Edgar Filing: AMERIPATH INC

03/31/2004

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2004

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 000-22313

AMERIPATH, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware		65-0642485
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7289 Garden Road, Suite 200, Riviera Beach, Florida		33404
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(561) 712-6200

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name, Former Address and Formal Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

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

*	See explanatory note following index.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ¨ No x

The number of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant outstanding as of May 13, 2004 was 100.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

INDEX


			Page
EXPLANATORY NOTE

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

	Item 1.	Financial Statements

		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2004 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2003	1

		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 (predecessor)	2

		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 (predecessor)	3

		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	4

	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	14

	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	28

	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	28

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	28

	Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K	29

SIGNATURES			30

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXPLANATORY NOTE:

AmeriPath, Inc. filed a registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004, which became effective pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on April 23, 2004 and is therefore subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. AmeriPath has not been continuously subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)


	(Successor)
	March 31, 2004		December 31, 2003
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,744	$	23,536
Restricted cash		14,086		12,825
Accounts receivable, net		85,144		81,595
Inventories		2,186		1,903
Income tax receivable		880		1,384
Deferred tax asset, net		13,331		13,331
Other current assets		3,417		4,469

Total current assets		146,788		139,043

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET		27,546		27,103

OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net		541,229		532,875
Identifiable intangibles, net		184,159		186,560
Other		25,794		27,172

Total other assets		751,182		746,607

TOTAL ASSETS	$	925,516	$	912,753

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	42,632	$	40,314
Accrued interest		18,613		7,318
Current portion of long-term debt		1,881		3,450
Other current liabilities		940		1,873

Total current liabilities		64,066		52,955

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt		476,500		489,008
Other liabilities		23,605		17,232
Deferred tax liabilities, net		15,048		14,883

Total long-term liabilities		515,153		521,123

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY:
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003		1		1
Additional paid-in capital		342,746		334,820
Retained earnings		3,550		3,854

Total stockholder’s equity		346,297		338,675

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY	$	925,516	$	912,753

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	(Successor) Three Months Ended March 31, 2004			(Predecessor) Period From January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003
NET REVENUES:
Net patient service revenues	$	119,620		$	113,478
Net management service revenues		6,180			5,479

Net revenues		125,800			118,957

OPERATING COSTS & EXPENSES:
Costs of services:
Net patient service revenue		62,734			58,797
Net management service revenue		3,959			3,348

Total costs of services		66,693			62,145
Selling, general and administrative expenses		24,272			21,726
Provision for doubtful accounts		17,353			14,997
Amortization expense		2,814			3,107
Merger-related charges		—			10,010
Restructuring costs		—			1,196
Asset impairment & related charges		586			—

Total operating costs and expenses		111,718			113,181

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:		14,082			5,776

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest expense		(11,146	)		(1,180	)
Write-off of deferred financing costs		(3,488	)		(957	)
Other income, net		70			33

Total other expenses, net		(14,564	)		(2,104	)

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(482	)		3,672
BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR INCOME TAXES		178			(2,131	)

NET (LOSS) INCOME	$	(304	)	$	1,541

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	(Successor) Three Months Ended March 31, 2004			(Predecessor) Period From January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income	$	(304	)	$	1,541
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		2,210			2,130
Amortization		3,413			3,169
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets		10			(2	)
Asset impairment & related charges		586			—
Provision for doubtful accounts		17,353			14,997
Write-off of deferred financing costs		3,488			957
Acquisition and merger-related charges		—			10,010
Changes in assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions):
Increase in accounts receivable		(20,974	)		(19,607	)
(Increase) decrease in inventories		(283	)		42
Decrease in other current assets		1,556			1,321
(Increase) decrease in other assets		(3,260	)		139
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest		11,295			(155	)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses		3,113			10,108

Net cash provided by operating activities		18,203			24,650

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions of property and equipment		(2,663	)		(2,553	)
Acquisition and merger-related charges paid		—			(642	)
Cash paid for acquisitions and acquisition costs, net of cash acquired		(496	)		(702	)
Increase in restricted cash		(1,261	)		(15	)
Payments of contingent notes		(7,927	)		(21,879	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(12,347	)		(25,791	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants		—			268
Net payments on long-term debt and capital leases		(763	)		(131	)
Payments under term loan facility		(88,312	)		—
Contingent note proceeds		7,927			—
Proceeds from sale of senior subordinated notes		79,500			—
Tax benefit of exercise of stock options		—			40

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(1,648	)		177

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		4,208			(964	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		23,536			964

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	27,744		$	—

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS
Accrual for repurchase of stock options	$	—		$	9,945
Property and equipment acquired pursuant to capital leases		—			444

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)

Note 1—Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of AmeriPath, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “AmeriPath” or the “Company”), have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such interim financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the full year.

