Express Scripts Announces 2018 First Quarter Results

ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Scripts Holding Company (Nasdaq: ESRX) announced consolidated 2018 first quarter net income of $623.2 million or $1.10 per diluted share. Consolidated 2018 first quarter adjusted earnings per diluted share was $1.77.* The Company reaffirms its core business¹ 2018 adjusted EBITDA* guidance in the range of $5,250 million to $5,400 million, which represents growth of 8% over core business 2017 adjusted EBITDA at the midpoint of the range.  

"Our first quarter results reflect our success in driving greater value for clients, delivering better health outcomes for patients and growth in earnings for shareholders," said Tim Wentworth, President and CEO.  "Express Scripts' focused business model, our innovative solutions and unmatched clinical care showcase our ability to be a leader in drug trend management and deliver the healthcare changes our country needs to improve care, increase choice and reduce cost. With our expected combination with Cigna, and the addition of eviCore, we are uniquely well positioned to transform healthcare for years to come."       

Business Outlook

On March 8, 2018, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Cigna Corporation ("Cigna") and certain subsidiaries of Cigna, whereby Cigna will acquire Express Scripts in a cash and stock transaction.  The merger is expected to be completed by December 31, 2018.  Until the closing, Express Scripts will continue to operate as an independent company.  

The Company is reaffirming its expected 2019 retention rate range for the 2018 selling season of 96% to 98%.  "Across the board, we are demonstrating strength: our retention rate, continued client uptake of new solutions, and strong selling season results. Over the past several weeks, as I have talked to many clients, one clear theme has emerged: we are a trusted partner, our solutions are in demand, and our approach to managing benefits produces exceptional and sustainable results. Express Scripts' commitment to service excellence is at the heart of everything we do and the positive feedback we receive gives us continued confidence in our ability to attract and retain clients," said Wentworth. "Additionally, with our strong retention and year-to-date sales results, we are confident in achieving positive claims growth in the core business in 2019."

Consolidated First Quarter 2018 Review

The following compares consolidated first quarter 2018 and 2017 operating results **:

• Adjusted claims of 340.1 million, down 3%
• GAAP net income of $623.2 million, up 14%
• GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.10, up 22%
• Adjusted EBITDA of $1,540.4 million, up 3%
• Adjusted net income of $1,001.7 million, up 24%
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.77, up 33%
• Net cash flow provided by operating activities of $1,511.6 million, up 51%

Total adjusted claims in the first quarter of 2018 were down 3% from the comparable quarter in 2017 due primarily to the loss of certain public sector clients in the core business during last year's selling season, but were consistent with the Company's previously provided guidance for the quarter. 

Net income, on a GAAP and an adjusted basis, in the first quarter of 2018 was up from the comparable quarter in 2017 primarily due to reduced income tax expense.

Earnings per diluted share, on a GAAP and an adjusted basis, in the first quarter of 2018 was up from the comparable quarter in 2017 primarily due to reduced shares outstanding and reduced income tax expense.    

Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2018 was up 3% from the comparable quarter in 2017 primarily due to the inclusion of eviCore in the 2018 quarter, and to supply chain initiatives, including continued strong performance from the Company's SafeGuardRx suite of solutions and growth in our Accredo specialty pharmacy.

Net cash flow provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2018 was up 51% from the comparable quarter in 2017 due to higher net income and changes in working capital primarily related to timing of accounts payable payments. 

As previously announced, during the first quarter of 2018, the Company committed to fund $30.0 million in charitable contributions and awarded $23.2 million in non-executive bonuses as a result of federal tax reform legislation enacted in the fourth quarter of 2017.  The charitable contributions are excluded from adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share.  However, the Company did not adjust its reported results for the $23.2 million in one-time bonuses.    

The Company repurchased a total of 5.4 million shares under its share repurchase program for an aggregate of $411.3 million during the first quarter of 2018.  The Company has currently suspended its share repurchase program pursuant to the Merger Agreement with Cigna.

Core Business First Quarter 2018 Review

The following compares core business first quarter 2018 and 2017 operating results**:

• Adjusted claims of 284.0 million, down 3%
• Adjusted EBITDA of $1,060.3 million, up 12%

As described above, total adjusted claims were down 3% from the comparable quarter in 2017 due primarily to the previously disclosed losses of certain public sector clients.

