UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
__________________________________________

(Mark One)

[X] 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

   

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2004

[   ]

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

   

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from          to        

Commission File No. 1-5438

    FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.    
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

11-1798614
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

     

909 Third Avenue
New York, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

10022-4731
(Zip code)

(212) 421-7850
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 a check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes    X       No        .

Number of shares outstanding of Registrant's Common Stock as of November 9, 2004:
368,407,033.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Quick Links)

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

            ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

                           BALANCE SHEETS
                           
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                           
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                           
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

            ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
            
MARKET RISK

            ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

            ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

            ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
            PROCEEDS

            ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

            ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

            EXHIBIT 31.1
            EXHIBIT 31.2
            EXHIBIT 32.1
            EXHIBIT 32.2

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(In thousands)

September 30, 2004 
       (Unaudited)      
 


March 31, 2004 

 

 

 

Assets

   

 

 

 

Current assets:
    Cash (including cash equivalent investments
        of $1,874,617 in September and $1,724,942 in March)

 

$1,879,843 



$1,726,558 

    Marketable securities

174,689 

66,064 

    Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
        of $20,805 in September and $20,762 in March


345,040 


287,618 

    Inventories, net

535,087 

610,182 

    Deferred income taxes

160,525 

205,071 

    Other current assets

       31,437 

       20,741 

        Total current assets

  3,126,621 

  2,916,234 

     

Marketable securities

     526,888 

     337,890 

     

Property, plant and equipment

444,007 

404,082 

    Less: accumulated depreciation

     118,041 

     106,125 

 

     325,966 

     297,957 

Other assets:
    Goodwill


14,965 


14,965 

    License agreements, product rights and other
        intangibles, less accumulated amortization
        of $260,202 in September and $245,921 in March

 

275,445 



274,835 

    Deferred income taxes

15,728 

16,387 

    Other

         1,054 

         4,468 

        Total other assets

     307,192 

     310,655 

     

             Total assets

$4,286,667 

$3,862,736 

 

======== 

======== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(In thousands, except for par values)

September 30, 2004 
       (Unaudited)      
 


March 31, 2004 

     

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

   
     

Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable


$   163,821 


$   159,798 

    Accrued expenses

309,104 

321,564 

    Income taxes payable

     110,846 

     123,392 

       Total current liabilities

     583,771 

     604,754 

     

Deferred income taxes

         1,616 

         2,118 

     

Stockholders' equity:
    Series preferred stock, $1.00 par; shares authorized 1,000;
        no shares issued or outstanding

   

    Common stock, $.10 par; shares authorized 1,000,000; issued
        406,297 shares in September and 405,144 shares in March


40,630 


40,514 

    Additional paid-in capital

872,156 

846,297 

    Retained earnings

3,181,179 

2,655,934 

    Accumulated other comprehensive income

        6,195 

10,324 

    Treasury stock, at cost

   

       (37,931 shares in September and 35,617 shares in March)

(     398,880)

(     297,205)

            Total stockholders' equity

  3,701,280 

  3,255,864 

     

                Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$4,286,667 

$3,862,736 

======== 

======== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)


(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   Three Months Ended  
        September 30,       

 Six Months Ended       
        September 30,          

 

       2004 

       2003 

          2004 

          2003 

         

Net sales

$856,680 

$619,157 

$1,639,076 

$1,224,905 

Other income

    24,554 

      6,368 

       34,984 

       15,049 

 

  881,234 

  625,525 

  1,674,060 

  1,239,954 

         

Costs and expenses:
    Cost of sales


191,666 


137,835 


368,867 


278,503 

    Selling, general and administrative

245,088 

191,042 

484,393 

382,536 

    Research and development

    69,225 

    61,820 

     154,508 

     115,167 

 

  505,979 

  390,697 

  1,007,768 

     776,206 

         

Income before income tax expense

375,255 

234,828 

666,292 

463,748 

         

Income tax expense

    79,929 

    50,371 

     141,047 

       99,474 

         

Net income

$295,326 

$184,457 

$   525,245 

$   364,274 

 

======= 

======= 

======== 

======== 

Net income per common
    and common equivalent share:

       
         

    Basic

$0.80 

$0.51 

$1.42 

$1.00 

 

==== 

==== 

==== 

==== 

    Diluted

$0.79 

$0.49 

$1.39 

$0.97 

 