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and filed with the SEC on March 17, 2004.

In order to maintain consistency and comparability between periods presented, certain amounts in the prior year’s financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation of the current period.

Note 2—The March 2003 Transaction

On December 8, 2002, Amy Holding Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amy Acquisition Corp., entered into a merger agreement with the predecessor of Ameripath, pursuant to which Amy Acquisition Corp. merged with and into the predecessor, with AmeriPath continuing as the surviving corporation (the “March 2003 Transaction”). Amy Holding Company and Amy Acquisition Corp. are Delaware corporations formed at the direction of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe IX, L.P. (“WCAS”). The March 2003 Transaction was approved by the Company’s stockholders and subsequently consummated on March 27, 2003. References herein to our “predecessor” refer to the activities, financial position and results of operations of AmeriPath prior to the March 2003 Transaction. As a result of the March 2003 Transaction, AmeriPath became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amy Holding Company, which was renamed AmeriPath Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”).

The funds necessary to consummate the March 2003 Transaction were approximately $804.0 million, including approximately $629.6 million to pay the stockholders and option holders of AmeriPath (other than WCAS and its affiliates) all amounts due under the merger agreement, approximately $127.5 million to refinance existing indebtedness and approximately $46.9 million to pay related fees and expenses. Prior to the merger, the 1,534,480 shares of AmeriPath common stock owned by WCAS and its affiliates were contributed to Holdings in exchange for shares of Holdings’ common stock. These shares were cancelled without payment of any merger consideration. The March 2003 Transaction was financed by a cash common equity investment by WCAS and its related equity investors of $296.2 million in Holdings, which funds were contributed by Holdings to AmeriPath in exchange for shares of AmeriPath’s common stock, $225.0 million in term loan borrowings under AmeriPath’s New Credit Facility, the issuance of $275.0 million in senior subordinated notes and existing AmeriPath cash.

The March 2003 Transaction has been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting prescribed in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations,” (SFAS No. 141), with intangible assets recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, (SFAS No. 142). In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, no amortization of indefinite-lived intangible assets or goodwill will be recorded.

As permitted under current guidance, any amounts recorded or incurred (such as goodwill or debt) by our parent as a result of the March 2003 Transaction can be “pushed down” and recorded on our financial statements. The following table summarizes the final allocation of the March 2003 Transaction based upon a valuation completed by an independent third-party valuation firm during September 2003.


Cash and equity contributed by WCAS	$	319,667
Total liabilities assumed		587,801
Fair value of assets acquired		(676,458	)

Excess purchase price (goodwill)	$	231,010

In addition, Holdings issued to WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P., an investment fund affiliated with WCAS, $67.0 million in principal amount of Holdings’ senior subordinated notes and an agreed-upon number of shares of its common stock, for an aggregate purchase price of $67.0 million. The proceeds from this transaction were deposited into a Holdings company cash collateral account,

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

which cash, subject to some exceptions, will be contributed to the Company from time to time to fund up to $67.0 million of future payments under the Company’s contingent notes relating to acquisitions consummated prior to the March 2003 Transaction. As of March 31, 2004, approximately $23.1 million of the $67.0 million has been contributed to the Company to fund contingent note payments. The lenders under the Company’s New Credit Facility have a first-priority security interest in all funds held in such cash collateral account.

During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, the Company recorded merger-related charges totaling $10.0 million related to the March 2003 Transaction.

Note 3—Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections” (“SFAS No. 145”), which, among other things, rescinded SFAS No. 4, “Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt.” Previously under SFAS No. 4, all gains and losses from extinguishments of debt were required to be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item in the statements of operations. SFAS No. 145 requires that gains and losses from extinguishments of debt be classified as extraordinary items only if they meet the criteria in APB Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions.” Any gains or losses on extinguishment of debt that were presented as extraordinary items in prior periods but which do not qualify for classification as an extraordinary item under Opinion No. 30, are to be reclassified. Companies are required to adopt SFAS No. 145 in fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 145 resulted in a write-off of approximately $3.5 million and $1.0 million of deferred financing costs during the first quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively, which is included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 is effective for all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the Company must apply the provisions of FIN 46 for the first interim or annual period beginning after March 15, 2004. The Company has determined that the provisions of FIN 46 do not apply to our entity.