During the first quarter, the Company generated $1,060.3 million of core business adjusted EBITDA, representing growth of 12% over comparable 2017 core business adjusted EBITDA.  The core business grew earnings primarily due to the inclusion of eviCore in the quarter, as well as supply chain initiatives, specifically continued strong performance from the Company's SafeGuardRx suite of solutions and growth in our Accredo specialty pharmacy.

2018 Guidance

All previously provided guidance remains the same except for consolidated adjusted earnings per diluted share and diluted weighted average shares outstanding guidance due to the suspension of the Company's share repurchase program.

The Company expects total adjusted claims for the second quarter of 2018 to be in the range of 335 million to 345 million, of which 280 million to 290 million are attributable to the core business.  Consolidated adjusted earnings per diluted share for the second quarter of 2018 are estimated to be in the range of $2.18 to $2.22, which represents growth of 26% to 28% over the second quarter of 2017.  Consistent with recent years, the Company expects to receive certain revenues related to the structure of its Anthem contract which will be realized in the second quarter of 2018.

"Our enterprise value initiative remains a top priority for us and our plans have not changed," said Wentworth.  Express Scripts' enterprise value initiative is estimated to cost approximately $600 million to $650 million and to deliver cumulative savings of nearly $1.2 billion by 2021, with an annual run rate of between $550 million to $600 million thereafter. 

Additional details on the consolidated and core business guidance can be found in Table 6. For a description of the financial measures presented herein which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, see "Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

Management will not be holding a conference call to review results.  A copy of the earnings release will be available at the Investor Information section of Express Scripts' web site at http://www.express-scripts.com/corporate. 

About Express Scripts

Express Scripts is leading the way for tens of millions of people by aligning with plan sponsors, taking bold action and delivering patient-centered care to make better health more affordable and accessible.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts provides a full range of integrated pharmacy benefit management services, including home delivery pharmacy care, specialty pharmacy care and benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management and medical and drug data analysis, that guide patients and plans toward better health by prioritizing quality care at competitive rates. Our services drive down the cost of care for employer-funded, Medicare, Medicaid and Public Exchange plans. Express Scripts also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and offers innovative medical benefit management services.

For more information, visit Lab.Express-Scripts.com or follow @ExpressScripts on Twitter.

Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following provides supplemental information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures presented herein, including the reconciliation of such measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (adjusted EPS), EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per adjusted claim, adjusted net income, adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted gross profit and adjusted selling, general and administrative are non-GAAP financial measures presented herein, are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide management and investors with useful information about the earnings impact of certain expenses and are useful for (i) comparison of our earnings to those of other companies; (ii) a better understanding of the Company's ongoing core business performance; (iii) planning and forecasting for future periods; and (iv) assessing period-to-period performance trends.  Management assesses the Company's core business operating performance using adjusted EBITDA in order to better isolate the impact of certain expenses that may not be comparable between periods or indicative of the ongoing performance of the business.  Adjusted EBITDA per adjusted claim provides management and investors with useful information about the earnings and performance of the Company on a per unit basis.

2018 Guidance Information:  Due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of certain items that would impact EPS and net income, including discrete tax and other items, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the related impact of such items to EPS and net income, the GAAP financial measures most directly comparable to adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA, respectively. Accordingly, the Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of 2018 guidance for either adjusted EPS to EPS or adjusted EBITDA to net income. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a significant impact on the Company's second quarter and full-year 2018 GAAP financial results. With respect to consolidated adjusted EPS, amortization of intangible assets is expected to be approximately $0.55 and $2.19 per share for the second quarter and full-year 2018, respectively.