==== 

==== 

==== 

==== 

Weighted average number of common
    and common equivalent shares outstanding:

       
         

    Basic

369,879 

365,081 

369,715 

364,451 

 

====== 

====== 

====== 

====== 

    Diluted

375,226 

375,108 

376,725 

375,268 

 

====== 

====== 

====== 

====== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)


(In thousands)

  Three Months Ended  
       September 30,        

     Six Months Ended    
       September 30,       

 

       2004 

       2003 

       2004 

       2003 

         

Net income

$295,326 

$184,457 

$525,245 

$364,274 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

      3,943 

      1,947 

(     4,129)

      6,510 

         

Comprehensive income

$299,269 

$186,404 

$521,116 

$370,784 

 

======= 

======= 

======= 

======= 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 

    Six Months Ended        

(In thousands)

             September 30,           

 

           2004

          2003 

Cash flows from operating activities:

   

   Net income

$   525,245 

$   364,274 

   Adjustments to reconcile net income to

   

     net cash provided by operating activities:

   

       Depreciation

12,509 

10,428 

       Amortization, impairments and write-offs

14,281 

24,113 

       Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

1,215 

(         1,235)

       Foreign currency translation loss (gain)

(            652)

1,023 

       Tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock
          options by employees


51,899 


29,034 

       Net change in operating assets and liabilities:

   

          Decrease (increase) in:

   

             Accounts receivable, net

(       57,422)

(       35,470)

             Inventories, net

75,095 

(       39,893)

             Other current assets

(       10,696)

(         7,493)

          Increase (decrease) in:

   

             Accounts payable

4,023 

(       73,911)

             Accrued expenses

(       12,460)

    21,662 

             Income taxes payable

(       12,546)

(       50,360)

          Decrease in other assets

         3,414 

         1,417 

     

                Net cash provided by operating activities

     593,905 

     243,589 

     

Cash flows from investing activities:

   

   Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net

(       40,460)

(       35,986)

   Purchase of marketable securities

(     456,511)

(     405,431)

   Redemption of marketable securities

  158,888 

  366,954 

   Purchase of license agreements, product rights and
     other intangibles


(       15,000)


(         5,000)

     

                Net cash used in investing activities

(     353,083)

(       79,463)

     

Cash flows from financing activities:

   

   Net proceeds from common stock options exercised
      by employees under stock option plans


  15,841 


  19,858 

   Purchase of treasury stock

(       99,952)

                   

     

                Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(       84,111)

       19,858 

     

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(         3,426)

         5,088 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

153,285 

189,072 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  1,726,558 

  1,265,508 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$1,879,843 

$1,454,580 

 

======== 

======== 

     

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

   
     

Cash paid during the period for:

   

    Income taxes

$100,802 

$121,969 

     
     
     
     

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.   Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the six-month period ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2005. For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004.

2.   Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following:

 

September 30, 2004

 

(In thousands)

       (Unaudited)       

March 31, 2004   

 

 

 

Trade

$317,039

$262,557

Other

    28,001

    25,061

 

$345,040

$287,618

 

 ======= 

======= 

3.   Inventories:

Inventories, net of reserves for obsolescence, consist of the following:

 

September 30, 2004

 

(In thousands)

       (Unaudited)       

March 31, 2004   

 

 

 

Raw materials

$282,932

$359,075

Work in process

      21,627  

    40,982

Finished goods

  230,528

  210,125

 

$535,087

$610,182

 

 ======= 

======= 

4.   Net Income Per Share:

A reconciliation of shares used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share follows:

 

Three Months Ended 
         September 30,     

Six Months Ended  
     September 30,     

(In thousands)

 

     2004

     2003

     2004

     2003

Basic

369,879

365,081

369,715

364,451

Effect of assumed conversion of
   employee stock options and warrants


    5,347


  10,027


    7,010


  10,817

Diluted

375,226

375,108

376,725

375,268

 

======

======

======

======

Options to purchase approximately 4,587,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $59.05 to $76.66 per share and options to purchase approximately 1,571,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $48.34 to $76.66 per share that were outstanding during a portion of the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because they were anti-dilutive. Options to purchase approximately 333,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $50.56 to $53.23 per share and options to purchase approximately 3,158,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $48.34 to $53.23 per share that were outstanding during a portion of the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2003, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because they were anti-dilutive. These options expire through 2014.