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 149”). SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. It is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. In April 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement. The Company has not yet determined the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 149 will have on the consolidated financial statements.

Note 4—Acquisitions

During the first three months of 2004, the Company acquired one hospital-based practice in Bountiful, Utah. During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, the predecessor acquired a start-up operation in Charleston, South Carolina. The total consideration paid by the Company in connection with these acquisitions consisted of cash and contingent notes. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, the Company made contingent note payments of $7.9 million and $21.9 million, respectively, relating to previous acquisitions.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of the Company’s acquisition during the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 accounted for under the purchase method from the date acquired through March 31, 2004.

There is no pro forma information presented for the three months ended March 31, 2004, because of the immateriality of the one acquisition consummated during 2004. There is no pro forma information presented for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 due to the immateriality of the one acquisition completed, which was a start-up operation with no revenues.

Note 5—Intangible Assets

Amortization expense of identifiable intangibles was $2.8 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, respectively.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Amortization expense related to identifiable intangibles for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of March 31, 2004 is as follows:


Remainder of 2004	$	8,261
2005		11,014
2006		7,814
2007		6,747
2008		5,967
2009		5,708
Thereafter		102,249

The weighted average amortization period for identifiable intangible assets is approximately 14.1 years.

Note 6—Restructuring Costs

During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, the predecessor incurred certain restructuring costs as promulgated by SFAS No. 146 of approximately $1.2 million for employee severance costs in connection with a reduction in workforce at our Southern California, Philadelphia, Central Florida and North Texas laboratories.

Note 7—Long-term Debt

Term Loan Facility—On March 27, 2003, in connection with our consummation of the March 2003 Transaction, the predecessor terminated its existing senior credit facility and the Company entered into a new senior credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. The write-off of the unamortized debt costs related to the former credit facility was approximately $1.0 million and is included in the predecessor statement of operations for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003.

The New Credit Facility provided for senior secured financing of up to $290.0 million, consisting of a $225.0 million term loan facility with a maturity of seven years that was drawn in full in connection with the consummation of the March 2003 Transaction and a $65.0 million revolving credit facility with a maturity of six years. In February 2004, the Company paid down the term loan facility of the New Credit Facility to $125.0 million with proceeds from the issuance of $75.0 million of additional 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and the Company’s cash on hand. In connection with this reduction of the term facility, the interest rate of the term loan facility and terms and covenants of the facility were modified as reflected in the following paragraphs.

The interest rates per annum applicable to loans under the New Credit Facility are, at the Company’s option, equal to either an alternate base rate or an adjusted LIBOR rate for a one, two, three or six month interest period chosen by the Company, or a nine or twelve month period if agreed to by all participating lenders, plus an applicable margin percentage in each case.

The alternate base rate is the greater of (1) the prime rate or (2) one-half of 1% over the weighted average of rates on overnight federal funds as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The adjusted LIBOR rate will be determined by reference to settlement rates established for deposits in dollars in the London interbank market for a period equal to the interest period of the loan and the maximum reserve percentages established by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve to which our lenders are subject. Beginning approximately six months after the closing of the March 2003 Transaction, the applicable margin percentage under the revolving loan facility will be subject to adjustments based upon the ratio of our total indebtedness to our consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the New Credit Facility) being within certain defined ranges. The interest rate at March 31, 2004 was 4.09%. The facility also requires a commitment fee to be paid quarterly equal to 0.50% of any unused commitments under the revolving loan facility.

Subject to exceptions, the New Credit Facility requires mandatory prepayments of term loans in amounts equal to 100% of the net cash proceeds from asset sales which are not reinvested by the Company within specific periods, 50% of the net cash proceeds from the issuance of equity securities by the Company or Holdings, 100% of the net cash proceeds from the issuance of debt securities by the Company or Holdings if the leverage ratio is 5.25 times or greater or 50% if the leverage ratio is 5.25 times or less, and 50% of our annual excess cash flow, less all voluntary prepayments made during the year.

