Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended

March 31, 2010

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

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 1-14106

 

 

DAVITA INC.

 

 

1551 Wewatta Street

Denver, CO 80202

Telephone number (303) 405-2100

 

Delaware   51-0354549
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

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

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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

As of April 29, 2010, the number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding was approximately 103.9 million shares and the aggregate market value of the common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates based upon the closing price of these shares on the New York Stock Exchange was approximately $6.6 billion.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

DAVITA INC.

INDEX

 

          Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

  
  

Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

   1
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

   3
  

Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009

   4
  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   5

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   22

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   32

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   32
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   34

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   34

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   46

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   47

Signature

   48

 

Note: Items 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are omitted because they are not applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

DAVITA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
   2010     2009  

Net operating revenues

   $ 1,559,418      $ 1,447,640   

Operating expenses and charges:

    

Patient care costs

     1,082,789        1,005,886   

General and administrative

     137,277        127,273   

Depreciation and amortization

     57,468        57,123   

Provision for uncollectible accounts

     41,563        36,736   

Equity investment (income) loss

     (2,345     18   
                

Total operating expenses and charges

     1,316,752        1,227,036   
                

Operating income

     242,666        220,604   

Debt expense

     (44,583     (48,301

Other income

     831        754   
                

Income before income taxes

     198,914        173,057   

Income tax expense

     73,914        64,783   
                

Net income

     125,000        108,274   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (15,577     (12,063
                

Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 109,423      $ 96,211   
                

Earnings per share:

    

Basic earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 1.05      $ 0.93   
                

Diluted earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 1.04      $ 0.92   
                

Weighted average shares for earnings per share:

    

Basic

     103,364,869        103,878,417   
                

Diluted

     104,765,600        104,409,026   
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

DAVITA INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
ASSETS     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 755,909      $ 539,459   

Short-term investments

     22,907        26,475   

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $230,769 and $229,317

     1,103,786        1,105,903   

Inventories

     68,038        70,041   

Other receivables

     225,038        263,456   

Other current assets

     34,485        40,234   

Deferred income taxes

     251,088        256,953   
                

Total current assets

     2,461,251        2,302,521   

Property and equipment, net

     1,093,850        1,104,925   

Amortizable intangibles, net

     129,285        136,732   

Equity investments

     23,965        22,631   

Long-term investments

     7,584        7,616   

Other long-term assets

     33,397        32,615   

Goodwill

     3,942,386        3,951,196   
                
   $ 7,691,718      $ 7,558,236   
                
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     

Accounts payable

   $ 177,764      $ 176,657   

Other liabilities

     412,515        461,092   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     299,709        286,121   

Current portion of long-term debt

     98,844        100,007   

Income taxes payable

     58,643        23,064   
                

Total current liabilities

     1,047,475        1,046,941   

Long-term debt

     3,509,713        3,532,217   

Other long-term liabilities

     89,634        87,692   

Alliance and product supply agreement, net

     29,315        30,647   

Deferred income taxes

     346,460        334,855   
                

Total liabilities

     5,022,597        5,032,352   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions

     350,485        331,725   

Equity:

    

Preferred stock ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)

    

Common stock ($0.001 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 134,862,283 shares issued; 103,793,205 and 103,062,698 shares outstanding)

     135        135   

Additional paid-in capital

     617,891        621,685   

Retained earnings

     2,421,557        2,312,134   

Treasury stock, at cost (31,069,078 and 31,799,585 shares)

     (775,115     (793,340

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (3,320     (5,548
                

Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity

     2,261,148        2,135,066   

Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions

     57,488        59,093   
                

Total equity

     2,318,636        2,194,159   
                
   $ 7,691,718      $ 7,558,236   
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DAVITA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
   2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 125,000      $ 108,274   

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     57,468        57,123   

Stock-based compensation expense

     10,233        11,009   

Tax benefits from stock award exercises

     7,873        2,161   

Excess tax benefits from stock award exercises

     (1,378     (779

Deferred income taxes

     (3,311     16,430   

Equity investment (income) loss

     (1,334     18   

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets and other non-cash charges

     (695     7,051   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, other than from acquisitions and divestitures:

    

Accounts receivable

     594        (13,757

Inventories

     1,818        13,055   

Other receivables and other current assets

     44,343        41,417   

Other long-term assets

     (782     1,422   

Accounts payable

     1,800        (65,411

Accrued compensation and benefits

     17,349        (21,403

Other current liabilities

     (45,063     (54,116

Income taxes

     47,617        40,339   

Other long-term liabilities

     315        (8,584
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     261,847        134,249   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Additions of property and equipment

     (42,585     (73,203

Acquisitions

     (1,069     (39,828

Proceeds from asset sales

     16,264        4,199   

Purchase of investments available for sale

     (521     (514

Purchase of investments held-to-maturity

     (12,522     (6

Proceeds from sale of investments available for sale

     880        10,669   

Proceeds from maturities of investments held-to-maturity

     15,990        20   

Purchase of equity investments

     (350     —     

Distributions received on equity investments

     350        —     
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (23,563     (98,663
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowings

     4,877,000        2,619,540   

Payments on long-term debt

     (4,902,041     (2,630,739

Purchase of treasury stock

     —          (32,016

Excess tax benefits from stock award exercises

     1,378        779   

Stock award exercises and other share issuances, net

     21,073        9,102   

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

     (18,658     (13,567

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

     1,613        4,460   

Proceeds from sales of additional noncontrolling interests

     108        3,081   

Purchases from noncontrolling interests

     (2,307     (1,424
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (21,834     (40,784
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     216,450        (5,198

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     539,459        410,881   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 755,909      $ 405,683   
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DAVITA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

    Non-controlling
interests
subject to put
provisions
    DaVita Inc. Shareholders’ Equity     Non-controlling
interests not
subject to put
provisions
    Comprehensive
income
 
      Common stock   Additional
paid-in
capital
    Retained
earnings
  Treasury stock     Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
    Total      
          Shares   Amount       Shares     Amount          

Balance at December 31, 2008

  $ 291,397          134,862   $ 135   $ 584,358      $ 1,889,450   (31,109   $ (691,857   $ (14,339   $ 1,767,747      $ 59,152      $ —     

Comprehensive income:

                         

Net income

    38,381                  422,684           422,684        18,694        479,759   

Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps, net of tax

                      (2,578     (2,578       (2,578

Less reclassification of net swap realized losses into net income, net of tax

                      10,542        10,542          10,542   

Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax

                      986        986          986   

Less reclassification of net investment realized gains into net income, net of tax

                      (159     (159       (159
                               

Total comprehensive income

                          $ 488,550   
                               

Stock purchase shares issued

              2,135        107        2,387          4,522       

Stock unit shares issued

              (1,570     69        1,570          —         

Stock options and SSARs exercised

              15,598        2,036        48,055          63,653       

Stock-based compensation expense

              44,422                44,422       

Excess tax benefits from stock awards exercised

              6,150                6,150       

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

    (44,277                         (23,471  

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

    10,502                            2,569     

Sales and assumptions of additional noncontrolling interests

    13,483                (529             (529     4,039     

Purchases from noncontrolling interests

    (2,594             (3,721             (3,721     (544  

Changes in fair value of noncontrolling interests

    24,819                (24,819             (24,819    

Other adjustments

    14                (339             (339     (1,346  

Purchase of treasury stock

                (2,903     (153,495       (153,495    
                                                                           

Balance at December 31, 2009

  $ 331,725          134,862   $ 135   $ 621,685      $ 2,312,134   (31,800   $ (793,340   $ (5,548   $ 2,135,066      $ 59,093     

Comprehensive income:

                         

Net income

    9,608                  109,423           109,423        5,969        125,000   

Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps, net of tax

                      (173     (173       (173

Less reclassification of net swap realized losses into net income, net of tax

                      2,187        2,187          2,187   

Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax

                      200        200          200   

Less reclassification of net investment realized losses into net income, net of tax

                      14        14          14   
                               

Total comprehensive income

                          $ 127,228   
                               

Stock purchase shares issued

              2,130        86        2,151          4,281       

Stock unit shares issued

              (84     4        84           

Stock options and SSARs exercised

              4,129        641        15,990          20,119       

Stock-based compensation expense

              10,233                10,233       

Excess tax benefits from stock awards exercised

              419                419       

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

    (11,509                         (7,149  

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

    975                            638     

Sales and assumptions of additional noncontrolling interests

              52                52        257     

Purchases from noncontrolling interests

    (1,200             213                213        (1,320  

Changes in fair value of noncontrolling interests

    20,886                (20,886             (20,886    
                                                                           

Balance at March 31, 2010

  $ 350,485          134,862   $ 135   $ 617,891      $ 2,421,557   (31,069   $ (775,115   $ (3,320   $ 2,261,148      $ 57,488     
                                                                           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

Unless otherwise indicated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q “the Company”, “we”, “us”, “our” and similar terms refer to DaVita Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

1. Condensed consolidated interim financial statements

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements included in this report are prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring items necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations are reflected in these consolidated interim financial statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The most significant estimates and assumptions underlying these financial statements and accompanying notes generally involve revenue recognition and provisions for uncollectible accounts, impairments and valuation adjustments, fair value estimates, accounting for income taxes, variable compensation accruals, purchase accounting valuation estimates and stock-based compensation. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. The consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Prior year balances and amounts have been classified to conform to the current year presentation. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and have included all necessary disclosures.

2. Earnings per share

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to DaVita Inc. net of the increase in noncontrolling interest redemption rights in excess of fair value, by the weighted average number of common shares and vested stock units outstanding. Diluted net income per share includes the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights and unvested stock units (under the treasury stock method).

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

The reconciliations of the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
   2010     2009
   (shares in thousands)

Basic:

    

Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 109,423      $ 96,211

Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption rights in excess of fair value

   $ (869   $ —  
              

Net income for basic earnings per share calculation

   $ 108,554      $ 96,211
              

Weighted average shares outstanding during the period

     103,356        103,869

Vested stock units

     9        9
              

Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share calculation

     103,365        103,878
              

Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc

   $ 1.05      $ 0.93
              

Diluted:

    

Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation

   $ 109,423      $ 96,211

Increase in noncontrolling interest redemption rights in excess of fair value

   $ (869   $ —  
              

Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation

   $ 108,554      $ 96,211
              

Weighted average shares outstanding during the period

     103,356        103,869

Vested stock units

     9        9

Assumed incremental shares from stock plans

     1,401        531
              

Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share calculation

     104,766        104,409
              

Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 1.04      $ 0.92
              

Shares subject to anti-dilutive awards excluded from calculation (1)

     651        12,811
              

 

(1)

Shares associated with stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights that are excluded from the diluted denominator calculation because they are anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.

3. Stock-based compensation and other common stock transactions

Stock-based compensation recognized in a period represents the amortization during that period of the estimated grant-date fair value of current and prior stock-based awards over their vesting terms, adjusted for expected forfeitures. Shares issued upon exercise of stock awards are generally issued from shares in treasury. The Company has used the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model for estimating the grant-date fair value of stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted in all periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company granted 1,225 stock-settled stock appreciation rights with a grant-date fair value of $19,402 and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 3.6 years, and also granted 291 stock units with a grant-date fair value of $18,419 and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 2.7 years.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized $10,233 and $11,009, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, stock units and discounted employee stock plan purchases, which are primarily included in general and

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

administrative expenses. The estimated tax benefit recorded for stock-based compensation through March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $3,880 and $4,171, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, there was $100,585 of total estimated unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements under our equity compensation and stock purchase plans. The Company expects to recognize this cost over a weighted average remaining period of 1.6 years.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company received $20,119 and $8,035, respectively, in cash proceeds from stock option exercises and $7,873 and $2,161, respectively, in actual tax benefits upon the exercise of stock awards.

In connection with a proposal to stockholders requesting approval of an increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plan, the Board of Directors has committed to our stockholders that over the three-year period commencing on April 1, 2010 it will not grant a number of shares subject to stock awards under the Company’s equity compensation plan, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units or other stock awards, at an average annual rate greater than 4.02% of the number of shares of our common stock that we believe will be outstanding over such three-year period. This 4.02% rate is the average of the 2009 and 2010 three-year average median grant rate plus one standard deviation as published by RiskMetrics Group for the Russell 3000 companies in the GICS 3510 industry segment. Awards that are settled in cash, awards that are granted pursuant to stockholder approved exchange programs, awards sold under our employee stock purchase plan and awards assumed or substituted in business combination transactions will be excluded from our grant rate calculation. For purposes of calculating the number of shares granted, any “full-value” awards (i.e., restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance share or any other award that does not have an exercise price per share at least equal to the per share fair market value of our common stock on the grant date) will count as equivalent to 3.0 shares. The Company will publicly report its compliance with this three-year average annual grant rate commitment, and the data necessary to independently confirm it, in a public filing shortly after March 31, 2013.

4. Long-term debt

Long-term debt was comprised of the following:

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Senior secured credit facilities:

    

Term loan A

   $ 131,250      $ 153,125   

Term loan B

     1,705,875        1,705,875   

Senior and senior subordinated notes

     1,750,000        1,750,000   

Acquisition obligations and other notes payable

     12,839        15,891   

Capital lease obligations

     6,106        4,635   
                

Total debt principal outstanding

     3,606,070        3,629,526   

Premium on the 6  5/8% senior notes

     2,487        2,698   
                
     3,608,557        3,632,224   

Less current portion

     (98,844     (100,007
                
   $ 3,509,713      $ 3,532,217   
                

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt at March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

2010 (remainder of the year)

   76,671

2011

   66,912

2012

   1,706,956

2013

   901,124

2014

   546

2015

   850,318

Thereafter

   3,543

On April 30, 2010, the Company notified the Trustee that it is exercising its right to redeem $200,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 6  5/8% senior notes due 2013, at a price of 101.656% and the redemption date is expected to be in June 2010. The Company expects to expense net pre-tax refinancing charges of approximately $4,000 in the second quarter of 2010, associated with the transaction.