5.   Stock-Based Compensation:

The Company accounts for its stock option awards to employees under the intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Under the intrinsic value based method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at grant date or other measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. The Company makes pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." The Company has never granted options below market price on the date of grant.

SFAS 123 requires the Company to provide pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share as if compensation cost for the Company's stock option plans had been determined in accordance with the fair value of each stock option at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants for the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003: dividend yield of zero; expected volatility of 27.19% and 35.04%, respectively; risk-free interest rates of 4.0% and 4.3%, respectively; and expected lives of 5 to 10 years.

Under the accounting provisions of SFAS 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

Three Months Ended  
        September 30,      

Six Months Ended    
     September 30,       

(In thousands, except per share data)

       2004 

       2003 

       2004 

       2003 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$295,326 

$184,457 

$525,245 

$364,274 

      Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation

       

         expense determined under fair value method

(      8,812)

(      8,661)

(    17,416)

(    17,118)

   Pro forma

$286,514 

$175,796 

$507,829 

$347,156 

 

======= 

======= 

======= 

======= 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$0.80 

$0.51 

$1.42 

$1.00 

   Pro forma

$0.77 

$0.49 

$1.37 

$0.95 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$0.79 

$0.49 

$1.39 

$0.97 

   Pro forma

$0.76 

$0.47 

$1.35 

$0.92 

6.   Business Segment Information:

The Company operates in only one segment. Below is a breakdown of net sales by therapeutic class:


(In thousands)

  Three Months Ended  
       September 30,      

 Six Months Ended      
        September 30,         

 

       2004

       2003

          2004

          2003

         

Central nervous system (CNS)

$752,104

$515,144

$1,434,397

$   990,853

Cardiovascular

30,782

25,700

58,353

79,740

Other

    73,794

    78,313

     146,326

     154,312

 

$856,680

$619,157

$1,639,076

$1,224,905

 

=======

=======

========

========

7.   Other Income:

Other income consists of the following:

 

Three Months Ended 
        September 30,     

Six Months Ended  
     September 30,     

(In thousands)

 

     2004

   2003

    2004

    2003

         

Contract revenue

$12,991

$1,250

$15,243

$  3,902

Interest and other

  11,563

  5,118

  19,741

  11,147

 

$24,554

$6,368

$34,984

$15,049

 

======

=====

======

======

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company posted record revenues for the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004, which will be discussed further in Results of Operations. During the quarter, the Company received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Campral® for the treatment of alcohol dependence and entered into an agreement for the marketing and development of a novel drug for potential indications in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). The Company also recorded earnings from Sankyo for the Company's share of profits to co-promote Benicar® and Benicar HCT™, which is included in Other income - contract revenue.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Net current assets increased by $231,370,000 from March 31, 2004 due to an increase in cash and marketable securities primarily the result of operating activities from sales of our principal promoted products and the leveling off of a shift from short-term to long-term marketable securities which had been made to receive more favorable rates of return. In total, cash, short-term and long-term marketable securities increased by $450,908,000. Accounts receivable increased in total dollars due to strong sales of our principal branded products. The number of days outstanding decreased due to invoice terms returning to normal levels from extended dating terms offered to customers for initial orders of Namenda®, which remained in accounts receivable at the end of March and were paid during the first quarter. The decrease in inventory was due primarily to the lower cost of raw materials used to produce generic Celexa®. This lower cost also had an effect on work in process which decreased for the period. Finished goods increased during the period primarily due to increased demand for Lexapro® and Namenda. The Company believes that the current inventory levels for its products are appropriate. Decreases in deferred taxes and income taxes payable were due to the utilization of the tax benefit from the exercise of stock options by employees.

Property, plant and equipment increased primarily due to the continuing expansion of the Company's facilities in order to meet current and future product and research and development demands. On Long Island, the Company expanded its packaging and distribution facility by adding approximately 185,000 square feet to that location. The Company also purchased a 40,000 square foot facility in St. Louis which will be used for office and administration. Further property expansions and acquisitions are planned in the future to meet the needs from increased sales and related production, warehousing and distribution and for products under development. During the year, the Company also continued to make technology investments to expand its principal operating systems to include salesforce and warehouse management applications.

During the first quarter the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program for up to 20 million shares of its common stock. The authorization was effective July 22, 2004, and the program has no set expiration date. During the current quarter, the Company purchased 2,284,700 shares on the open market at an average price of $43.75 per share and also expects to make additional repurchases, from time to time in the open market, depending on market conditions.