The New Credit Facility requires scheduled quarterly payments on the term loan in amounts equal to $312,500 on each of June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31, beginning on June 30, 2004.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Indebtedness under the New Credit Facility is guaranteed by all of the Company’s current restricted subsidiaries, certain of its future restricted subsidiaries and by Holdings. It is secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the Company’s existing and future property and assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, general intangibles, intellectual property, investment property, other personal property, owned and material leased real property, cash and cash proceeds of the foregoing and a first priority pledge of the Company’s capital stock and the capital stock of the guarantor subsidiaries.

The New Credit Facility requires that the Company comply on a quarterly basis with certain financial covenants, including an interest coverage ratio calculation, a fixed charge coverage ratio calculation and a maximum net senior leverage ratio calculation, which become more restrictive over time. In addition, the New Credit Facility includes negative covenants restricting or limiting the Company’s ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur, assume or permit to exist additional indebtedness or guarantees; incur liens and engage in sale leaseback transactions; make capital expenditures; make loans and investments; declare dividends, make payments or redeem or repurchase capital stock; engage in mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations; prepay, redeem or purchase certain indebtedness; amend or otherwise alter terms of our indebtedness; sell assets; transact with affiliates and alter the business that it conducts.

Such negative covenants are subject to exceptions, including, with respect to restrictions on dividends from the Company to Holdings, certain allowable dividends to pay cash interest on its parent’s holding company notes beginning in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

Senior Subordinated Notes—On March 27, 2003, in connection with the March 2003 Transaction, Amy Acquisition Corp. issued $275.0 million of 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The Company assumed Amy Acquisition Corp.’s obligations with respect to the notes upon consummation of the March 2003 Transaction. Interest became payable semi-annually in arrears beginning in October 2003. The notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally and on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, by certain of the Company’s current and former subsidiaries. The notes and guarantees rank junior to all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness, on par with all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness and senior to all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness. On April 1, 2004, the Company made its semi-annual interest payment of approximately $18.4 million.

The Company may redeem any of the notes at any time and from time to time beginning on April 1, 2008, in whole or in part, in cash at the specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

If a change in control of the Company occurs, subject to certain conditions, the Company must give holders of the notes an opportunity to sell the notes to the Company at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the purchase of the notes by the Company.

The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other equity distributions, purchase or redeem capital stock, make certain investments, enter into arrangements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries, transfer and sell assets, engage in certain transactions with affiliates and effect a consolidation or merger.

In February 2004, the Company issued an additional $75.0 million of its 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 at a premium price of 106% plus accrued interest. In February 2004, the Company paid down the term loan borrowings in the amount of $88.2 million. As a result of the paydown, the Company recognized a $3.5 million write-off of deferred financing costs.

Letters of Credit

As of March 31, 2004, the Company had letters of credit outstanding totaling $2.7 million. The letters of credit secure payments under certain operating leases and expire at various dates in 2004 through 2009. Some of the letters of credit automatically decline in value over various lease terms. The letters of credit have annual fees averaging 3.6%. Available borrowings under the $65 million revolving credit facility are reduced by these letters of credit. In addition, the Company has $300,000 of surety bonds outstanding to satisfy Florida Medicaid requirements.

Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

March 6, 2003. The Amended Complaint alleges a breach of duty to stockholders in connection with the March 2003 Transaction. The plaintiffs seek to represent a putative class consisting of the former public stockholders of AmeriPath, Inc. Named as defendants in the Amended Complaint are AmeriPath, Inc. and the members of the AmeriPath, Inc. board of directors. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the consideration was inadequate, that the announcement was improperly timed, that AmeriPath, Inc. was not properly auctioned, that the March 2003 Transaction was unfair, that the proxy statement omitted certain information that the plaintiffs contend was material and that such AmeriPath, Inc. directors breached their fiduciary duties. The Amended Complaint seeks injunctive relief against consummation of the merger, unspecified amounts of damages, costs and expenses related to their actions and other unspecified relief. We believe the Amended Complaint lacks merit and have moved to dismiss it. Notwithstanding this motion, the plaintiffs and we have agreed in principal to a non-class settlement that will be funded by our Directors and Officers insurance carrier, is in the range of future defense costs and will not materially impact our financial statements or operations. Upon consummation of the settlement, the litigation will be dismissed.