During the first three months of 2010, the Company made mandatory principal payments totaling $21,875 on the term loan A.

The Company has entered into several interest rate swap agreements as a means of hedging its exposure to and volatility from variable-based interest rate changes as part of its overall risk management strategy. These agreements are not held for trading or speculative purposes, and have the economic effect of converting portions of our variable rate debt to a fixed rate. These agreements are designated as cash flow hedges, and as a result, hedge-effective gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair values of these swaps are reported in other comprehensive income until such time as each specific swap tranche is realized, at which time the amounts are reclassified into net income. Net amounts paid or received for each specific swap tranche that have settled have been reflected as adjustments to debt expense. These agreements do not contain credit-risk contingent features.

As of March 31, 2010, the Company maintained a total of six interest rate swap agreements with amortizing notional amounts totaling $350,000. These agreements had the economic effect of modifying the LIBOR-based variable interest rate on an equivalent amount of the Company’s debt to fixed rates ranging from 4.05% to 4.70%, resulting in an overall weighted average effective interest rate of 5.83% on the hedged portion of the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities, including the term loan B margin of 1.50%. The swap agreements expire by September 30, 2010 and require quarterly interest payments. The Company estimates that approximately $5,600 of existing unrealized pre-tax losses in other comprehensive income at March 31, 2010 will be reclassified into income over the next two quarters.

The following table summarizes our derivative instruments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

     Interest rate swap liabilities
     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments

   Balance sheet
location
   Fair value    Balance sheet
location
   Fair value

Interest rate swap agreements

   Other current
liabilities
   $ 7,071    Other current
liabilities
   $ 10,792
                   

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

The following table summarizes the effects of our interest rate swap agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Amount of gains
(losses) recognized in
OCI on interest rate
swap agreements
    Location of
(losses) gains
reclassified
from
accumulated
OCI into income
   Amount of gains
(losses) reclassified
from accumulated
OCI into income
 
     Three months ended
March 31,
         Three months ended
March 31,
 

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

       2010             2009              2010     2009  

Interest rate swap agreements

   $ (283   $ (562   Debt expense    $ (3,579   $ (4,548

Tax expense benefit (expense)

     110        219           1,392        1,769   
                                   

Total

   $ (173   $ (343      $ (2,187   $ (2,779
                                   

Total comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $127,228 including an increase to other comprehensive income for amounts reclassified into income, net of unrealized valuation loss on interest rate swaps of $2,014, net of tax, and an increase to other comprehensive income for unrealized valuation gains on investments, and the amounts reclassified into income of $214, net of tax.

Total comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $110,502 including an increase to comprehensive income for amounts reclassified into income, net of unrealized valuation losses on interest rate swaps of $2,436, net of tax, and adjustments to other comprehensive income for unrealized losses on investments, net of amounts reclassified into income of ($208), net of tax.

As of March 31, 2010, the Company’s interest rates were economically fixed on approximately 19% of its variable rate debt and approximately 59% of its total debt.

As a result of the swap agreements, the Company’s overall weighted average effective interest rate on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities was 2.57%, based upon the current margins in effect of 1.50%, as of March 31, 2010.

The Company’s overall weighted average effective interest rate during the first quarter of 2010 was 4.67% and as of March 31, 2010 was 4.66%.

As of March 31, 2010, the Company has undrawn revolving credit facilities totaling $250,000 of which approximately $52,000 was committed for outstanding letters of credit. In addition, the Company currently has undrawn revolving credit facilities totaling $2,500 associated with several of its joint ventures. These revolving credit facilities are typically guaranteed by DaVita Inc. or one of its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries based upon its proportionate ownership percentage.

5. Contingencies

The majority of the Company’s revenues are from government programs and may be subject to adjustment as a result of: (1) examination by government agencies or contractors, for which the resolution of any matters raised may take extended periods of time to finalize; (2) differing interpretations of government regulations by

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

different fiscal intermediaries or regulatory authorities; (3) differing opinions regarding a patient’s medical diagnosis or the medical necessity of services provided; and (4) retroactive applications or interpretations of governmental requirements. In addition, the Company’s revenues from commercial payors may be subject to adjustment as a result of potential claims for refunds, as a result of government actions or as a result of other claims by commercial payors.

Inquiries by the Federal Government

In December 2008, the Company received a subpoena for documents from the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or OIG, relating to the pharmaceutical products Zemplar, Hectorol, Venofer, Ferrlecit and Epogen®, or EPO, as well as other related matters. The subpoena covers the period from January 2003 to the present. The Company has been in contact with the United States Attorney’s Office, or U.S. Attorney’s Office, for the Northern District of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, since November 2008 relating to this matter, and has been advised that this is a civil inquiry. On June 17, 2009, the Company learned that the allegations were made as part of a civil qui tam complaint filed by individuals and brought pursuant to the federal False Claims Act. The case remains under seal in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The Company is cooperating with the inquiry and is producing the requested records. To the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings have been initiated by the federal government against the Company at this time. Although the Company cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated, or when these matters may be resolved, it is not unusual for investigations such as these to continue for a considerable period of time. Responding to the subpoena will continue to require management’s attention and significant legal expense. Any negative findings could result in substantial financial penalties against the Company and exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

In February 2007, the Company received a request for information from the OIG for records relating to EPO claims submitted to Medicare. In August 2007, the Company received a subpoena from the OIG seeking similar documents. The requested documents relate to services provided from 2001 to 2004 by a number of the Company’s centers. The request and subpoena were sent from the OIG’s offices in Houston and Dallas, Texas. The Company is cooperating with the inquiry and is producing the requested records. The Company has been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, which has stated that this is a civil inquiry related to EPO claims. On July 6, 2009, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas lifted the seal on the civil qui tam complaint related to these allegations and the Company was subsequently served with a complaint by the relator. The Company believes that there is some overlap between this issue and the ongoing review of EPO utilization and claims by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis described below. To the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings have been initiated by the federal government against the Company at this time. Although the Company cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated or when these matters may be resolved, it is not unusual for investigations such as these to continue for a considerable period of time. Responding to these inquiries will continue to require management’s attention and significant legal expense. Any negative findings could result in substantial financial penalties against the Company and exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

In March 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis. The subpoena requires production of a wide range of documents relating to the Company’s operations, including documents related to, among other things, pharmaceutical and other services provided to patients, relationships with pharmaceutical companies, and financial relationships with physicians and joint ventures. The subpoena covers the period from December 1, 1996 through the present. In October 2005,

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

the Company received a follow-up request for additional documents related to specific medical director and joint venture arrangements. In February 2006, the Company received an additional subpoena for documents, including certain patient records relating to the administration and billing of EPO. In May 2007, the Company received a request for documents related to durable medical equipment and supply companies owned and operated by the Company. The Company is cooperating with the inquiry and is producing the requested records. The subpoenas have been issued in connection with a joint civil and criminal investigation. It is possible that criminal proceedings may be initiated against the Company in connection with this inquiry. To the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings have been initiated against the Company at this time. Although the Company cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated or when these matters may be resolved, it is not unusual for investigations such as these to continue for a considerable period of time. Responding to the subpoenas will continue to require management’s attention and significant legal expense. Any negative findings could result in substantial financial penalties against the Company, exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and criminal penalties.

The Company was recently advised by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is conducting a civil investigation into the Company’s financial relationships with physicians. The Company has not received details as to the extent or scope of the inquiry but is expecting a subpoena in the near future. The Company intends to cooperate with the investigation just as it is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices with respect to each of the other inquiries as described above.

Other

The Company has received several notices of claims from commercial payors and other third parties related to historical billing practices and claims against DVA Renal Healthcare (formerly known as Gambro Healthcare) related to historical Gambro Healthcare billing practices and other matters covered by their 2004 settlement agreement with the Department of Justice and certain agencies of the U.S. government. At least one commercial payor has filed an arbitration demand against the Company, as described below, and additional commercial payors have threatened litigation. The Company intends to defend against these claims vigorously; however, the Company may not be successful and these claims may lead to litigation and any such litigation may be resolved unfavorably.

Several wage and hour claims have been filed against the Company in the Superior Court of California, each of which has been styled as a class action. In February 2007, June 2008, October 2008 and December 2008, the Company was served with five separate complaints, including two in October 2008, by various former employees, each of which alleges, among other things, that the Company failed to provide rest and meal periods, failed to pay compensation in lieu of providing such rest or meal periods, failed to pay the correct amount of overtime, failed to pay the rate on the “wage statement,” and failed to comply with certain other California Labor Code requirements. The Company has reached a settlement and release of all claims against it in connection with the complaints served in February 2007 and December 2008 and one of the complaints served in October 2008. The Company has fully funded the settlement which, pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, will result in a dismissal of the underlying court proceedings against it. The overall settlement amount was not material. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the remaining claims and to vigorously oppose the certification of the remaining matters as class actions.

In October 2007, the Company was contacted by the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Nevada. The Attorney General’s Office informed the Company that it was conducting a civil and criminal investigation of the

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

Company’s operations in Nevada and that the investigation related to the billing of pharmaceuticals, including EPO. In February 2008, the Attorney General’s Office informed the Company that the civil and criminal investigation has been discontinued. The Attorney General’s Office further advised the Company that Nevada Medicaid intends to conduct audits of end stage renal disease (ESRD) dialysis providers in Nevada, including the Company, and that such audits will relate to the issues that were the subjects of the investigation. To the Company’s knowledge, no court proceedings have been initiated against the Company at this time. Any negative audit findings could result in a substantial repayment by the Company.

In August 2005, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Gambro AB, DVA Renal Healthcare (formerly known as Gambro Healthcare) and related entities. The plaintiff sought to bring its claims as a class action on behalf of itself and all entities that paid any of the defendants for health care goods and services from on or about January 1991 through at least December 2004. The complaint alleged, among other things, damages resulting from facts and circumstances underlying Gambro Healthcare’s 2004 settlement agreement with the Department of Justice and certain agencies of the U.S. government. In March 2006, the case was dismissed and the plaintiff was compelled to seek arbitration to resolve the matter. In November 2006, the plaintiff filed a demand for class arbitration against the Company and DVA Renal Healthcare. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these claims. The Company also intends to vigorously oppose the certification of this matter as a class action. At this time, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or the potential range of damages, if any.

In June 2004, Gambro Healthcare was served with a complaint filed in the Superior Court of California by one of its former employees who worked for its California acute services program. The complaint, which is styled as a class action, alleges, among other things, that DVA Renal Healthcare failed to provide overtime wages, defined rest periods and meal periods, or compensation in lieu of such provisions and failed to comply with certain other California Labor Code requirements. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these claims. The Company also intends to vigorously oppose the certification of this matter as a class action. At this time, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

In addition to the foregoing, the Company is subject to claims and suits, including from time to time, contractual disputes and professional and general liability claims, as well as audits and investigations by various government entities, in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the ultimate resolution of any such pending proceedings, whether the underlying claims are covered by insurance or not, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

6. Investments in debt and equity securities

Based on the Company’s intentions and strategy involving investments in debt and equity securities, the Company classifies certain debt securities as held-to-maturity and records them at amortized cost. Equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and certain other debt securities classified as available for sale are recorded at fair value.

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

The Company’s investments consist of the following:

 

     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009
   Held to
maturity
   Available
for sale
   Total    Held to
maturity
   Available
for sale
   Total

Certificates of deposit, money market funds and U.S. treasury notes due within one year

   $ 21,707    $ —      $ 21,707    $ 25,275    $ —      $ 25,275

Investments in mutual funds

     —        8,784      8,784      —        8,816      8,816
                                         
   $ 21,707    $ 8,784    $ 30,491    $ 25,275    $ 8,816    $ 34,091
                                         

Short-term investments

   $ 21,707    $ 1,200    $ 22,907    $ 25,275    $ 1,200    $ 26,475

Long-term investments

     —        7,584      7,584      —        7,616      7,616
                                         
   $ 21,707    $ 8,784    $ 30,491    $ 25,275    $ 8,816    $ 34,091
                                         

The cost of the certificates of deposit, money market funds and U.S. treasury notes at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 approximates their fair value. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the available for sale investments included $145 and $(205), respectively, of gross pre-tax unrealized gains (losses). During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recorded gross pre-tax unrealized gains of $200, after tax, in other comprehensive income associated with changes in the fair value of these investments. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company sold equity securities in mutual funds for net proceeds of $880, and recognized a pre-tax loss of $22, or $14 after tax, that was previously recorded in other comprehensive income. The pre-tax loss is included in other income.

As of March 31, 2010, investments totaling approximately $18,500 classified as held to maturity are investments used to maintain certain capital requirements of the special need plans of VillageHealth, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As of December 31, 2009, the Company discontinued the VillageHealth special needs plans and is in the process of paying out all incurred claims. The Company expects to liquidate these investments as soon as all of the claims are paid and the various state regulatory agencies approve the release of these investments. The investments in mutual funds classified as available for sale are held in trust to fund existing obligations associated with several of the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plans.