Financial Information for our Core Business and Transitioning Clients:  The financial measures attributable to our core business and the transitioning clients presented herein, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per adjusted claims are also non-GAAP financial measures.  These measures are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  These measures represent operating results attributable to specific clients of the Company; however, they are not regularly reviewed by our Chief Executive Officer to assess the performance of any of these clients or make decisions about resources to be allocated to any such client. These measures also reflect management's estimates as to allocation of costs of its PBM business to each of the transitioning clients and may not be indicative of costs actually incurred as a result of servicing each of these clients.  However, management is unable to reasonably estimate the allocation of certain key items that would impact net income attributable to each of the transitioning clients, including interest and depreciation and amortization.  Accordingly, the Company is unable to provide net income attributable to any of the transitioning clients or its core business excluding the transitioning clients, and is therefore also unable to provide a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to transitioning clients or core business.  For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a significant impact on the Company's long-term outlook for the core business, as discussed above.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our 2018 guidance, business outlook and our statements related to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements.  Factors that may impact these forward-looking statements can be found in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 1A – "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 2, 2018.  A copy of these documents can be found at the Investor Information section of Express Scripts' web site at http://www.express-scripts.com/corporate.

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. 

* Each of net income, adjusted net income, earnings per diluted share, adjusted earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per adjusted claim amounts are presented as attributable to Express Scripts, excluding non-controlling interest representing the share allocated to members of our consolidated affiliates.  For a description of the financial measures presented herein which are not calculated or presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), see Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.

** See Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Tables below for additional information.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information included or incorporated by reference in this communication, and information which may be contained in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and press releases or other public statements, contains or may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements of plans, objectives, expectations (financial or otherwise) or intentions.

Forward-looking statements, including as they relate to Express Scripts Holding Company or Cigna Corporation, the management of either such company or the transaction, involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Express Scripts Holding Company and Cigna Corporation do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risks associated with the following:

• the inability of Express Scripts Holding Company and Cigna Corporation to obtain stockholder or regulatory approvals required for the merger or the requirement to accept conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits of the merger as a condition to obtaining regulatory approvals;
• a longer than anticipated time necessary to consummate the proposed merger;
• problems regarding the successful integration of the businesses of Express Scripts Holding Company and Cigna Corporation;
• unexpected costs regarding the proposed merger;
• diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities;
• potential litigation associated with the proposed merger;
• the ability to retain key personnel;
• the availability of financing;
• effects on the businesses as a result of uncertainty surrounding the proposed merger; and
• the industry may be subject to future risks that are described in SEC reports filed by Express Scripts Holding Company and Cigna Corporation.

You should carefully consider these and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in this communication and other risks and uncertainties that affect the businesses of Express Scripts Holding Company and Cigna Corporation described in their respective filings with the SEC, when reviewing any forward-looking statement. These factors are noted for investors as permitted under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors should understand it is impossible to predict or identify all such factors or risks. As such, you should not consider either foregoing lists, or the risks identified in SEC filings, to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. In connection with the proposed transaction, Halfmoon Parent, Inc. ("Holdco") intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Cigna Corporation and Express Scripts Holding Company that also constitutes a prospectus of Holdco. Cigna Corporation and Express Scripts Holding Company also plan to file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when it becomes available) and other relevant documents filed by Holdco, Cigna Corporation and Express Scripts Holding Company with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Cigna Corporation will be available free of charge on Cigna Corporation's website at www.cigna.com or by contacting Cigna Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (215) 761-4198. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Express Scripts Holding Company will be available free of charge on Express Scripts Holding Company's website at www.express-scripts.com or by contacting Express Scripts Holding Company's Investor Relations Department at (314) 810-3115.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

Cigna Corporation (and, in some instances, Holdco) and Express Scripts Holding Company and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Investors may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of directors and executive officers of Cigna Corporation (and, in some instances, Holdco) in Cigna Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2018, and its definitive proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2018. Investors may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Express Scripts Holding Company's directors and executive officers in Express Scripts Holding Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018, and its definitive proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2018. You may obtain free copies of these documents at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, at Cigna Corporation's website at www.cigna.com or by contacting Cigna Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (215) 761-4198. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Express Scripts Holding Company will be available free of charge on Express Scripts Holding Company's website at www.express-scripts.com or by contacting Express Scripts Holding Company's Investor Relations Department at (314) 810-3115. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction if and when they become available. Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully and in its entirety when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This communication is for informational purposes only and not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.  No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

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SOURCE Express Scripts Holding Company