The Company is a party to several license agreements for products currently under development. Such agreements may require the Company to make future payments to the licensors, subject to the achievement of specific product or commercial development milestones, as defined.

Management believes that current cash levels, coupled with funds to be generated by ongoing operations, will continue to provide adequate liquidity to facilitate potential acquisitions of products, payment of achieved milestones, capital investments and the share repurchase program.

Results of Operations

Net sales for the three and six months ended September 30, 2004 increased 38% and 34%, respectively, from the same periods last year, primarily due to the antidepressant franchise, and Namenda. Lexapro, the Company's largest product, with sales of $414,925,000 and $778,797,000, respectively, contributed $182,494,000 and $355,374,000 to the net sales change, and achieved an 18.1% share of total prescriptions in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) market. Celexa sales declined $26,325,000 and $49,989,000 from the same periods last year to $256,388,000 and $517,441,000, respectively. Celexa's share of total prescriptions declined to 8.0% at September 30, 2004 from a peak share of 17.5% in August 2002.

On October 28, 2004, the FDA granted as many as four generic pharmaceutical companies approval to distribute citalopram oxalate (citalopram), a generic version of Celexa. Subsequently, the FDA has granted other companies approval to distribute citalopram. The Company had expected FDA approval of citalopram early in the fourth fiscal quarter and was prepared to launch its own generic, once these approvals were granted. The Company has since commenced shipment of citalopram through its Inwood Laboratories, Inc. subsidiary. Accordingly, the Company expects a material decline in Celexa sales during the third and fourth fiscal quarters.

Sales of Namenda, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, launched in March 2004, amounted to $80,791,000 for the current quarter and $138,159,000 for the six months. Namenda is the first product indicated for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and has generated significant new prescriptions in the retail and long-term care markets. Namenda's new prescription growth has flattened over the past several weeks which the Company believes is consistent with other product launches where there was a significant pent up demand for the product prior to the launch. The Company anticipates new prescription growth to resume in the coming periods. Tiazac® sales increased by $5,082,000 for the quarter, however continued to decline for the year by $21,387,000 from the same periods last year, due primarily to generic competition. The remainder of the net sales change for the period was due principally to volume declines on the Company's older non-promoted product lines.

Other income for the three and six months ended September 30, 2004 increased over the same period last year primarily due to contract revenue. During the current quarter, the Company recorded $12,203,000 of co-promotion income related to its co-marketing agreement with Sankyo Pharma for Benicar. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has been co-promoting Benicar since May 2003 and is entitled to a share of the product profits (as defined) from the point the product becomes cumulatively profitable. Benicar became cumulatively profitable during the September 2004 quarter. Interest income was higher for the quarter and year as compared to the same periods last year from increased funds available for investment. During the first quarter the Company shifted investments to longer term (maturity dates do not exceed two years) in order to receive more favorable rates of return.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 22% and 23% during the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004, respectively, unchanged from the same periods last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $54,046,000 and $101,857,000 for the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004 due primarily to the recently expanded salesforce. In connection with the launch of Namenda, the Company added approximately 525 representatives to its salesforce during the third quarter of fiscal 2004. This latest salesforce expansion brought the total number of representatives and managers to approximately 2,800. Pre-launch costs for Campral and Combunox™ were also incurred in the current quarter. Campral is scheduled for launch in January 2005 and the Company hopes to launch Combunox, pending FDA approval, in the fourth fiscal quarter as well.

Research and development expense increased $7,405,000 and $39,341,000 for the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2004. The majority of the increase was due to a license payment made to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals S.A. in the quarter for the North American development rights to GRC-3886, a PDE4 inhibitor being investigated for potential indications for the treatment of asthma and COPD which is currently in Phase I, and a license payment made in the first quarter pursuant to an agreement with PAION GmbH for the development and marketing of desmoteplase, a novel drug currently in phase II for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The remainder of the increase was from costs associated with ongoing clinical trials and staff increases and associated costs required to support currently marketed products and products in various stages of development, including:

The Company anticipates further increases in research and development for the remainder of this fiscal year and beyond.