7. Fair value of financial instruments

The Company measures the fair value of certain assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions based upon certain valuation techniques that include observable or unobservable inputs and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing these assets, liabilities and commitments. The Company also has classified certain assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions that are measured at fair value into the appropriate fair value hierarchy levels.

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2010:

 

     Total    Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
   Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Assets

           

Available for sale securities

   $ 8,784    $ 8,784    $ —      $ —  
                           

Liabilities

           

Interest rate swap agreements

   $ 7,071    $ —      $ 7,071    $ —  
                           

Temporary equity

           

Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions

   $ 350,485    $ —      $ —      $ 350,485
                           

The available for sale securities represent investments in various open-ended registered investment companies, or mutual funds, and are recorded at fair value based upon the quoted market prices as reported by each mutual fund. See Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

The interest rate swap agreements are recorded at fair value based upon valuation models and a variety of techniques as reported by various broker dealers that are based upon relevant observable market inputs such as current interest rates, forward yield curves, and other credit and liquidity market conditions. The Company does not believe the ultimate amount that could be realized upon settlement of these interest rate swap agreements would be materially different than the fair values as currently reported. See Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

See Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the Company’s methodology for estimating the fair value of noncontrolling interests subject to put obligations.

The Company has other financial instruments in addition to the above that consist primarily of cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, and debt. The balances of the non-debt financial instruments are presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2010 at their approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of their settlements. Borrowings under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities totaled $1,837,125 as of March 31, 2010 and the fair value was $1,814,161 based upon quoted market prices. The fair value of the Company’s senior and senior subordinated notes was approximately $1,775,875 at March 31, 2010, based upon quoted market prices, as compared to the carrying amount of $1,750,000.

8. Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions and other commitments

The Company has potential obligations to purchase the noncontrolling interests held by third parties in several of its joint ventures and non-wholly-owned subsidiaries. These obligations are in the form of put provisions and are exercisable at the third-party owners’ discretion within specified periods as outlined in each specific put provision. If these put provisions were exercised, the Company would be required to purchase the third-party owners’ noncontrolling interests at either the appraised fair market value or a predetermined multiple of earnings or cash flow attributable to the noncontrolling interests put to the Company, which is intended to

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

approximate fair value. The methodology the Company uses to estimate the fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions assumes either the higher of a liquidation value of net assets or an average multiple of earnings, based on historical earnings, patient mix and other performance indicators, as well as other factors. The estimated fair values of the noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions can fluctuate and the implicit multiple of earnings at which these noncontrolling interests obligations may be settled will vary significantly depending upon market conditions including potential purchasers’ access to the capital markets, which can impact the level of competition for dialysis and non-dialysis related businesses, the economic performance of these businesses and the restricted marketability of the third-party owners’ noncontrolling interests. The amount of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions that contractually employ a predetermined multiple of earnings rather than fair value are immaterial.

Additionally, the Company has certain other potential commitments to provide operating capital to several dialysis centers that are wholly-owned by third parties or centers in which the Company owns an equity investment as well as to physician-owned vascular access clinics that the Company operates under management and administrative services agreements of approximately $6,200.

Certain consolidated joint ventures are contractually scheduled to dissolve after terms ranging from ten to fifty years. Accordingly, the noncontrolling interests in these joint ventures are considered mandatorily redeemable instruments for which the classification and measurement requirements have been indefinitely deferred. Future distributions upon dissolution of these entities would be valued below the related noncontrolling interest carrying balances in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

9. Income taxes

As of March 31, 2010, the Company’s total liability for unrecognized tax benefits relating to tax positions that do not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold is $18,718, of which $12,286 would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. The balance represents a decrease of $11,975 from the December 31, 2009 balance, primarily due to a tax accounting method change initiated during the quarter ending March 31, 2010. This decrease did not impact the Company’s effective tax rate. It is reasonably possible that $6,433 of unrecognized tax benefits may be recognized within the next 12 months, primarily related to tax accounting method changes.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had approximately $4,243 and $3,226, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, net of federal tax benefits.

10. Segment reporting

The Company operates principally as a dialysis and related lab services business but also operates other ancillary services and strategic initiatives. These ancillary services and strategic initiatives consist of pharmacy services, infusion therapy services, disease management services, vascular access services, ESRD clinical research programs and physician services. For internal management reporting, the dialysis and related lab services business and each of the ancillary services and strategic initiatives have been defined as separate operating segments by management as separate financial information is regularly produced and reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in making decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial results. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The dialysis and

 

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Table of Contents

DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

related lab services business qualifies as a separately reportable segment and all of the other ancillary services and strategic initiatives operating segments have been combined and disclosed in the other segments category.

The Company’s operating segment financial information is prepared on an internal management reporting basis that the Chief Executive Officer uses to allocate resources and analyze the performance of operating segments. For internal management reporting, segment operations include direct segment operating expenses with the exception of stock-based compensation expense and equity investment income (loss).

The following is a summary of segment revenues, segment operating income (loss), and a reconciliation of segment income to consolidated income before income taxes:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

Segment revenues:

    

Dialysis and related lab services (1)

   $ 1,478,424      $ 1,376,563   

Other – Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

     80,994        71,077   
                

Consolidated revenues

   $ 1,559,418      $ 1,447,640   
                

Segment operating income (loss):

    

Dialysis and related lab services

   $ 252,562      $ 236,952   

Other – Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

     (2,008     (5,321
                

Total segment income

   $ 250,554      $ 231,631   

Reconciliation of segment income to consolidated income before income taxes:

    

Stock-based compensation

   $ (10,233   $ (11,009

Equity investment income (loss)

     2,345        (18
                

Consolidated operating income

     242,666        220,604   

Debt expense

     (44,583     (48,301

Other income

     831        754   
                

Consolidated income before income taxes

   $ 198,914      $ 173,057   
                

 

(1)

Includes management fees related to providing management and administrative services to dialysis centers that are wholly-owned by third parties or centers in which the Company owns an equity investment.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the dialysis and related lab services for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $55,817, and was $1,651 for the ancillary services and strategic initiatives.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the dialysis and related lab services for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $55,374, and was $1,749 for the ancillary services and strategic initiatives.

Summary of assets by segment is as follows:

 

     March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Segment assets

     

Dialysis and related lab services

   $ 7,471,859    $ 7,334,235

Other – Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

     219,859      224,001
             

Consolidated assets

   $ 7,691,718    $ 7,558,236
             

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the total amount of expenditures for property and equipment for the dialysis and related lab services was $45,034, and was $337 for the ancillary services and strategic initiatives.

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the total amount of expenditures for property and equipment for the dialysis and related lab services were $72,358, and was $845 for the ancillary services and strategic initiatives.

11. Changes in DaVita Inc.’s ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries

The effects of changes in DaVita Inc.’s ownership interest on the Company’s equity are as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010    2009  

Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 109,423    $ 96,211   
               

Increase (decrease) in paid-in capital for sales of noncontrolling interest in one and four joint ventures

     52      (175

Increase (decrease) in paid-in capital for the purchase of noncontrolling interest in one and one joint venture

     213      (795
               

Net transfer from (to) noncontrolling interests

     265      (970
               

Change from net income attributable to DaVita Inc. and transfers from (to) noncontrolling interests

   $ 109,688    $ 95,241   
               

12. Variable interest entities

Effective January 1, 2010, the FASB eliminated the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and required additional disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities. An entity is required to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity by having both the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity, or the right to receive benefits from the entity. In addition, the FASB established new guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity, requiring an ongoing reassessment of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and adding an additional reconsideration event for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that the holders of the equity investment are at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. Except for the new disclosures requirements, there was no other impact to the Company’s financial statements as a result of implementing these new requirements.

The Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of all but one of the variable interest entities (“VIEs”) with which it is associated. These VIEs are principally operating subsidiaries owned by related party nominee owners for the Company’s benefit in jurisdictions in which the Company does not qualify for direct ownership under applicable regulations. These include dialysis operating entities in New York state and physician practice management entities in various other states.

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

For the VIEs that the Company consolidates, the Company bears virtually all of the economic risks and rewards of ownership under the terms of the applicable arrangements. The Company has contractual arrangements with its respective related party nominee owners which indemnify them from the economic losses, and entitle the Company to the economic benefits, that may result from ownership of these VIEs. DaVita Inc. manages these VIE subsidiaries and provides operating and capital funding as necessary to accomplish its operational and strategic objectives. Accordingly, since the Company bears virtually all of the risks and rewards attendant to their ownership, the Company consolidates these variable interest entities as their primary beneficiary.

Total assets of these consolidated operating VIEs were approximately $21,000 and their liabilities to unrelated third parties were approximately $17,000 at March 31, 2010.

The Company is also a member in a single partnership that qualifies as a VIE but which the Company does not consolidate. This partnership is an operating dialysis business that is under the joint control of DaVita Inc. and an independent third party and is owned 40% by DaVita Inc. and 60% by that independent third party. This partnership is adequately equity-capitalized to finance its own activities and has assets of approximately $13,000 and liabilities of approximately $1,000 at March 31, 2010. The Company accounts for its interest in this partnership as an equity method investment.

The Company also sponsors certain deferred compensation plans whose trusts qualify as VIEs and as their primary beneficiary the Company consolidates each of these plans. The assets of these plans are recorded in short-term or long-term investments with matching offsetting liabilities in accrued compensation and benefits and other long-term liabilities. See Note 6 for disclosures on the assets of these consolidated non-qualified deferred compensation plans.

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

13. Condensed consolidating financial statements

The following information is presented in accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. The operating and investing activities of the separate legal entities included in the consolidated financial statements are fully interdependent and integrated. Revenues and operating expenses of the separate legal entities include intercompany charges for management and other services. The senior notes and the senior subordinated notes were issued by the Company and are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. Each of the guarantor subsidiaries has guaranteed the notes on a joint and several, full and unconditional basis. Non-wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partnerships and other third parties are not guarantors of these obligations.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

   DaVita Inc.     Guarantor
subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
subsidiaries
    Consolidating
adjustments
    Consolidated
total
 

Net operating revenues

   $ 103,668      $ 1,295,164      $ 270,570      $ (109,984   $ 1,559,418   

Operating expenses

     60,035        1,138,931        227,770        (109,984     1,316,752   
                                        

Operating income

     43,633        156,233        42,800        —          242,666   

Debt (expense)

     (44,698     (42,223     (205     42,543        (44,583

Other income

     43,255        —          119        (42,543     831   

Income tax expense

     16,960        55,740        1,214        —          73,914   

Equity earnings in subsidiaries

     84,193        25,593        —          (109,786     —     
                                        

Net income

     109,423        83,863        41,500        (109,786     125,000   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     —          —          —          (15,577     (15,577
                                        

Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 109,423      $ 83,863      $ 41,500      $ (125,363   $ 109,423   
                                        

For the three months ended March 31, 2009

                              

Net operating revenues

   $ 92,823      $ 1,221,993      $ 232,368      $ (99,544   $ 1,447,640   

Operating expenses

     60,660        1,064,201        201,719        (99,544     1,227,036   
                                        

Operating income

     32,163        157,792        30,649        —          220,604   

Debt (expense)

     (48,605     (40,309     (456     41,069        (48,301

Other income

     41,737        —          86        (41,069     754   

Income tax expense

     10,169        53,896        718        —          64,783   

Equity earnings in subsidiaries

     81,085        16,668        —          (97,753     —     
                                        

Net income

     96,211        80,255        29,561        (97,753     108,274   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     —          —          —          (12,063     (12,063
                                        

Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.

