribution, as applicable.
Goodwill – Reporting Unit within the BioPharma Laboratory Services (BLS) Segment – Refer to Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value of a reporting unit is estimated using both market-based valuation and income-based valuation approaches. Management’s impairment assessments utilize significant judgments and assumptions related to the market multiples selected for the market-based valuation approach and the related estimates of cash flows arising from future revenues and profitability, terminal growth rates, and the discount rate used in the income-based valuation approach.
The Company performed impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2023 and concluded that fair value was less than carrying value in its Early Development (ED) reporting unit within the BLS segment. As a result, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge in the BLS segment.
F-3
We identified goodwill for the ED reporting unit as a critical audit matter due to the significant estimates and assumptions used by management to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit. Performing audit procedures to evaluate management's estimate of fair value of the reporting unit required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the market multiples selected by management for the market-based valuation approach and management’s estimates related to the cash flows arising from future revenues and profitability, terminal growth rates, and the discount rate used in the income-based valuation approach included the following, among others:
-
We tested the effectiveness of controls over management's goodwill impairment evaluation, including those over the determination of the fair value of the reporting unit, such as controls related to management's selection of market multiples, cash flows arising from future revenues and profitability, the terminal growth rate, and the discount rate.
-
We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s forecasts by comparing the forecasts to (1) historical forecasts and the associated actual results, (2) internal communications to management, and (3) forecasted information included in analyst and industry reports for the Company and certain of its peer companies.
-
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the (1) valuation methodology, (2) the discount rate, and (3) market activity by:
◦Testing the source information underlying the determination of the discount rate and market multiples, including the mathematical accuracy of the calculations.
◦Developing a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the discount rate and market multiples selected by management.
/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
February 26, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
F-4
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
February 26, 2024
F-5
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Information
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Millions)
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 536.8 | $ | 320.6 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 1,913.3 | 1,785.5 | |||||||||
| Unbilled services | 185.4 | 211.8 | |||||||||
| Supplies inventory | 474.6 | 470.6 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other | 655.3 | 610.4 | |||||||||
| Current assets of discontinued operations | — | 1,226.1 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 3,765.4 | 4,625.0 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,911.8 | 2,794.1 | |||||||||
| Goodwill, net | 6,142.5 | 6,123.7 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 3,342.0 | 3,123.6 | |||||||||
| Joint venture partnerships and equity method investments | 26.9 | 65.7 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | — | 6.4 | |||||||||
| Other assets, net | 536.5 | 378.4 | |||||||||
| Long-term assets of discontinued operations | — | 3,038.2 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 16,725.1 | $ | 20,155.1 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 827.5 | $ | 852.2 | |||||||
| Accrued expenses and other | 804.0 | 787.0 | |||||||||
| Unearned revenue | 421.7 | 310.6 | |||||||||
| Short-term operating lease liabilities | 165.8 | 163.8 | |||||||||
| Short-term finance lease liabilities | 6.4 | 6.0 | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt | 999.8 | 301.3 | |||||||||
| Current liabilities of discontinued operations | — | 657.6 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 3,225.2 | 3,078.5 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 4,054.7 | 5,038.8 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 648.9 | 652.9 | |||||||||
| Financing lease liabilities | 78.6 | 83.6 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities | 417.9 | 543.4 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 409.3 | 401.1 | |||||||||
| Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations | — | 241.3 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 8,834.6 | 10,039.6 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | 15.5 | 18.9 | |||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Common stock, 83.9 and 88.2 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively | 7.7 | 8.1 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 38.4 | — | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 7,888.2 | 10,581.7 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (59.3) | (493.2) | |||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 7,875.0 | 10,096.6 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 16,725.1 | $ | 20,155.1 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 12,161.6 | $ | 11,863.9 | $ | 13,136.1 | |||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 8,796.7 | 8,155.0 | 8,143.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 3,364.9 | 3,708.9 | 4,992.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 2,021.4 | 1,763.1 | 1,690.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangibles and other assets | 219.8 | 193.6 | 229.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill and other asset impairments | 349.0 | 261.7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and other charges | 49.1 | 54.0 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 725.6 | 1,436.5 | 3,048.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (199.6) | (179.8) | (211.8) | ||||||||||||||
| Investment income | 28.8 | 7.5 | 8.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity method (loss) income, net | (1.4) | 5.4 | 26.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 15.5 | (32.2) | 15.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes | 568.9 | 1,237.4 | 2,887.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 188.5 | 233.9 | 690.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations | 380.4 | 1,003.5 | 2,197.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax | 38.8 | 277.1 | 181.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | 419.2 | 1,280.6 | 2,379.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest | (1.2) | (1.5) | (2.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $ | 418.0 | $ | 1,279.1 | $ | 2,377.3 | |||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share continuing operations | $ | 4.35 | $ | 11.00 | $ | 22.71 | |||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share discontinued operations | $ | 0.45 | $ | 3.04 | $ | 1.88 | |||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share | $ | 4.80 | $ | 14.05 | $ | 24.60 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share continuing operations | $ | 4.33 | $ | 10.94 | $ | 22.52 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share discontinued operations | $ | 0.44 | $ | 3.03 | $ | 1.87 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 4.77 | $ | 13.97 | $ | 24.39 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 |
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