In addition, during the ordinary course of business, we have become and may in the future become subject to legal actions and proceedings. We may have liability with respect to our employees and our pathologists and with respect to hospital employees who are under the supervision of our hospital-based pathologists. The majority of these pending legal proceedings involve claims of medical malpractice and most of those suits relate to cytology services. Based upon investigations conducted to date, we believe the outcome of any pending legal actions and proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. If we are ultimately found liable under the outstanding medical malpractice claims, there can be no assurance that medical malpractice insurance arrangements will be adequate to cover all such liabilities. We also may, from time to time, be involved with legal actions related to the acquisition of anatomic pathology operations, the prior conduct of acquired operations or the employment and restriction on competition of physicians. There can be no assurance that any costs or liabilities for which we become responsible in connection with these claims or actions will not be material or will not exceed the limitations of any applicable indemnification provisions or the financial resources of the indemnifying parties.

Healthcare Regulatory Environment and Reliance on Government Programs — The healthcare industry in general, and the services that the Company provides, are subject to extensive federal and state laws and regulations. Additionally, a significant portion of the Company’s net revenue is from payments by government-sponsored health care programs, principally Medicare and Medicaid, and is subject to audit and adjustments by applicable regulatory agencies. Failure to comply with any of these laws or regulations, the results of increased regulatory audits and adjustments, or changes in the interpretation of the coding of services or the amounts payable for the Company’s services under these programs could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations. The Company’s operations are continuously subject to review and inspection by regulatory authorities.

The Company has received subpoenas issued by the United States Attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida seeking information with respect to an investigation relating to Medicare billing and possible financial inducements in connection with a Florida physician who is not an AmeriPath pathologist but is a client of AmeriPath. The Company is providing information to the United States Attorney’s office and intends to cooperate in the investigation. The Company is conducting its own internal investigation of the matter. It is not possible at this point in the investigation to determine whether the government will pursue action against AmeriPath or to assess the merits of possible defenses AmeriPath might have to any such action. Accordingly, no assurances can be given regarding the ultimate outcome of the investigation.

Employment Agreements — As part of the March 2003 Transaction, the Company entered into new or amended employment agreements with certain of its management employees, which include, among other terms, non-competition provisions and salary continuation benefits. The Company also terminated employment contracts with certain of its management employees as a result of the March 2003 Transaction, which resulted in change in control payments to those former employees which are included in merger-related costs for the period January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003.

Quest Contracts — During 2002, Quest cancelled its contract with our Jacksonville laboratory, and during the first quarter of 2003, Quest cancelled its contract with our Orlando laboratory effective March 31, 2003. Quest is in the process of internalizing the anatomic pathology work currently subcontracted to us. Revenue from Quest for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $0.1 million and will not be significant for the remainder of 2004.

Medicare Reimbursement — The Medicare statute includes a methodology to adjust payments for services, including anatomic pathology services, under the physician fee schedule. This methodology is applied each year unless it is overridden by congressional action. The statutory methodology would have led to a 4.4% reduction in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in 2003 and a 4.5% reduction in 2004 if those reductions had not been blocked by Congress. Instead, Congress required a 1.6% increase in 2003 and a 1.5% increase in each of 2004 and 2005. In addition, because it was projected that the statutory methodology would result in additional reductions in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years, Congress revised the methodology through legislation enacted in December 2003. It is unclear how this revision in the methodology will affect the annual adjustments in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years and, if it will not prevent reductions, whether Congress will intervene to prevent decreases in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Note 9—Comprehensive Income

In accordance with SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income” (“SFAS 130”), the Company is required to report and display certain information related to comprehensive income. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, net income equaled comprehensive income.

Note 10—Segment Reporting

The Company has two reportable segments, owned operations and managed operations. The segments were determined based on the type of service and customer. Owned operations provide anatomic pathology services to hospitals and referring physicians, while the Company’s managed operations provide management services to the affiliated physician groups. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of accounting policies in the Company’s year end audited financial statements. The Company evaluates performance based on net revenue and income from operations.

The following is a summary of financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 for the Company’s business segments and corporate offices:


	(Successor) Three months ended March 31, 2004			(Predecessor) Period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003
Owned
Net patient service revenue	$	119,620		$	113,478
Income from operations		25,409			26,053
Segment assets		766,617
Managed
Net management service revenue	$	6,180		$	5,479
Income from operations		690			558
Segment assets		15,874
Corporate
Loss from operations	$	(12,017	)	$	(9,629	)
Segment assets		133,483
Elimination of intercompany accounts		9,542

Note 11—Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 37.0% and 58.0% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, respectively.

This rate decreased significantly from the prior period primarily due to the non-deductibility of certain merger-related charges relating to the March 2003 Transaction.