   $ 96,211      $ 80,255      $ 29,561      $ (109,816   $ 96,211   
                                        

 

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DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

As of March 31, 2010

   DaVita Inc.    Gaurantor
subsidiaries
   Non-Guarantor
subsidiaries
   Consolidating
adjustments
    Consolidated
total

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 753,866    $ —      $ 2,043    $ —        $ 755,909

Accounts receivable, net

     —        955,914      147,872      —          1,103,786

Other current assets

     13,334      541,320      46,902      —          601,556
                                   

Total current assets

     767,200      1,497,234      196,817      —          2,461,251

Property and equipment, net

     12,831      892,020      188,999      —          1,093,850

Amortizable intangibles, net

     27,839      97,266      4,180      —          129,285

Investments in subsidiaries

     5,300,687      502,020      —        (5,802,707     —  

Receivables from subsidiaries

     21,621      —        136,138      (157,759     —  

Other long-term assets and investments

     7,682      20,907      36,357      —          64,946

Goodwill

     —        3,614,075      328,311      —          3,942,386
                                   

Total assets

   $ 6,137,860    $ 6,623,522    $ 890,802    $ (5,960,466   $ 7,691,718
                                   

Current liabilities

   $ 177,214    $ 776,063    $ 94,198    $ —        $ 1,047,475

Payables to parent

     —        138,730      19,029      (157,759     —  

Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities

     3,469,083      489,075      16,964      —          3,975,122

Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions

     230,415      —        —        120,070        350,485

Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity

     2,261,148      5,219,654      583,053      (5,802,707     2,261,148

Noncontrolling interest not subject to put provisions

     —        —        177,558      (120,070     57,488
                                   

Total equity

     2,261,148      5,219,654      760,611      (5,922,777     2,318,636
                                   

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 6,137,860    $ 6,623,522    $ 890,802    $ (5,960,466   $ 7,691,718
                                   

As of December 31, 2009

                         

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 534,550    $ —      $ 4,909    $ —        $ 539,459

Accounts receivable, net

     —        961,946      143,957      —          1,105,903

Other current assets

     15,619      597,086      44,454      —          657,159
                                   

Total current assets

     550,169      1,559,032      193,320      —          2,302,521

Property and equipment, net

     11,232      900,969      192,724      —          1,104,925

Amortizable intangibles, net

     30,212      101,931      4,589      —          136,732

Investments in subsidiaries

     5,130,035      509,733      —        (5,639,768     —  

Receivables from subsidiaries

     293,062      —        138,482      (431,544     —  

Other long-term assets and investments

     7,700      19,528      35,634      —          62,862

Goodwill

     —        3,622,885      328,311      —          3,951,196
                                   

Total assets

   $ 6,022,410    $ 6,714,078    $ 893,060    $ (6,071,312   $ 7,558,236
                                   

Current liabilities

   $ 170,061    $ 781,870    $ 95,010    $ —        $ 1,046,941

Payables to parent

     —        418,529      13,015      (431,544     —  

Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities

     3,507,753      458,779      18,879      —          3,985,411

Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions

     209,530      —        —        122,195        331,725

Total DaVita Inc. shareholders’ equity

     2,135,066      5,054,900      584,868      (5,639,768     2,135,066

Noncontrolling interest not subject to put provisions

     —        —        181,288      (122,195     59,093
                                   

Total equity

     2,135,066      5,054,900      766,156      (5,761,963     2,194,159
                                   

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 6,022,410    $ 6,714,078    $ 893,060    $ (6,071,312   $ 7,558,236
                                   

 

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Table of Contents

DAVITA INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

  DaVita Inc.     Guarantor
subsidiaries
    Non-guarantor
subsidiaries
    Consolidating
adjustments
    Consolidated
total
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

         

Net income

  $ 109,423      $ 83,863      $ 41,500      $ (109,786   $ 125,000   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income

    (157,840     228,531        (43,630     109,786        136,847   
                                       

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (48,417     312,394        (2,130     —          261,847   
                                       

Cash flows from investing activities:

         

Additions of property and equipment, net

    (2,683     (34,561     (5,341     —          (42,585

Acquisitions

    —          (1,069     —          —          (1,069

Proceeds from asset sales

    —          16,264        —          —          16,264   

Proceeds from investment sales and other items

    114        3,713        —          —          3,827   
                                       

Net cash used in investing activities

    (2,569     (15,653     (5,341     —          (23,563
                                       

Cash flows from financing activities:

         

Long-term debt, net

    (23,460     1,460        (3,041     —          (25,041

Intercompany borrowing

    271,311        (279,651     8,340        —          —     

Other items

    22,451        (18,550     (694     —          3,207   
                                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    270,302        (296,741     4,605        —          (21,834
                                       

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    219,316        —          (2,866     —          216,450   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    534,550        —          4,909        —          539,459   
                                       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 753,866      $ —        $ 2,043      $ —        $ 755,909   
                                       

For the three months ended March 31, 2009

                             

Cash flows from operating activities:

         

Net income

  $ 96,211      $ 80,255      $ 29,561      $ (97,753   $ 108,274   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and non-cash items included in net income

    (130,637     29,672        29,187        97,753        25,975   
                                       

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (34,426     109,927        58,748        —          134,249   
                                       

Cash flows from investing activities:

         

Additions of property and equipment, net

    (159     (53,879     (19,165     —          (73,203

Acquisitions

    —          (39,828     —          —          (39,828

Proceeds from asset sales

    —          4,199        —          —          4,199   

Proceeds from investment sales and other items

    10,155        14        —          —          10,169   
                                       

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    9,996        (89,494     (19,165     —          (98,663
                                       

Cash flows from financing activities:

         

Long-term debt, net

    (13,135     20        1,916        —          (11,199

Intercompany borrowing

    52,703        (22,110     (30,593     —          —     

Other items

    (22,135     1,657        (9,107     —          (29,585
                                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    17,433        (20,433     (37,784     —          (40,784
                                       

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (6,997     —          1,799        —          (5,198

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    397,576        —          13,305        —          410,881   
                                       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 390,579      $ —        $ 15,104      $ —        $ 405,683   
                                       

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward-looking statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements that do not concern historical facts are forward-looking statements and include, among other things, statements about our expectations, beliefs, intentions and/or strategies for the future. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our future operations, financial condition and prospects, expectations for treatment growth rates, revenue per treatment, expense growth, levels of the provision for uncollectible accounts receivable, operating income, cash flow, operating cash flow, estimated tax rates, capital expenditures, the development of new centers and center acquisitions, government and commercial payment rates, revenue estimating risk and the impact of our related level of indebtedness on our financial performance, including earnings per share. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks resulting from the regulatory environment in which we operate, economic and market conditions, competitive activities, other business conditions, accounting estimates, the variability of our cash flows, the concentration of profits generated from commercial payor plans, continued downward pressure on average realized payment rates from commercial payors, which may result in the loss of revenue or patients, a reduction in the number of patients under higher-paying commercial plans, a reduction in government payment rates or changes to the structure of payments under the Medicare ESRD program or other government-based programs, including, for example, the implementation of a bundled payment rate system which will lower reimbursement for services we provide to Medicare patients, and the impact of health care reform legislation that was enacted in the U.S. in March 2010, changes in pharmaceutical or anemia management practice patterns, payment policies, or pharmaceutical pricing, our ability to maintain contracts with physician medical directors, legal compliance risks, including our continued compliance with complex government regulations, the resolution of ongoing investigations by various federal and state government agencies, and the risk factors set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We base our forward-looking statements on information currently available to us, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise.

The following should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Results of operations

We operate principally as a dialysis and related lab services business but also operate other ancillary services and strategic initiatives. These ancillary services and strategic initiatives consist of pharmacy services, infusion therapy services, disease management services (VillageHealth), vascular access services, ESRD clinical research programs and physician services. The dialysis and related lab services business qualifies as a separately reportable segment and all of the other ancillary services and strategic initiatives segments have been combined and disclosed in the other segments category.

 

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Table of Contents

Our consolidated operating results for the first quarter of 2010 compared with the prior sequential quarter and the same quarter of 2009 were as follows:

 

     Quarter ended  
     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 
   (dollar amounts rounded to nearest million)  

Net operating revenues

   $ 1,559      100   $ 1,568      100   $ 1,448    100
                             

Operating expenses and charges:

             

Patient care costs

     1,083      69     1,095      70     1,006    70

General and administrative

     137      9     137      9     127    9

Depreciation and amortization

     57      4     57      4     57    4

Provision for uncollectible accounts

     42      3     42      3     37    3

Equity investment income

     (2   —          (1   —          —      —     
                             

Total operating expenses and charges

     1,317      84     1,329      85     1,227    85
                             

Operating income

   $ 243      16   $ 239      15   $ 221    15
                             

The following table summarizes consolidated net operating revenues:

 

     Three months ended
   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009
   March 31,
2009
   (dollar amounts rounded to nearest million)

Dialysis and related lab services

   $ 1,478    $ 1,483    $ 1,377

Other – Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

     81      85      71
                    

Consolidated net operating revenues

   $ 1,559    $ 1,568    $ 1,448
                    

The following table summarizes consolidated operating income:

 

     Three months ended  
   March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 
   (dollar amounts rounded to nearest million)  

Dialysis and related lab services

   $ 253      $ 254      $ 237   

Other – Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

     (2     (6     (5
                        

Total segment operating income

     251        248        232   

Reconciling items:

      

Stock-based compensation

     (10     (11     (11

Equity investment income

     2        1       —     
                        

Consolidated operating income

   $ 243      $ 239      $ 221   
                        

Consolidated net operating revenues

Consolidated net operating revenues for the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $9 million, or approximately 0.6%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The decrease in consolidated net operating revenues was primarily due to a decrease in dialysis and related lab services net revenues of approximately $5 million, principally due to a decrease in the number of treatments as a result of fewer treatment days in the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by an increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment. The decrease in consolidated net revenues was also due to a decrease of approximately $4 million in the ancillary services and strategic initiatives net revenues primarily as a result of discontinuing the VillageHealth special needs plans effective December 31, 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

Consolidated net operating revenues for the first quarter of 2010 increased by approximately $111 million, or approximately 7.7%, as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase in consolidated net operating revenues was primarily due to an increase in dialysis and related lab services net revenues of approximately $101 million, principally due to an increase in the number of treatments from non-acquired treatment growth in existing and new centers and growth through acquisitions, as well as an increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment. The increase in consolidated net revenues was also due to an increase of approximately $10 million in the ancillary services and strategic initiatives net revenues primarily from growth in our pharmacy business.

Consolidated operating income

Consolidated operating income for the first quarter of 2010 increased by approximately $4 million, or approximately 1.7%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in consolidated operating income was primarily due to a reduction of approximately $4 million in the operating losses in the ancillary services and strategic initiatives, lower stock-based compensation and additional equity investment income. However, consolidated operating income was negatively impacted by lower dialysis and related lab services operating income primarily due to fewer treatment days in the first quarter of 2010, a decline in productivity and an increase in labor costs and related payroll taxes.

Consolidated operating income for the first quarter of 2010 increased by $22 million, or approximately 10.0%, as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase in consolidated operating income was primarily due to (i) growth in revenue in the dialysis and related lab services, primarily from additional treatments, and an increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment and (ii) cost control initiatives and improved productivity, partially offset by higher pharmaceutical costs, labor and benefit costs, payroll taxes and additional other operating costs at our dialysis centers.

Operating segments

Dialysis and Related Lab Services

 

     Three months ended
   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009
   March 31,
2009
   (dollar amounts rounded to nearest million,
except per treatment data)

Revenues

   $ 1,478    $ 1,483    $ 1,377
                    

Segment operating income

   $ 253    $ 254    $ 237
                    

Dialysis treatments

     4,294,121      4,360,638      4,082,439

Average dialysis treatments per treatment day

     55,768      55,198      53,365

Average dialysis revenue per dialysis treatment (including the lab)

   $ 344    $ 339    $ 337

Net operating revenues

Dialysis and related lab services’ net operating revenues for the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $5 million, or approximately 0.3%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The decrease in net operating revenues was primarily due to a decrease in the number of treatment days in the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by an increase of approximately $4 in our average dialysis revenue per treatment. The increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment was primarily due to an increase in our commercial payment rates, a 1% increase in the Medicare composite rate and an increase in our lab revenue, partially offset by changes in the mix of our non-government payors and a decrease in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals.

Dialysis and related lab services’ net operating revenues increased by approximately $101 million, or 7.4%, in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase in net operating revenues in the

 

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Table of Contents

first quarter of 2010 was principally due to an increase in the number of treatments of approximately 5.0%, an increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment of approximately 2.1%, with the balance of the increase due to additional lab revenue and management fees. The increase in the number of treatments was primarily attributable to non-acquired treatment growth at existing and new centers and growth through acquisitions. The increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment was primarily due to an increase in our commercial payment rates, a 1% increase in the Medicare composite rate, and an increase in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals, partially offset by changes in the mix of our non-government payors.

Operating expenses and charges

Patient care costs. Dialysis and related lab services’ patient care costs on a per treatment basis increased by approximately $3 in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in the per treatment costs was primarily attributable to a decline in productivity, an increase in labor costs and related payroll taxes, and an increase in pharmaceutical costs, partially offset by a decrease in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals.

Dialysis and related lab services’ patient care costs on a per treatment basis increased by approximately $5 in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase in the per treatment costs was primarily attributable to an increase in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals, higher labor costs and related payroll taxes, additional other operating costs of our dialysis centers and an increase in pharmaceutical costs, partially offset by improved productivity and the timing of certain expenditures.

General and administrative expenses. Dialysis and related lab services’ general and administrative expenses of approximately $112 million for the first quarter of 2010 was flat as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. However, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2010 were impacted by an increase in labor costs and related payroll taxes which were offset by a decrease in professional fees and supply costs. In absolute dollars, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009. The increase was primarily due to higher labor and benefit costs and the timing of certain expenditures, partially offset by lower professional fees and supply costs.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization for dialysis and related lab services was approximately $56 million in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to $55 million for both the fourth quarter of 2009 and for the first quarter of 2009. The slight increase in depreciation and amortization for dialysis and related lab services in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, was primarily due to the acceleration of depreciation on certain assets in the first quarter of 2010. The slight increase in depreciation and amortization for the dialysis and related lab services in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the first quarter of 2009, was primarily due to growth in new centers and expansions of certain existing centers, partially offset by certain assets becoming fully depreciated.

Provision for uncollectible accounts. The provision for uncollectible accounts receivable for dialysis and related lab services was 2.8% for the first quarter of 2010, 2.8% for the fourth quarter of 2009, and 2.6% for the first quarter of 2009. We assess our level of the provision for uncollectible accounts based upon our historical cash collection experience and trends, and will adjust the provision as necessary as a result of changes in our cash collections.

Segment operating income

Dialysis and related lab services’ operating income for the first quarter of 2010 decreased slightly by approximately $1 million, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenue as a result of fewer treatment days in the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by an increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment of approximately $4. The increase in the average dialysis revenue per treatment was primarily due to an increase in our commercial payment rates, a 1% increase in the Medicare composite rate and an increase in our lab revenue, partially offset by changes in the

 

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mix of our non-government payors and a decrease in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals. Dialysis and related lab services operating income was also negatively impacted by a decline in productivity, higher labor costs and related payroll taxes and an increase in pharmaceuticals costs.