The effective income tax rate was 21% during the current quarter and six-month period, unchanged from the same periods last year. The effective tax rate was a direct result of the increase in the proportion of earnings generated in lower-taxed foreign jurisdictions versus the United States. These earnings include manufacturing and development income from our operations in Ireland, which are taxed at 10% through 2010 and at 12.5% thereafter.

The Company expects to continue its profitability during the current fiscal year with continued growth in its principal promoted products.

Inflation has not had a material effect on the Company's operations for the periods presented.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies are important in understanding the Company's financial condition and results of operations and should be considered an integral part of the financial review. Refer to Notes 1 through 7 to the consolidated financial statements for additional policies.

Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are made when accounting for sales allowances, returns, rebates and other pricing adjustments, depreciation, amortization and certain contingencies. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties, which may include but are not limited to competition, federal or local legislation and regulations, litigation and overall changes in the healthcare environment that may cause actual results to vary from estimates. The Company reviews all significant estimates affecting the financial statements on a recurring basis and records the effect of any adjustments when necessary. Certain of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed further under the section entitled "Forward Looking Statements".

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company has made acquisitions in the past that include goodwill, license agreements, product rights and other intangibles. Through fiscal 2001, these assets were amortized over their estimated useful lives, and were tested periodically to determine if they were recoverable from operating earnings on an undiscounted basis over their useful lives.

Effective with fiscal 2002, goodwill is no longer amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test based on its estimated fair value. License agreements, product rights and other intangibles will continue to be amortized over their useful lives and tested periodically to determine if they are recoverable from future cash flows on an undiscounted basis over their useful lives.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recorded in the period the merchandise is shipped. As is typical in the pharmaceutical industry, gross product sales are subject to a variety of deductions, primarily representing rebates and discounts to government agencies, wholesalers and managed care organizations. These deductions represent estimates of the related liabilities and, as such, judgment is required when estimating the impact of these sales deductions on gross sales for a reporting period. If estimates are not representative of actual settlement, results could be materially affected. Provisions for estimated sales allowances, returns, rebates and other pricing adjustments are accrued at the time revenues are recognized as a direct reduction of such revenue. The Company's liability for rebates and discounts at September 30, 2004 and March 31, 2004 were $222,614,000 and $266,209,000, respectively.

The accruals are estimated based on available information, including third party data, regarding the portion of sales on which rebates and discounts can be earned, adjusted as appropriate for specific known events and the prevailing contractual discount rate. Provisions are reflected either as a direct reduction to accounts receivable or, to the extent that they are due to entities other than customers, as accrued expense. Adjustments to estimates are recorded when customer credits are issued or payments are made to third parties.

The sensitivity of estimates can vary by program and type of customer. However, estimates associated with Medicaid and contract rebates are most at risk for adjustment because of the extensive time delay between the recording of the accrual and its ultimate settlement, an interval that can range up to one year. Because of this time lag, in any given quarter, adjustments to actual may incorporate revisions of prior quarters.

Provisions for Medicaid and contract rebates during a period are recorded based upon the actual experience ratio of rebates paid and actual prescriptions written. The experience ratio is applied to the period's sales to determine the rebate accrual and related expense. This experience ratio is evaluated regularly to ensure that the historical trends are as current as practicable. As appropriate, the Company will adjust the ratio to more closely match current experience or expected future experience. In assessing this ratio, the Company considers current contract terms, such as changes in formulary status, discount rates and utilization trends. Periodically, the accrual is adjusted based upon actual payments made for rebates. If the ratio is not indicative of future experience, results could be affected.

Deductions for chargebacks (discounts to group purchasing organizations and federal government agencies) closely approximate actual as these deductions are settled generally within 2-3 weeks of incurring the liability.

The Company's policy relating to the supply of inventory at wholesalers is to maintain stocking levels under one month, on average, and to keep monthly levels consistent from year to year, based on patterns of utilization. The Company has historically been able to closely monitor these customer stocking levels by purchasing information from customers directly and by obtaining other third party information. Unusual or unexpected variations in buying patterns or utilizations are promptly investigated.

Sales incentives are generally given in connection with a new product launch. These sales incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenues and are based on terms fixed at the time goods are shipped. New product launches may result in expected temporary increases in wholesaler inventories, which as described above, are closely monitored and have not resulted in increased product returns.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the Management Discussion and other portions of this Form 10-Q contain forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and launch of new products and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the normal course of business, operations of the Company may be exposed to fluctuations in currency values and interest rates. These fluctuations can vary the costs of financing, investing and operating transactions. Because the Company had no debt and only minimal foreign currency transactions, there was no material impact on earnings due to fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates.

Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, 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 (the "Exchange Act")). Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Part II - Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

             As part of an agreement with the New York State Attorney General, the Company has
             agreed to establish a publicly available, on-line Clinical Trial Registry containing
             summaries of key Forest-sponsored clinical studies completed since January 1, 2000 for
             drugs which the Company currently markets. As a result of the Company's adoption of
             the Clinical Trial Registry, the Attorney General has agreed to end his inquiry of the
             Company's clinical study disclosure practices referred to in the Quarterly Report on
             Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004.

             On November 4, 2004, the Commonwealth of Kentucky filed an action against
             approximately 40 manufacturers of pharmaceutical products in the Circuit Court for
             Franklin County, Kentucky. The action alleges essentially the same types of claims
             which are described in the litigation section of the Company's Annual Report on Form
             10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 in the description of the litigation
             referenced as "In re Pharmaceutical Industry AWP Litigation." The Company
             anticipates that this litigation will ultimately be removed to Federal Court and assigned
             for coordination with such action.

             Reference is hereby made to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
             ended March 31, 2004 for a description of certain other legal proceedings to which the
             Company is a party.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

              Purchase of equity securities by the Company:

              In July 2004, the Company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to
              20,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding Common Stock (Repurchase Program).
              Under the Repurchase Program the Company may repurchase the shares from time-to-time
              at prevailing prices and as permitted by applicable securities laws and New York Stock
              Exchange requirements, and subject to market conditions. The first purchase under the
              Repurchase Program occurred on September 9, 2004. As of the date of this filing, all
              repurchases of shares have occurred under this program.

              The following table summarizes repurchase of common stock under the Repurchase
              Program during the period covered by this report:

 







Period




Total number of shares purchased





Average price paid per share


Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs

Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program

 

9/1/04 through 9/30/04



2,284,700



$43.75



2,284,700



17,715,300

           

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

             (a)    The Company held its annual meeting of stockholders on August 11, 2004.

             (b)    N/A

             (c)    At the annual meeting, holders of the Company's Common Stock voted for the
                     election of seven members of the Company's Board of Directors to serve until
                     the next annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
                     The proposals to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize
                     additional shares of the Company's Common Stock and the ratification of the 2004
                     Stock Option Plan both received the required majority of the issued and outstanding
                     Common Stock and were approved. Holders of the Company's Common Stock voted
                     for the ratification of BDO Seidman, LLP to serve as the Company's independent
                     certified public accountants for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.

                     At the meeting, the following votes for and against, as well as the number of
                     abstentions and broker non-votes were recorded for each matter as set forth below:

 


Matter


For


  Against


Abstain

Withhold
authority

Broker
non-votes

 

Election of Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Howard Solomon

326,349,037

 

 

7,043,013  

 

 

    Kenneth E. Goodman

326,575,838

 

 

6,816,212  

 

 

    Phillip M. Satow

237,583,630

 

 

95,808,420  

 

 

    William J. Candee III

325,482,991

 

 

7,909,059  

 

 

    George S. Cohan

327,077,984

 

 

6,314,066  

 

 

    Dan L. Goldwasser

325,785,684

 

 

7,606,366  

 

 

    Lester B. Salans

329,675,408

 

 

3,716,642  

 

 

           

 

Ratification of Amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize additional shares of the Company's Common Stock





301,116,512





30,444,492





1,831,046

   
             
 

Ratification of 2004 Stock Option Plan


282,525,084


16,805,049


2,178,386

   
             

 

Ratification of Independent Public Accountants


315,115,969


16,492,606


1,783,475

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

             (a)    Exhibit 31.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
                     Exhibit 31.2 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
                     Exhibit 32.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
                     Exhibit 32.2 Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

             (b)    Reports on Form 8-K. On July 20, 2004 the Company furnished a current report on
                      Form 8-K to file its earnings press release for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

 

SIGNATURES

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

Date: November 9, 2004



Forest Laboratories, Inc.
(Registrant)



/s/ Howard Solomon       
Howard Solomon
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and Director



/s/ Francis I. Perier, Jr.              
Francis I. Perier, Jr.
Senior Vice President - Finance and
Chief Financial Officer