Note 12—Subsequent Events

On April 1, 2004, the Company made its semi-annual interest payment on the Senior Subordinated Notes of approximately $18.4 million.

On April 1, 2004, the Company borrowed $5.0 million on its revolver, and in May 2004, the Company repaid the full amount borrowed on the revolver.

In April 2004, the Company entered into a 2¹/2 year interest rate swap agreement to manage its exposure to market risks related to changes in interest rates associated with its variable rate debt under its credit facility. The notional amount of the swap is $75.0

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

million. The interest differential will be paid or received as interest rates changes are calculated and paid semi-annually to the appropriate party. These payments or receipts will be recorded as adjustments to interest expense in the period in which they are incurred.

Note 13—Guarantor Subsidiaries

The following information is presented as required by regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company’s 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. This information is not routinely prepared for use by management. The operating and investing activities of the separate legal entities included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are fully interdependent and integrated. Accordingly, consolidating the operating results of those separate legal entities is not representative of what the actual operating results of those entities would be on a stand-alone basis. Operating expenses of those separate legal entities include intercompany charges for management fees and other services. Certain expense items and asset and liability balances that are applicable to the Company’s subsidiaries are typically recorded in the books and records of AmeriPath, Inc. For purposes of this footnote disclosure, such balances and amounts have been “pushed down” to the respective subsidiaries either on a specific identification basis, or when such items cannot be specifically attributed to an individual subsidiary, have been allocated on an incremental or proportional cost basis to AmeriPath, Inc. and the Company’s subsidiaries.

The following tables present condensed consolidating financial information at March 31, 2004, and December 31, 2003 and for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 for (i) AmeriPath, (ii) on a combined basis, the subsidiaries of AmeriPath that are guarantors of the Company’s 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and (iii) on a combined basis, the subsidiaries of AmeriPath that are not guarantors of the Company’s 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”).

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets:

Successor:


As of March 31, 2004	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated Total
Assets
Current assets:
Cash	$	—		$	27,371		$	373					$	27,744
Restricted cash		—			14,086			—						14,086
Accounts receivable, net		67			67,891			17,186						85,144
Inventories		149			2,037			—						2,186
Other current assets		1,606			12,006			4,016						17,628

Total current assets		1,822			123,391			21,575						146,788
Property & equipment, net		2,381			25,092			73						27,546
Goodwill, net		—			417,504			123,725						541,229
Other identifiable intangibles, net		20,200			141,710			22,249						184,159
Investment in subsidiaries		706,732			(6,632	)		—			(700,100	)		—
Other assets		19,590			5,298			906						25,794

Total assets	$	750,725		$	706,363		$	168,528		$	(700,100	)	$	925,516

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	27,165		$	27,300		$	6,780					$	61,245
Current portion of long-term debt		1,250			631			—						1,881
Other current liabilities		(127	)		1,067			—						940

Total current liabilities		28,288			28,998			6,780						64,066
Long-term debt		474,063			2,437			—						476,500
Other liabilities		4,429			18,070			1,106						23,605
Deferred tax liabilities, net		122			16,032			(1,106	)					15,048

Total long-term liabilities		478,614			36,539			—						515,153
Intercompany (receivable) payable		255,781			(244,788	)		(10,993	)					0
Stockholder’s equity:
Common stock		(1,382	)		1,381			25			(23	)		1
Additional paid-in capital		306,002			33,733			3,011						342,746
Retained earnings (deficit)		(316,579	)		850,493			169,713			(700,077	)		3,550

Total stockholder’s equity		(11,959	)		885,607			172,749			(700,100	)		346,297

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity	$	750,724		$	706,356		$	168,536		$	(700,100	)	$	925,516

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Successor:


As of December 31, 2003	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments			Consolidated Total
Assets
Current assets:
Cash	$	—		$	22,652		$	884					$	23,536
Restricted cash		—			12,825			—						12,825
Accounts receivable, net		259			66,227			15,109						81,595
Inventories		142			1,761			—						1,903
Other current assets		1,793			13,332			4,059						19,184

Total current assets		2,194			116,797			20,052						139,043
Property & equipment, net		2,029			25,007			67						27,103
Goodwill, net		—			413,301			119,574						532,875
Other identifiable intangibles, net		20,300			131,469			34,791						186,560
Investment in subsidiaries		684,593			(6,630	)		—			(677,963	)		—
Other assets		20,896			5,469			807						27,172