Dialysis and related lab services’ operating income for the first quarter of 2010 increased by approximately $16 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase in operating income was primarily attributable to growth in revenue from additional treatments as a result of non-acquired treatment growth, as well as increases in our average dialysis revenue per treatment of approximately $7 primarily due to an increase in our commercial payment rates, a 1% increase in the Medicare composite rate, and an increase in the intensities of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals, partially offset by changes in the mix of our non-government payors. Operating income also increased as a result of cost control initiatives and improved productivity partially offset by higher labor costs and related payroll taxes, an increase in pharmaceutical costs and an increase in the operating costs of our dialysis centers.

Other – Ancillary Services and Strategic Initiatives

 

     Three months ended  
   March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 
   (dollar amounts rounded to nearest million)  

Revenues

   $ 81      $ 85      $ 71   
                        

Segment operating loss

   $ (2   $ (6   $ (5
                        

Net operating revenues

The ancillary services and strategic initiatives’ net operating revenues for the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $4 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The decrease was primarily as a result of discontinuing the VillageHealth special needs plans, effective December 31, 2009.

The increase in net operating revenues for the first quarter of 2010 of approximately $10 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2009, was primarily due to growth in our pharmacy business, partially offset by a decrease in net operating revenues in VillageHealth and in our clinical research programs.

Operating expenses

Ancillary services and strategic initiatives’ operating expenses for the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $8 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of discontinuing the VillageHealth special needs plans and timing of certain expenditures.

Ancillary services and strategic initiatives’ operating expenses for the first quarter of 2010 increased by approximately $7 million as compared to the same period in 2009, primarily due to volume growth associated with the pharmacy business and increases in labor and benefit costs, as well as an increase in pharmaceutical costs, partially offset by lower costs as a result of discontinuing the VillageHealth special needs plans.

Segment operating loss

Ancillary services and strategic initiatives’ operating losses for the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $4 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, and decreased by approximately $3 million as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The decrease in the ancillary services and strategic initiatives operating losses in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 was primarily due to improved performance in our clinical research programs and in our vascular access services, as well as lower operating

 

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losses in VillageHealth. The decrease in operating losses in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 was primarily the result of discontinuing the VillageHealth special needs plans and volume growth in our pharmacy business.

Corporate level charges

Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation of approximately $10.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 represented a decrease of approximately $0.4 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 and a decrease of approximately $0.8 million as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The decreases resulted primarily from decreases in the aggregate quantity of grants that contributed expense to these respective periods.

Other income. Other income for the first quarter of 2010 was relatively flat as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2009, respectively.

Debt expense. Debt expense of $44.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 decreased by approximately $0.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2009 and decreased by $3.7 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2009. The decreases were primarily due to an overall decrease in our effective interest rate as a result of lower notional amounts of fixed rate swap agreements that contained higher rates. In addition, the decrease in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the first quarter of 2009, was also due to lower average principal balances outstanding. The overall average effective interest rate for the first quarter of 2010 was 4.67%, as compared to 4.69% for the fourth quarter of 2009 and 5.04% for the first quarter of 2009.

Noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $15.6 million for the first quarter of 2010, as compared to $15.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 and $12.1 million for the first quarter of 2009. The increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 was primarily due to an increase in the profitability of our joint ventures, as well as increases in the number of joint ventures.

Accounts receivable

Our accounts receivable balances at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were $1,104 million and $1,106 million, respectively, which represented approximately 66 days and 68 days of revenue, respectively, net of bad debt provision. The decrease in DSO was primarily the result of improved cash collections. Accounts receivable balances of approximately 70 days of revenue are more consistent with our past experience levels and our expected trends. Our DSO calculation is based on the current quarter’s average revenue per day. There were no significant changes during the first quarter of 2010 from the fourth quarter of 2009 in the amount of unreserved accounts receivable over one year old or the amounts pending approval from third-party payors.

Outlook

Outlook for 2010. Currently, we still expect our operating income for 2010 to be in the range of $950 million to $1,020 million and we expect our operating cash flows for 2010 to be in the range of $675 million to $725 million. These projections and the underlying assumptions involve significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may vary significantly from current projections. These risks, among others, include those relating to the concentration of profits generated from commercial payors, continued downward pressure on average realized payment rates from commercial payors, which may result in the loss of revenue or patients, a reduction in the number of patients under higher-paying commercial plans, a reduction in government payment rates or changes to the structure of payments under the Medicare ESRD program or other government-based programs, including, for example, the implementation of a bundled payment rate system which will lower reimbursement for services we provide to Medicare patients, and the impact of health care reform legislation that was enacted in

 

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the U.S. in March 2010, changes in pharmaceutical or anemia management practice patterns, payment policies, or pharmaceutical pricing, our ability to maintain contracts with physician medical directors, legal compliance risks, including our continued compliance with complex government regulations, and the resolution of ongoing investigations by various federal and state government agencies. See “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the cautionary language contained in the forward looking statements and associated risks as discussed under “Forward-looking statements” on page 22 for more information about these and other potential risks. We undertake no obligation to update or revise these projections, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise.

Liquidity and capital resources

Liquidity and capital resources. Cash flow from operations during the first quarter of 2010 was $262 million, compared to $134 million during the first quarter of 2009. The improved cash flow was primarily the result of improved earnings, cash collections and the timing of payments for certain expenditures. Non-operating cash outflows for the first quarter of 2010 included capital asset expenditures of $45 million, including $22 million for new center developments and relocations and $23 million for maintenance and information technology. We also spent an additional $1.1 million for acquisitions. We paid distributions to noncontrolling interests of $19 million. Non-operating cash outflows for the first quarter of 2009 included capital asset expenditures of approximately $73 million, including $42 million for new center developments and relocations and $31 million for maintenance and information technology. We spent an additional $40 million for acquisitions and paid distributions to noncontrolling interests of $14 million. We also repurchased 0.7 million shares of common stock for approximately $32 million.

During the first quarter of 2010, we acquired one dialysis center, opened 21 new dialysis centers, closed five centers, sold three centers, provided administrative and management services to one additional third-party owned center and developed one center in which we own an equity investment. During the first quarter of 2009, we acquired seven centers, opened 18 new dialysis centers, closed two centers, divested majority ownership interests in three centers while retaining a noncontrolling interest in each one and acquired noncontrolling interests in three additional centers in which we also provide management and administrative services.

We currently expect to spend approximately $125 million for capital asset expenditures in 2010 related to routine maintenance items and information technology equipment. We also expect to spend $250 million for new center development, relocations and center acquisitions in 2010, depending upon the availability of projects and sufficient project returns, which does not include any potential expenditures for our new corporate headquarters. We expect to generate approximately $675 million to $725 million of operating cash flow in 2010. Our actual expenditures for growth and cash flows in 2010 could vary significantly from these expected amounts due to the timing of payments and collections.

During the first three months of 2010 we made mandatory principal payments of approximately $21.9 million on the term loan A.

As of March 31, 2010, we maintained a total of six interest rate swap agreements with amortizing notional amounts totaling $350 million. These agreements had the economic effect of modifying the LIBOR-based variable interest rate on an equivalent amount of our debt to fixed rates ranging from 4.05% to 4.70%, resulting in an overall weighted average effective interest rate of 5.83% on the hedged portion of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, including the term loan B margin of 1.50%. The swap agreements expire by September 30, 2010 and require quarterly interest payments. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we accrued net charges of $3.6 million from these swaps which is included in debt expense. As of March 31, 2010, the total fair value of these swaps was a liability of $7.1 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 we recorded $2.0 million, net of tax, as an increase to other comprehensive income for previous losses that were reclassified into income, net of valuation losses.

 

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As of March 31, 2010, the interest rates were economically fixed on approximately 19% of our variable rate debt and approximately 59% of our total debt.

As a result of the swap agreements, the overall weighted average effective interest rate on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities was 2.57%, based upon the current margins in effect of 1.50%, as of March 31, 2010.

Our overall weighted average effective interest rate during the first quarter of 2010 was 4.67% and as of March 31, 2010 was 4.66%.

As of March 31, 2010, we have undrawn revolving credit facilities totaling $250 million of which approximately $52 million was committed for outstanding letters of credit.

On April 30, 2010, we notified the Trustee that we are exercising our right to redeem $200 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6  5/8% senior notes due 2013, at a price of 101.656% and the redemption date is expected to be in June 2010. We expect to expense net pre-tax refinancing charges of approximately $4 million in the second quarter of 2010, associated with the transaction.

We believe that we will have sufficient liquidity, will generate significant operating cash flows and will have access to borrowings through the capital markets to fund our scheduled debt service and other obligations for the foreseeable future. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash from operations and cash from borrowings.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation recognized in a period represents the amortization during that period of the estimated grant-date fair value of current and prior stock-based awards over their vesting terms, adjusted for expected forfeitures. Shares issued upon exercise of stock awards are generally issued from shares in treasury. We have used the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model for estimating the grant-date fair value of stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted in all periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we granted 1.2 million stock-settled stock appreciation rights with a grant-date fair value of $19.4 million and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 3.6 years, and also granted 0.3 million stock units with a grant-date fair value of $18.4 million and a weighted-average expected life of approximately 2.7 years.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we recognized $10.2 million and $11.0 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, stock units and discounted employee stock plan purchases, which are primarily included in general and administrative expenses. The estimated tax benefit recorded for stock-based compensation through March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $3.9 million and $4.2 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, there was $101 million of total estimated unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements under our equity compensation and stock purchase plans. We expect to recognize this cost over a weighted average remaining period of 1.6 years.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we received $20.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively, in cash proceeds from stock option exercises and $7.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively, in actual tax benefits upon the exercise of stock awards.

Off-balance sheet arrangements and aggregate contractual obligations

In addition to the debt obligations reflected on our balance sheet, we have commitments associated with operating leases and letters of credit as well as potential obligations associated with our equity investments in nonconsolidated businesses and to dialysis centers that are wholly-owned by third parties. Substantially all of our facilities are leased. We have potential acquisition obligations for several joint ventures and for some of our non-wholly-owned subsidiaries in the form of put provisions. If these put provisions were exercised, we would

 

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be required to purchase the third-party owners’ noncontrolling interests at either the appraised fair market value or a predetermined multiple of earnings or cash flow attributable to the noncontrolling interests put to us, which is intended to approximate fair value. The methodology we use to estimate the fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions assumes either the higher of a liquidation value of net assets or an average multiple of earnings, based on historical earnings, patient mix and other performance indicators, as well as other factors. The estimated fair values of the noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions is a critical accounting estimate that involves significant judgments and assumptions and may not be indicative of the actual values at which the noncontrolling interests may ultimately be settled, which could vary significantly from our current estimates. The estimated fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions can fluctuate and the implicit multiple of earnings at which these noncontrolling interests obligations may be settled will vary significantly depending upon market conditions including potential purchasers’ access to the capital markets, which can impact the level of competition for dialysis and non-dialysis related businesses, the economic performance of these businesses and the restricted marketability of the third-party owners’ noncontrolling interests. The amount of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions that contractually employ a predetermined multiple of earnings rather than fair value are immaterial. For additional information see Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

We also have potential cash commitments to provide operating capital advances as needed to several dialysis centers that are wholly-owned by third parties or centers in which we own an equity investment as well as to physician–owned vascular access clinics that we operate under management and administrative services agreements.

The following is a summary of these contractual obligations and commitments as of March 31, 2010, reflecting changes that have occurred with our debt instruments during the first three months of 2010 (in millions):

 

     Less than
1 year
   1-3
years
   3-5
years
   After 5
years
   Total

Scheduled payments under contractual obligations:

              

Long-term debt

   $ 76    $ 1,773    $ 901    $ 850    $ 3,600

Interest payments on senior and senior subordinated notes

     61      243      153      31      488

Capital lease obligations

     —        1      1      4      6

Operating leases

     171      387      297      477      1,332
                                  
   $ 308    $ 2,404    $ 1,352    $ 1,362    $ 5,426
                                  

Potential cash requirements under existing commitments:

              

Letters of credit

   $ 52    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 52

Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions

     183      64      63      40      350

Pay-fixed swaps potential obligations

     7      —        —        —        7

Working capital advances for equity investments and third-party-owned centers and clinics under management and administrative services agreements

     6      —        —        —        6

Income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits

     7      —        —        —        7
                                  
   $ 255    $ 64    $ 63    $ 40    $ 422
                                  

Not included above are interest payments related to our senior secured credit facilities. Our senior secured credit facilities as of March 31, 2010 bear interest at LIBOR plus margins of 1.50%. The interest rates on our term loan A and the revolving line of credit are adjustable depending upon our achievement of certain financial ratios. At March 31, 2010, our senior secured credit facilities had an overall weighted average effective interest rate of 2.57%, including the effects of our swap agreements. Interest payments are due at the maturity of specific debt tranches within each term loan, which can range in maturity from one month to twelve months. Future

 

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interest payments will depend upon the amount of mandatory principal payments and principal prepayments, changes in the LIBOR-based interest rates that can fluctuate significantly depending upon market conditions, the mix of the debt tranche maturities, as well as changes in the interest rate margins. Assuming no principal prepayments on our senior secured credit facilities during the next year and no changes in the effective interest rates, we would pay approximately $47 million of interest over the next twelve months.

The pay-fixed swap obligations represent the estimated fair market values of our interest rate swap agreements as reported by various broker dealers that are based upon relevant observable market inputs as well as other current market conditions that existed as of March 31, 2010, and represent the estimated potential obligation that we would be required to pay based upon future settlement of each specific tranche within the swap agreements as determined by the current estimated yield curve. The actual amount of our obligation associated with these swaps in the future will depend upon changes in interest rates that can fluctuate significantly depending upon market conditions, and other relevant factors that can affect the fair market value of these swap agreements.

In addition to the above commitments, we are obligated to purchase a significant majority of our hemodialysis products and supplies at fixed prices through 2015 from Gambro Renal Products, Inc., or Gambro Renal Products, in connection with an Alliance and Product Supply Agreement. Our total expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2010 on such products were approximately 2% of our total operating costs. In January 2010, we entered into an agreement with Fresenius Medical Care, or Fresenius, which committed us to purchase a certain amount of dialysis equipment, parts and supplies from them through 2013. Our total expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2010 on such products were approximately 4% of our total operating costs.

The actual amount of purchases in future years from Gambro Renal Products and Fresenius will depend upon a number of factors, including the operating requirements of our centers, the number of centers we acquire, growth of our existing centers, and in the case of the Alliance and Product Supply Agreement, Gambro Renal Products’ ability to meet our needs.

The settlements of approximately $16 million of existing income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are excluded from the above table as reasonably reliable estimates of the timing cannot be made.

Significant new accounting standards

Effective January 1, 2010, the FASB eliminated the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and required additional disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities. An entity is required to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity by having both the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity, or the right to receive benefits from the entity. In addition, the FASB established new guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity, requiring an ongoing reassessment of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and adding an additional reconsideration event for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that the holders of the equity investment are at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. See Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the impact of adopting these new requirements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest rate sensitivity

The table below provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, as of March 31, 2010.

 

     Expected maturity date    Thereafter    Total    Average
interest
rate
    Fair
value
   2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    2015           
   (dollars in millions)                     

Long term debt:

                            

Fixed rate

   $ 2    $ 1    $ 1    $ 901    $ 1    $ 850    $ 4    $ 1,760    6.87   $ 1,786

Variable rate

   $ 74    $ 66    $ 1,706    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 1,846    2.56   $ 1,823

 

     Notional
amount
   Contract maturity date    Pay fixed    Receive
variable
   Fair
value
 
      2010    2011    2012    2013    2014         
   (dollars in millions)                 

Swaps:

                          

Pay-fixed rate

   $ 350    $ 350    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      4.05% to 4.70%    LIBOR    $ (7.1

Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which include the term loan A and the term loan B, consist of various individual tranches that can range in maturity from one month to twelve months and each specific tranche bears interest at a LIBOR rate that is determined by the maturity of that specific tranche. LIBOR-based interest rates are reset as each specific tranche matures and can fluctuate significantly depending upon market conditions including the credit and capital markets. Any increase in the LIBOR-based interest rates on the unhedged portion of our senior secured credit facilities, which totaled approximately $1.5 billion as of March 31, 2010, will have a negative impact on our overall earnings.

As of March 31, 2010, we maintained a total of six interest rate swap agreements with amortizing notional amounts totaling $350 million. These agreements had the economic effect of modifying the LIBOR-based variable interest rate on an equivalent amount of our debt to fixed rates ranging from 4.05% to 4.70%, resulting in an overall weighted average effective interest rate of 5.83% on the hedged portion of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, including the term loan B margin of 1.50%. The swap agreements expire by September 30, 2010 and require quarterly interest payments. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we accrued net charges of $3.6 million from these swaps which is included in debt expense. As of March 31, 2010, the total fair value of these swaps was a liability of $7.1 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 we recorded $2.0 million, net of tax, as an increase to other comprehensive income for previous losses that were reclassified into income, net of valuation losses.

As of March 31, 2010, the interest rates were economically fixed on approximately 19% of our variable rate debt and approximately 59% of our total debt.

As a result of the swap agreements, the overall weighted average effective interest rate on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities was 2.57%, based upon the current margins in effect of 1.50%, as of March 31, 2010.

Our overall weighted average effective interest rate during the first quarter of 2010 was 4.67% and as of March 31, 2010 was 4.66%.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

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At the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with the Exchange Act requirements. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective for timely identification and review of material information required to be included in the Company’s Exchange Act reports, including this report on Form 10-Q. Management recognizes that these controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of desired outcomes, and that estimates and judgments are still inherent in the process of maintaining effective controls and procedures.

There has not been any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that was identified during the evaluation that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information in Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report is incorporated by this reference in response to this item.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

A restated description of the risk factors associated with our business is set forth below. This description includes any material changes to and supersedes the description of the risk factors associated with our business previously disclosed in Part I Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The risks discussed below are not the only ones facing our business. Please read the cautionary notice regarding forward-looking statements under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

If the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline significantly, it would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Approximately 34% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 were generated from patients who have commercial payors as the primary payor. The majority of these patients have insurance policies that pay us on terms and at rates that are generally significantly higher than Medicare rates. The payments we receive from commercial payors generate nearly all of our profit and all of our nonacute dialysis profits come from commercial payors. We continue to experience downward pressure on some of our commercial payment rates and it is possible that commercial payment rates could be materially lower in the future. The downward pressure on commercial payment rates is a result of general conditions in the market, recent and future consolidations among commercial payors, increased focus on dialysis services and other factors.

We are continuously in the process of negotiating agreements with our commercial payors, and payors are aggressive in their negotiations with us. In the event that our continued negotiations result in overall commercial rate reductions in excess of overall commercial rate increases, the cumulative effect could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Consolidations have significantly increased the negotiating leverage of commercial payors. Our negotiations with payors are also influenced by competitive pressures. We expect that some of our contracted rates with commercial payors may decrease or that we may experience decreases in patient volume as our negotiations with commercial payors continue. In addition to increasing downward pressure on contracted commercial payor rates, payors have been attempting to impose restrictions and limitations on non-contracted or out-of-network providers. In some circumstances for some commercial payors, our centers are designated as out-of-network providers. Rates for out-of-network providers are on average higher than rates for in-network providers. Commercial payors may restructure their benefits to create disincentives for patients to select or remain with out-of-network providers or may decrease payment rates for out-of-network providers. We, along with others in the kidney care community, are resisting attempts to limit access to out-of-network providers through regulatory, legislative and legal means. Decreases in out-of-network rates and restrictions on out-of-network access combined with decreases in contracted rates could result in a significant decrease in our overall revenue derived from commercial payors. If the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline significantly, it would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

If the number of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, then our revenues, earnings and cash flows would be substantially reduced.

Our revenue levels are sensitive to the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial insurance coverage. A patient’s insurance coverage may change for a number of reasons, including changes in the patient’s

 

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or a family member’s employment status. Currently, for a patient covered by an employer group health plan, Medicare generally becomes the primary payor after 33 months, or earlier, if the patient’s employer group health plan coverage terminates. When Medicare becomes the primary payor, the payment rate we receive for that patient shifts from the employer group health plan rate to the lower Medicare payment rate. We have seen an increase in the number of patients who have government-based programs as their primary payors which we believe is largely as a result of improved mortality and the current economic recession which has a negative impact on the percentage of patients covered under commercial insurance plans. To the extent there are sustained or increased job losses in the United States as a result of current economic conditions, we could experience a continued decrease in the number of patients under commercial plans. We could also experience a further decrease if changes to the healthcare regulatory system result in fewer patients covered under commercial plans. In addition, our continued negotiations with commercial payors could result in a decrease in the number of patients under commercial plans to the extent that we cannot reach agreement with commercial payors on rates and other terms. If there is a significant reduction in the number of patients under higher-paying commercial plans relative to government-based programs that pay at lower rates, it would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Changes in the structure of, and payment rates under the Medicare ESRD program, including the implementation of a bundled payment system under MIPPA and other healthcare reform initiatives, could substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Approximately one-half of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was generated from patients who have Medicare as their primary payor. Currently, the Medicare ESRD program pays us for dialysis treatment services at a fixed composite rate. The Medicare composite rate is the payment rate for a dialysis treatment including the supplies used in those treatments, specified laboratory tests and certain pharmaceuticals. Certain other pharmaceuticals, including EPO, vitamin D analogs and iron supplements, as well as certain specialized laboratory tests, are separately billed.

In July 2008, MIPPA was passed by Congress. This legislation introduced a new payment system for dialysis services beginning in January 2011 whereby ESRD payments will be made under a bundled payment rate which will provide for a fixed rate for all goods and services provided during the dialysis treatment. On September 15, 2009, CMS released the proposed rule regarding the new bundled payment rate system and it is anticipated that CMS will issue the final rule in May or June of 2010. If the new bundled payment rate system is implemented as proposed, it could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows. The initial 2011 bundled rate is required to be set based on a 2% reduction in the payment rate that providers would have received under the historical fee for service payment methodology and based on the lowest average industry pharmaceutical utilization from 2007 to 2009. Among other things, the proposed rule requires dialysis facilities to provide certain oral medications but does not provide funding sufficient to cover our costs for those medications. In addition, all laboratory tests ordered by nephrologists would be included in the bundle, whether or not the laboratory tests are related to ESRD treatment, without funding sufficient to cover our costs for those tests. The proposed rule also includes an expanded list of case-mix adjustors, many of which may be difficult or impossible for dialysis clinics to track, consequently reducing the payment rate for ESRD treatments. The proposed rule also introduced a transition adjustment that would reduce payments to providers by 3%. The combined effect of the adjustments provided in the proposed rule would result in a bundled rate that represents a significantly greater than 2% reduction in the payment rate that we would have received for our services prior to bundling. The proposed rule also requires the new single bundled payment base rate to be adjusted annually for inflation based upon a market basket index, less a productivity adjustment, beginning in 2012. Also, beginning in 2012, the proposed rule provides that 2% of payments due to providers will be set aside subject to provider satisfaction of certain quality standards. A failure to achieve the required quality standards will result in the forfeiture of the 2% reserve. Dialysis providers have the option to move fully to the bundled payment system in 2011 or to phase in the payment system over three years. Because the bundled rates that will take effect in 2011 have not been set, we cannot predict whether we will be able to reduce our operating costs at a level that will offset any reduction in overall reimbursement for services we provide to Medicare patients. In addition, we

 

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experience increases in operating costs that are subject to inflation, such as labor and supply costs, regardless of whether there is a compensating inflation-based increase in Medicare payment rates. To the extent the Medicare bundled rates are established at levels that result in lower overall reimbursement for services we provide to Medicare patients, it could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows. We also cannot predict whether we will be able to implement the requirements of the final rule within the time frames set in the final rule or whether we will be able to satisfy our Medicare and Medicaid regulatory compliance obligations as processes and systems are modified to comply with the final rule. In addition, if we are unable to adequately modify our processes and systems prior to implementation of the new requirements, we may experience significant delays in our ability to bill for services provided to Medicare patients which could adversely affect our cash flows.

In March 2010, healthcare reform legislation was enacted in the U.S. Although many of the provisions of the new legislation do not take effect immediately, and may be modified before they are implemented, the reforms could have an impact on our business. We cannot predict how employers and private payors might react to these changes or what form many of these regulations will take before implementation, but to the extent that any modifications to the current healthcare regulatory system result in a reduction in patients covered by commercial insurance or a reduction in reimbursement rates for our services from commercial and/or government payors, our revenues, earnings and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Changes in state Medicaid or other non-Medicare government-based programs or payment rates could reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Approximately 16% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was generated from patients who have state Medicaid or other non-Medicare government-based programs, such as Medicare-assigned plans or the Veterans Health Administration, as their primary coverage. As state governments and governmental organizations face increasing budgetary pressure, they may propose reductions in payment rates, delays in the timing of payments, limitations on eligibility or other changes to their related programs. For example, some programs, such as certain state Medicaid programs and the Veterans Health Administration, have recently considered, proposed or implemented rate reductions. In January 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs informally adopted a policy to reduce payment rates for dialysis services to Medicare rates. The informal policy was subsequently withdrawn in July 2009. On February 17, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs formally proposed a rule which would materially reduce their payment rates for dialysis services to equal Medicare rates. The proposed rule is subject to a 60 day comment period and we expect to participate in the comment process. We cannot predict when or if the final rule will be effective or what will be included in the final rule. If the proposed rule is implemented in its current form, it will have a significant negative impact on our revenues, earnings and cash flows as a result of the reduction in rates or as a result of a decrease in the number of patients covered by the Veterans Health Administration that we service. Approximately 2% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was generated by the Veterans Health Administration. While we cannot predict whether the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other government programs will be successful in reducing their payment rates or the timing of potential reductions, any such reduction could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

In addition, some state Medicaid program eligibility requirements mandate that citizen enrollees in such programs provide documented proof of citizenship. If our patients cannot meet these proof of citizenship documentation requirements, they may be denied coverage under these programs. If state Medicaid or other non-Medicare government programs reduce the rates paid by these programs for dialysis and related services, delay the timing of payment for services provided, further limit eligibility for coverage or adopt changes to their payment structure which reduces our overall payments from these state Medicaid or non-Medicare government programs, then our revenues, earnings and cash flows could be adversely affected.