Total assets	$	730,012		$	685,413		$	175,291		$	(677,963	)	$	912,753

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	5,505		$	36,413		$	5,714					$	47,632
Current portion of long-term debt		2,149			1,301			—						3,450
Other current liabilities		(12	)		1,885			—						1,873

Total current liabilities		7,642			39,599			5,714						52,955
Long-term debt		487,135			1,873			—						489,008
Other liabilities		5,138			11,213			881						17,232
Deferred tax liabilities, net		122			15,867			(1,106	)					14,883

Total long-term liabilities		492,395			28,953			(225	)					521,123
Intercompany (receivable) payable		224,996			(227,456	)		2,460						—
Stockholder’s equity:
Common stock		(1,382	)		1,379			25			(21	)		1
Additional paid-in capital		300,092			31,719			3,009						334,820
Retained earnings (deficit)		(293,731	)		811,219			164,308			(677,942	)		3,854

Total stockholder’s equity		4,979			844,317			167,342			(677,963	)		338,675

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity	$	730,012		$	685,413		$	175,291		$	(677,963	)	$	912,753

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations:

Successor:


For the three months ended March 31, 2004	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidated Total
Net revenues	$	—		$	97,112		$	28,688		$	125,800
Cost of services		—			(54,791	)		(11,902	)		(66,693	)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(2,638	)		(34,191	)		(4,796	)		(41,625	)
Amortization expense		—			(2,489	)		(325	)		(2,814	)
Merger-related charges		—			—			—			—
Restructuring costs		—			—			—			—
Asset impairment & related charges		—			—			(586	)		(586	)

Total operating costs and expense		(2,638	)		(91,471	)		(17,609	)		(111,718	)
(Loss) income from operations		(2,638	)		5,641			11,079			14,082
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(11,086	)		(60	)		—			(11,146	)
Management fee (A)		—			11,079			(11,079	)		—
Write-off of deferred financing costs		(3,488	)		—			—			(3,488	)
Other, net		1			69			—			70

Total other expenses		(14,573	)		11,088			(11,079	)		(14,564	)

(Loss) income before income taxes		(17,211	)		16,729			—			(482	)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		6,663			(6,485	)		—			178

Net (loss) income	$	(10,548	)	$	10,244		$	—		$	(304	)

(A)	In accordance with the applicable management fee agreements, the Subsidiary Guarantors are the direct beneficiary of substantially all of the pre-tax income of the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.

Predecessor:


For the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidated Total
Net revenues	$	—		$	107,388		$	11,569		$	118,957
Cost of services		—			(56,354	)		(5,791	)		(62,145	)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(939	)		(33,123	)		(2,661	)		(36,723	)
Amortization expense		—			(2,750	)		(357	)		(3,107	)
Merger-related charges		(10,010	)								(10,010	)
Restructuring costs					(699	)		(497	)		(1,196	)
Asset impairment & related charges		—			(287	)		287			—

Total operating costs and expense		(10,949	)		(93,213	)		(9,019	)		(113,181	)
(Loss) income from operations		(10,949	)		14,175			2,550			5,776
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(1,115	)		(65	)		—			(1,180	)
Management fee (A)		—			2,550			(2,550	)		—
Write-off of Genomics investment		(957	)		—			—			(957	)
Other, net		4			29			—			33

Total other expenses		(2,068	)		2,514			(2,550	)		(2,104	)

(Loss) income before income taxes		(13,017	)		16,689			—			3,672
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		2,720			(4,851	)		—			(2,131	)

Net (loss) income	$	(10,297	)	$	11,838		$	—		$	1,541

(A)	In accordance with the applicable management fee agreements, the Subsidiary Guarantors are the direct beneficiary of substantially all of the pre-tax income of the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.

AMERIPATH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows:

Successor:


For the three months ended March 31, 2004	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidated Total
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(10,548	)	$	10,244		$	—		$	(304	)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash provided by operating activities		4,301			18,222			4,537			27,060
Changes in assets and liabilities which used cash, net of effects of acquisitions		8,632			(14,054	)		(3,131	)		(8,553	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		2,385			14,412			1,406			18,203
Cash flows from investing activities		(1,500	)		(8,930	)		(1,917	)		(12,347	)
Cash flows from financing activities		(885	)		(763	)		—			(1,648	)

Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents		—			4,719			(511	)		4,208
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		—			22,652			884			23,536

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	—		$	27,371		$	373		$	27,744


Predecessor: For the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003	AmeriPath, Inc.			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Consolidated Total
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(10,297	)	$	11,838		$	—		$	1,541
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities		11,319			16,845			3,097			31,261
Changes in assets and liabilities which used cash, net of effects of acquisitions		(1,029	)		(8,018	)		895			(8,152	)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(7	)		20,665			3,992			24,650
Cash flows from investing activities		(300	)		(20,510	)		(4,981	)		(25,791	)
Cash flows from financing activities		307			(130	)		—			177

Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents		—			25			(989	)		(964	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		—			(25	)		989			964

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

ITEM 2.