 

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Changes in clinical practices, payment rates or regulations impacting EPO and other pharmaceuticals could substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

The administration of EPO and other pharmaceuticals accounted for approximately 30% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010, with EPO accounting for approximately 20% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the same period. Changes in clinical practices that result in further decreased utilization of prescribed pharmaceuticals or changes in payment rates for those pharmaceuticals could substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Since late 2006, there has been significant media discussion and government scrutiny regarding anemia management practices in the United States which has created confusion and concern in the nephrology community. In late 2006, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the issue of the utilization of erythropoeisis stimulating agents, or ESAs, which include EPO, and in 2007, the FDA required changes to the labeling of EPO and Aranesp® to include a black box warning, the FDA’s strongest form of warning label. The FDA held additional hearings to revisit these label changes as they apply to ESRD and has indicated that they will convene in 2010 to further review ESA labeling. CMS also reviewed its EPO reimbursement policies and in January 2008, changes to the EPO monitoring policy went into effect which further limited reimbursement and which impacted the prescribing habits of our physicians and which has in the past and may in the future result in lower pharmaceutical intensities. Most recently, on March 24, 2010, HHS and CMS convened a meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee, or MedCAC, to review policies around the administration of ESAs, including, among other things, an evaluation of the efficacy of certain hemoglobin targets in CKD patients. These meetings could result in further restrictions on the utilization and reimbursement for ESAs which could result in decreased EPO utilization. Commercial payors have also increasingly examined their administration policies for EPO and, in some cases have modified those policies. Further changes in labeling of EPO and other pharmaceuticals in a manner that alters physician practice patterns or accepted clinical practices, changes in private and governmental payment criteria, including the introduction of EPO administration policies or the conversion to alternate types of administration of EPO or other pharmaceuticals that result in further decreases in utilization or reimbursement for EPO and other pharmaceuticals could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Changes in EPO pricing could materially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows and affect our ability to care for our patients.

Amgen Inc. is the sole supplier of EPO and may unilaterally decide to increase its price for EPO at any time during the term of our agreement with Amgen. Future increases in the cost of EPO without corresponding increases in payment rates for EPO could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and cash flows and ultimately reduce our income. Our agreement with Amgen for EPO includes potential rebates which depend upon the achievement of certain criteria. We cannot predict whether we will continue to receive the rebates for EPO that we currently receive, or whether we will continue to achieve the same levels of rebates within that structure as we have historically achieved. Our agreement with Amgen provides for specific rebates off of list price based on a combination of factors, including process improvement and data submission. Factors that could impact our ability to qualify for rebates provided for in our agreement with Amgen in the future include our ability to develop and implement certain process improvements and track certain data elements. Failure to meet certain targets and earn the specified rebates could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and cash flows. Our agreement with Amgen terminates on December 31, 2010. We cannot predict whether any new agreement with Amgen will include the same or similar rebates as provided in our current agreement.

We are the subject of a number of inquiries by the federal government, any of which could result in substantial penalties against us.

We are the subject of a number of inquiries by the federal government. We have received subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. We are cooperating with the

 

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U.S. Attorney’s Offices with respect to each of the subpoenas and producing the requested records. We were recently advised by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is conducting a civil investigation into our financial relationships with physicians. We have not received details as to the extent or scope of the inquiry but we are expecting a subpoena in the near future. We intend to cooperate with the investigation just as we are cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices with respect to each of the other inquiries. Any negative findings could result in substantial financial penalties against us, exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and, in certain cases, criminal penalties. To our knowledge, no proceedings have been initiated by the federal government against us at this time. Although we cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated by the federal government or when these matters may be resolved, it is not unusual for investigations such as these to continue for a considerable period of time. Responding to the subpoenas will continue to require management’s attention and significant legal expense. See Note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding these inquiries and subpoenas.

Continued inquiries from various governmental bodies with respect to our utilization of EPO and other pharmaceuticals will require management’s attention, cause us to incur significant legal expense and could result in substantial financial penalties against us or exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

In response to clinical studies which identified risks in certain patient populations related to the utilization of EPO and other ESAs, i.e., Aranesp®, and in response to changes in the labeling of EPO and Aranesp®, there has been substantial media attention and government scrutiny resulting in hearings and legislation regarding pharmaceutical utilization and reimbursement. Although we believe our anemia management practices and other pharmaceutical administration practices have been compliant with existing laws and regulations, as a result of the current high level of scrutiny and controversy, we may be subject to increased inquiries from a variety of governmental bodies and claims by third parties. For example, the subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia relates to the pharmaceutical products Zemplar, Hectorol, Venofer, Ferrlecit, EPO and other related matters. The subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri includes requests for documents regarding the administration of, and billing for, EPO. The subpoena from the Office of Inspector General in Houston, Texas requests records relating to EPO claims submitted to Medicare. In addition, in February 2008 the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Nevada notified us that Nevada Medicaid intends to conduct audits of ESRD dialysis providers in Nevada relating to the billing of pharmaceuticals, including EPO. Additional inquiries from various agencies and claims by third parties with respect to this issue would continue to require management’s attention and significant legal expense and any negative findings could result in substantial financial penalties against us or exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows. See Note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding these inquiries and subpoenas.

If we fail to adhere to all of the complex government regulations that apply to our business, we could suffer severe consequences that would substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Our dialysis operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local government regulations, including Medicare and Medicaid payment rules and regulations, federal and state anti-kickback laws, the Stark Law physician self-referral prohibition and analogous state referral statutes, the federal False Claims Act, or FCA, and federal and state laws regarding the collection, use and disclosure of patient health information. The Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rules related to claims submission, licensing requirements, cost reporting, and payment processes impose complex and extensive requirements upon dialysis providers. A violation or departure from any of these requirements may result in government audits, lower reimbursements, significant fines and penalties, the potential loss of certification and recoupments or voluntary repayments.

The regulatory scrutiny of healthcare providers, including dialysis providers continues to increase. Medicare has increased the frequency and intensity of its certification inspections of dialysis centers. For example, we are

 

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required to provide substantial documentation related to the administration of pharmaceuticals, including EPO, and, to the extent that any such documentation is found insufficient, we may be required to refund any amounts received from such administration by government or commercial payors, and be subject to substantial penalties under applicable laws or regulations. In addition, fiscal intermediaries have increased their prepayment and post-payment reviews.

We endeavor to comply with all of the requirements for receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments and to structure all of our relationships with referring physicians to comply with state and federal anti-kickback laws and physician self-referral law (Stark Law). However, the laws and regulations in this area are complex and subject to varying interpretations. For example, if an enforcement agency were to challenge the level of compensation that we pay our medical directors, we could be required to change our practices, face criminal or civil penalties, pay substantial fines or otherwise experience a material adverse effect as a result of a challenge to these arrangements. In addition, recent amendments to the FCA impose severe penalties for the knowing and improper retention of overpayments collected from government payors. These amendments could subject our procedures for identifying and processing overpayments to greater scrutiny. We have made significant investments in additional resources to accelerate the time it takes to identify and process overpayments and we may be required to make additional investments in the future. An acceleration in our ability to identify and process overpayments could result in us refunding overpayments to government or other payors sooner than we have in the past. A significant acceleration of these refunds could have a material adverse affect on our operating cash flows.

If any of our operations are found to violate these or other government regulations, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows including:

 

   

Suspension or termination of our participation in government payment programs;

 

   

Refunds of amounts received in violation of law or applicable payment program requirements;

 

   

Loss of required government certifications or exclusion from government payment programs;

 

   

Loss of licenses required to operate healthcare facilities in some of the states in which we operate;

 

   

Reductions in payment rates or coverage for dialysis and ancillary services and related pharmaceuticals;

 

   

Fines, damages or monetary penalties for anti-kickback law violations, Stark Law violations, FCA violations, civil or criminal liability based on violations of law, or other failures to meet regulatory requirements;

 

   

Claims for monetary damages from patients who believe their protected health information has been used or disclosed in violation of federal or state patient privacy laws;

 

   

Mandated practice changes that significantly increase operating expenses; and

 

   

Termination of relationships with medical directors.

Delays in state Medicare and Medicaid certification of our dialysis centers could adversely affect our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Before we can begin billing for patients treated in our outpatient dialysis centers who are enrolled in government-based programs, we are required to obtain state and federal certification for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As state governments face increasing budgetary pressure, certain states are having difficulty certifying dialysis centers in the normal course resulting in significant delays in certification. If state governments continue to have difficulty certifying new centers in the normal course and we continue to experience significant delays in our ability to treat and bill for services provided to patients covered under government programs, it could cause us to incur write-offs of investments or accelerate the recognition of lease obligations in the event we have to close centers or our centers’ operating performance deteriorates, and it could have an adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

 

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If our joint ventures were found to violate the law, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

As of March 31, 2010, we owned a controlling interest in numerous dialysis related joint ventures, which represented approximately 17% of our dialysis and related lab services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010. In addition, we also owned equity interests in several other dialysis related joint ventures. We anticipate that we will continue to increase the number of our joint ventures. Many of our joint ventures with physicians or physician groups also have the physician owners providing medical director services to those centers or other centers we own and operate. Because our relationships with physicians are governed by the federal anti-kickback statute, we have sought to structure our joint venture arrangements to satisfy as many safe harbor requirements as we believe are reasonably possible. However, our joint venture arrangements do not satisfy all elements of any safe harbor under the federal anti-kickback statute. The subpoena and related requests for documents we received from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri included requests for documents related to our joint ventures. We were recently advised by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is conducting a civil investigation into our financial relationships with physicians. See Note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding these inquiries and subpoenas.

If our joint ventures are found to be in violation of the anti-kickback statute or the Stark Law provisions, we could be required to restructure the joint ventures or refuse to accept referrals for designated health services from the physicians with whom the joint venture centers have a financial relationship.

We also could be required to repay amounts received by the joint ventures from Medicare and certain other payors to the extent that these arrangements are found to give rise to prohibited referrals, and we could be subject to monetary penalties and exclusion from government healthcare programs. If our joint venture centers are subject to any of these penalties, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

There are significant estimating risks associated with the amount of dialysis revenue and related refund liabilities that we recognize and if we are unable to accurately estimate our revenue and related refund liabilities, it could impact the timing of our revenue recognition or have a significant impact on our operating results.

There are significant estimating risks associated with the amount of dialysis and related lab services revenues and related refund liabilities that we recognize in a reporting period. The billing and collection process is complex due to ongoing insurance coverage changes, geographic coverage differences, differing interpretations of contract coverage, and other payor issues. Determining applicable primary and secondary coverage for approximately 119,000 patients at any point in time, together with the changes in patient coverage that occur each month, requires complex, resource-intensive processes. Errors in determining the correct coordination of benefits may result in refunds to payors. Revenues associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs are also subject to estimating risk related to the amounts not paid by the primary government payor that will ultimately be collectible from other government programs paying secondary coverage, the patient’s commercial health plan secondary coverage or the patient. Collections, refunds and payor retractions typically continue to occur for up to three years and longer after services are provided. We generally expect our range of dialysis and related lab services revenues estimating risk to be within 1% of revenues for the segment, which can represent as much as 6% of consolidated operating income. If our estimates of dialysis and related lab services revenues and related refund liabilities are materially inaccurate, it could impact the timing of our revenue recognition and have a significant impact on our operating results.

The ancillary services we provide or the strategic initiatives we invest in may generate losses and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In the event that one or more of these activities is unsuccessful, we may have to write off our investment and incur other exit costs.

Our ancillary services and strategic initiatives include pharmacy services, infusion therapy services, disease management services, vascular access services, ESRD clinical research programs and physician services. Many

 

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of these initiatives require investments of both management and financial resources and can generate significant losses for a substantial period of time and may not become profitable. There can be no assurance that any such strategic initiative will ultimately be successful. Any significant change in market conditions, business performance or in the regulatory environment may impact the economic viability of any of these strategic initiatives. For example, during 2009 and 2008, several of our strategic initiatives generated net operating losses and are expected to generate net operating losses in 2010. If any of our ancillary services or strategic initiatives do not perform as planned, we may incur a material write-off or an impairment of our investment, including goodwill, in one or more of these activities or we could incur significant termination costs if we were to exit a certain line of business.

If a significant number of physicians were to cease referring patients to our dialysis centers, whether due to regulatory or other reasons, it would have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

We believe that physicians prefer to have their patients treated at dialysis centers where they or other members of their practice supervise the overall care provided as medical director of the center. As a result, the primary referral source for most of our centers is often the physician or physician group providing medical director services to the center. Neither our current nor former medical directors have an obligation to refer their patients to our centers. If a medical director agreement terminates, whether before or at the end of its term, and a new medical director is appointed, it may negatively impact the former medical director’s decision to treat his or her patients at our center. If we are unable to enforce noncompetition provisions contained in the terminated medical director agreements, former medical directors may choose to provide medical director services for competing providers or establish their own dialysis centers in competition with ours. Also, if the quality of service levels at our centers deteriorates, it may negatively impact patient referrals and treatment volumes.

Our medical director contracts are for fixed periods, generally three to ten years. Medical directors have no obligation to extend their agreements with us. We may take actions to restructure existing relationships or take positions in negotiating extensions of relationships to assure compliance with the safe harbor provisions of the anti-kickback statute, Stark Law and other similar laws. These actions could negatively impact the decision of physicians to extend their medical director agreements with us or to refer their patients to us. If the terms of any existing agreement are found to violate applicable laws, we may not be successful in restructuring the relationship which could lead to the early termination of the agreement, or cause the physician to stop referring patients to our dialysis centers. If a significant number of physicians were to cease referring patients to our dialysis centers, whether due to regulatory or other reasons, then our revenues, earnings and cash flows would be substantially reduced.

Current economic conditions, including the current recession, as well as further disruptions in the financial markets could result in substantial declines in our revenues, earnings, cash flows and financial condition.

The current economic recession could adversely affect our business and our profitability. Among other things, the potential decline in federal and state revenues that may result from such conditions may create additional pressures to contain or reduce reimbursements for our services from Medicare, Medicaid and other government sponsored programs. Increasing job losses in the United States as a result of current economic conditions has and may continue to result in a smaller percentage of our patients being covered by an employer group health plan and a larger percentage being covered by lower paying Medicare and Medicaid programs. Employers may also begin to select more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates. To the extent that payors are negatively impacted by a decline in the economy, we may experience further pressure on commercial rates, a further slow down in collections and a reduction in the amounts we expect to collect. In addition, if the current uncertainty in the financial markets continues, the variable interest rates payable under our credit facilities could be adversely affected or it could be more difficult to obtain or renew such facilities or to obtain other forms of financing in the future. Any or all of these factors, as well as other consequences of the current economic conditions which cannot currently be anticipated, could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and cash flows and otherwise adversely affect our financial condition.

 

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If we are not able to continue to make acquisitions on reasonable terms, or maintain an acceptable level of non-acquired growth, or if we face significant patient attrition to our competitors, it could adversely affect our business.

The dialysis industry is highly competitive, particularly in terms of acquiring existing dialysis centers. We continue to face increased competition in the dialysis industry from large and medium-sized providers which compete directly with us for acquisition targets as well as for individual patients and medical directors. Acquisitions, patient retention and medical director retention are an important part of our growth strategy. Because of the ease of entry into the dialysis business and the ability of physicians to be medical directors for their own centers, competition for growth in existing and expanding markets is not limited to large competitors with substantial financial resources. Occasionally, we have experienced competition from former medical directors or referring physicians who have opened their own dialysis centers. In addition, Fresenius, our largest competitor, manufactures a full line of dialysis supplies and equipment in addition to owning and operating dialysis centers. This may give them cost advantages over us because of their ability to manufacture their own products. If we are not able to continue to make acquisitions on reasonable terms, continue to maintain acceptable levels of non-acquired growth, or if we face significant patient attrition to our competitors, it could adversely affect our business.

The level of our current and future debt could have an adverse impact on our business and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness depends on many factors beyond our control.

We have substantial debt outstanding and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. The high level of our indebtedness, among other things, could:

 

   

make it difficult for us to make payments on our debt securities;

 

   

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

   

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we operate;

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

 

   

limit our ability to borrow additional funds.

Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures and expansion efforts, including any strategic acquisitions we may make in the future, will depend on our ability to generate cash. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness or to fund other liquidity needs. Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all of our and our wholly-owned subsidiaries’ assets. As such, our ability to refinance our debt or seek additional financing could be limited by such security interest. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If additional debt financing is not available when required or is not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to grow our business, take advantage of business opportunities, respond to competitive pressures or refinance maturing debt, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

 

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Increases in interest rates may increase our interest expense and adversely affect our profitability and cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness.

We are subject to interest rate volatility associated with the portions of our borrowings that bear interest at variable rates. As of March 31, 2010, we had approximately $1.8 billion outstanding borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which bears interest at a variable rate. Approximately $0.4 billion of this outstanding debt is subject to interest rate swaps which have the economic effect of fixing the interest rate on an equivalent portion of our debt. The remaining variable rate debt outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities had a weighted average interest rate of 1.75% at March 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2010, the interest rates were economically fixed on approximately 19% of our variable rate debt and approximately 59% of our total debt. In addition, we have approximately $198 million of available borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities that would bear interest at the LIBOR-based variable rate plus an interest rate margin of 1.50%. We may also incur additional variable rate debt in the future.

Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense for the variable portion of our indebtedness, which could negatively impact our earnings and cash flow. For example, it is estimated that a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 100 basis points across all variable rate maturities would reduce net income by approximately $10.3 million, for the next twelve months given our current interest rates in effect at March 31, 2010. See “Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for more information. In addition, if we seek to refinance our existing indebtedness under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, we may not be able to do so on acceptable terms and conditions, which could increase our interest expense or impair our ability to service our indebtedness and fund our operations.

If there are shortages of skilled clinical personnel or if we experience a higher than normal turnover rate, we may experience disruptions in our business operations and increases in operating expenses.

We are experiencing increased labor costs and difficulties in hiring nurses due to a nationwide shortage of skilled clinical personnel. We compete for nurses with hospitals and other health care providers. This nursing shortage may limit our ability to expand our operations. In addition, changes in certification requirements for skilled clinical personnel can impact our ability to maintain sufficient staff levels to the extent our teammates are not able to meet new requirements or competition for qualified individuals increases. If we are unable to hire skilled clinical personnel when needed, or if we experience a higher than normal turnover rate for our skilled clinical personnel, our operations and treatment growth will be negatively impacted, which would result in reduced revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Our business is labor intensive and could be adversely affected if we were unable to maintain satisfactory relations with our employees or if union organizing activities were to result in significant increases in our operating costs or decreases in productivity.

Our business is labor intensive, and our results are subject to variations in labor-related costs and productivity. If political efforts at the national and local level result in actions or proposals that increase the likelihood of union organizing activities at our facilities or if union organizing activities increase for other reasons, our operating costs could increase and our employee relations, productivity, earnings and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Upgrades to our billing and collections systems and complications associated with upgrades and other improvements to our billing and collections systems could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows and operating results.

We are continuously performing upgrades to our billing systems and expect to continue to do so during 2010. In addition, we continuously work to improve our billing and collections performance through process upgrades, organizational changes and other improvements. We may experience difficulties in our ability to

 

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successfully bill and collect for services rendered as a result of these changes, including a slow-down of collections, a reduction in the amounts we expect to collect, increased risk of retractions from and refunds to commercial and government payors, an increase in our provision for uncollectible accounts receivable and noncompliance with reimbursement regulations. The failure to successfully implement the upgrades to the billing and collection systems and other improvements could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows and operating results.

Our ability to effectively provide the services we offer could be negatively impacted if certain of our suppliers are unable to meet our needs or if we are unable to effectively access new technology, which could substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

We have significant suppliers that are either the sole or primary source of products critical to the services we provide, including Amgen, Fresenius Medical Care, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, NxStage Medical, Inc. and others or to which we have committed obligations to make purchases including Gambro Renal Products. If any of these suppliers are unable to meet our needs for the products they supply, including in the event of a product recall, and we are not able to find adequate alternative sources, our revenues, earnings and cash flows could be substantially reduced. For example, a recall of heparin by Baxter Healthcare Corporation in 2008 resulted in only one remaining supplier of heparin and the cost to purchase heparin significantly increased. While an alternative supplier has entered the market, it is possible that our heparin costs may continue to increase and since there is no separate reimbursement for this drug under Medicare, cost increases have a direct impact on our profitability. In addition, the technology related to the products critical to the services we provide is subject to new developments and may result in superior products. If we are not able to access superior products on a cost-effective basis or if suppliers are not able to fulfill our requirements for such products, we could face patient attrition which could substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

We may be subject to liability claims for damages and other expenses not covered by insurance that could reduce our earnings and cash flows.

The administration of dialysis and related services to patients may subject us to litigation and liability for damages. Our business, profitability and growth prospects could suffer if we face negative publicity or we pay damages or defense costs in connection with a claim that is outside the scope of any applicable insurance coverage, including claims related to adverse patient events, contractual disputes and professional and general liability claims. In addition, we have received several notices of claims from commercial payors and other third parties related to our historical billing practices and the historical billing practices of the centers acquired from Gambro Healthcare and other matters related to their settlement agreement with the Department of Justice. Although the ultimate outcome of these claims cannot be predicted, an adverse result with respect to one or more of these claims could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. We currently maintain programs of general and professional liability insurance. However, a successful claim, including a professional liability, malpractice or negligence claim which is in excess of our insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and cash flows.

In addition, if our costs of insurance and claims increase, then our earnings could decline. Market rates for insurance premiums and deductibles have been steadily increasing. Our earnings and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following:

 

   

the collapse or insolvency of our insurance carriers;

 

   

further increases in premiums and deductibles;

 

   

increases in the number of liability claims against us or the cost of settling or trying cases related to those claims; and

 

   

an inability to obtain one or more types of insurance on acceptable terms.

 

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If businesses we acquire have liabilities that we are not aware of, we could suffer severe consequences that would substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Our business strategy includes the acquisition of dialysis centers and businesses that own and operate dialysis centers, as well as other ancillary services and strategic initiatives. Businesses we acquire may have unknown or contingent liabilities or liabilities that are in excess of the amounts that we originally estimated. Although we generally seek indemnification from the sellers of businesses we acquire for matters that are not properly disclosed to us, we are not always successful. In addition, even in cases where we are able to obtain indemnification, we may discover liabilities greater than the contractual limits or the financial resources of the indemnifying party. In the event that we are responsible for liabilities substantially in excess of any amounts recovered through rights to indemnification, we could suffer severe consequences that would substantially reduce our revenues, earnings and cash flows.

Provisions in our charter documents, compensation programs and Delaware law may deter a change of control that our stockholders would otherwise determine to be in their best interests.

Our charter documents include provisions that may deter hostile takeovers, delay or prevent changes of control or changes in our management, or limit the ability of our stockholders to approve transactions that they may otherwise determine to be in their best interests. These include provisions prohibiting our stockholders from acting by written consent; requiring 90 days advance notice of stockholder proposals or nominations to our Board of Directors; and granting our Board of Directors the authority to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of the preferred stock without the need for further stockholder approval. In addition, we have in place a shareholder rights plan that would substantially dilute the interest sought by an acquirer that our Board of Directors does not approve.

Most of our outstanding employee stock options include a provision accelerating the vesting of the options in the event of a change of control. We also maintain a change of control protection program for our employees who do not have a significant number of stock awards, which has been in place since 2001, and which provides for cash bonuses to the employees in the event of a change of control. Based on the market price of our common stock and shares outstanding on March 31, 2010, these cash bonuses would total approximately $256 million if a change of control transaction occurred at that price and our Board of Directors did not modify this program. These change of control provisions may affect the price an acquirer would be willing to pay for our Company.

We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that, subject to exceptions, would prohibit us from engaging in any business combinations with any interested stockholder, as defined in that section, for a period of three years following the date on which that stockholder became an interested stockholder.

These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent an acquisition of our Company at a price that our stockholders may find attractive. These provisions could also make it more difficult for our stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions and could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock.

 

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

(c) Stock repurchases

The following table summarizes the Company’s repurchases of its common stock during the first quarter of 2010:

 

Period

   Total number
of
shares
purchased
   Average
price paid
per share
   Total number of
shares purchased as
part of publicly
announced plans or
programs (1)
   Approximate dollar value
of shares that may yet be
purchased under the
plans or programs

(in millions)

January 1-31, 2010

   —      $ —      —      $ 500

February 1-28, 2010

   —        —      —        500

March 1-31, 2010

   —        —      —        500
                   

Total

   —      $ —      —     
                   

 

(1)

On September 11, 2003, we announced that the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of our common stock, with no expiration date. On November 2, 2004, we announced that the Board of Directors approved an increase in our authorization to repurchase shares of our common stock by an additional $200 million. On May 1, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of an additional $143.5 million of share repurchases of our common stock. On November 3, 2009, we announced that the Board of Directors authorized an increase of an additional $500 million for share repurchases of our common stock. For the first three months of 2010, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock.

This stock repurchase program has no expiration date. We are authorized to make purchases from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions and other considerations. However, we are subject to share repurchase limitations under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indentures governing our senior and senior subordinated notes.

Items 3, 4 and 5 are not applicable

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

    
10.1    Employment Agreement, effective February 26, 2010, by and between DaVita Inc. and Luis Borgen. ü
10.2    Amendment to Mr. Borgen’s Employment Agreement, effective March 18, 2010. ü
10.3    Employment Agreement, effective March 17, 2010, by and between DaVita Inc. and Javier Rodriguez. (1)
10.4    Amendment to Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements, effective November 2008, by and between DaVita Inc. and Richard K. Whitney. ü
10.5    Severance Plan. ü
10.6    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Kent J. Thiry. ü
10.7    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Dennis L. Kogod. ü
10.8    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Thomas O. Usilton, Jr. ü
12.1    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. ü
31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document. *
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. *
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. *
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. *
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. *
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation, Linkbase Document. *

 

ü Filed herewith.
* XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
(1) Filed on April 14, 2010 as an exhibit to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K.

 

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

DAVITA INC.

By:

 

/s/    JAMES K. HILGER

  James K. Hilger
    Chief Accounting Officer*

Date: May 3, 2010

 

* Mr. Hilger has signed both on behalf of the Registrant as a duly authorized officer and as the Registrant’s principal accounting officer.

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

    
10.1    Employment Agreement, effective February 26, 2010, by and between DaVita Inc. and Luis Borgen. ü
10.2    Amendment to Mr. Borgen’s Employment Agreement, effective March 18, 2010. ü
10.3    Employment Agreement, effective March 17, 2010, by and between DaVita Inc. and Javier Rodriguez. (1)
10.4    Amendment to Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements, effective November 2008, by and between DaVita Inc. and Richard K. Whitney. ü
10.5    Severance Plan. ü
10.6    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Kent J. Thiry. ü
10.7    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Dennis L. Kogod. ü
10.8    Memorandum Relating to Bonus Structure for Thomas O. Usilton, Jr. ü
12.1    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. ü
31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated May 3, 2010, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ü
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document. *
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. *
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. *
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. *
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. *
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation, Linkbase Document. *

 

ü Filed herewith.
* XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
(1) Filed on April 14, 2010 as an exhibit to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K.