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

General

AmeriPath, Inc. (“AmeriPath” or the “Company”) is one of the leading anatomic pathology laboratory companies in the United States. We offer a broad range of anatomic pathology laboratory testing and information services used by physicians in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of cancer and other diseases and medical conditions. We service an extensive referring physician base through our 15 regional laboratories and 36 satellite laboratories, and we provide inpatient diagnostic and medical director services at more than 200 hospitals. Our services are performed by over 400 pathologists.

On December 8, 2002, AmeriPath Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) formerly known as Amy Holding Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Amy Acquisition Corp., entered into a merger agreement providing for the merger of Amy Acquisition Corp. with and into AmeriPath, with AmeriPath continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings. The merger was consummated on March 27, 2003. We refer to the merger as the “March 2003 Transaction.”

Because the laws of many states restrict corporations from directly employing physicians or owning corporations that employ physicians, we often conduct our business through affiliated entities that we manage and control but do not own. In states where we are under these restrictions, we perform only non-medical administrative and support services, do not represent to the public or our clients that we offer medical services and do not exercise influence or control over the practice of medicine by our physicians. Because of the degree of non-medical managerial control we exercise over our affiliated entities, we consolidate the financial results of these entities with those of our wholly-owned operations. We collectively refer to these consolidated entities and our wholly-owned operations as our “owned operations.” In addition, we have also entered into management agreements with a few anatomic pathology laboratory operations over which we do not exercise non-medical managerial control and, accordingly, do not consolidate with our owned operations. We refer to these operations as our “managed operations.” For the three months ended March 31, 2004, our revenues from owned operations and managed operations accounted for 95.1% and 4.9% of our total net revenues, respectively. For the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, our revenues from owned operations and managed operations accounted for 95.4% and 4.6% of our total net revenues, respectively.

Financial Statement Presentation

The following paragraphs provide a brief description of the most important items that appear in our financial statements and general factors that impact these items.

Net Revenues. Net revenues consist of revenues received from patients, third-party payors and others for services rendered. Our same store net revenue is affected by changes in customer volume, payor mix and reimbursement rates. References to “same store” refer to operations that have been included in our financial statements throughout the periods compared.

Cost of Services. Cost of services consists principally of the compensation and fringe benefits of pathologists, medical malpractice insurance, licensed technicians and support personnel, laboratory supplies, shipping and distribution costs and facility costs. Historically, acquisitions, and the costs associated with additional personnel and facilities, have been the most significant factor driving increases in our cost of services. Also, increases in medical malpractice insurance have affected our cost of services.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense. Selling, general and administrative expense primarily includes the cost of field operations, corporate support, sales and marketing, information technology and billing and collections. As we have developed our national sales and marketing infrastructure, our selling, general and administrative expense has increased. In addition, spending on new information technology initiatives historically has contributed to increased expenses in this category.

Provision for Doubtful Accounts. Provision for doubtful accounts is affected by our mix of revenue from outpatient and inpatient services. Provision for doubtful accounts typically is higher for inpatient services than for outpatient services due primarily to a larger concentration of indigent and private pay patients, greater difficulty gathering complete and accurate billing information and longer billing and collection cycles for inpatient services. Management service revenue generally does not include a provision for doubtful accounts.

Amortization Expense. Our acquisitions have resulted in significant net identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. We record net identifiable intangible assets at fair value on the date of acquisition. Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which required us to cease amortizing goodwill and instead perform a transitional impairment test as of January 1, 2002 and an annual impairment analysis to assess the recoverability of goodwill. The results of the transitional and annual impairment tests indicated no impairment of goodwill or other indefinite lived intangibles. We continually evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred that may warrant revisions to the carrying values

of our goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets or to the estimated useful lives assigned to such assets. Any significant impairment recorded on the carrying values of our goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets would be recorded as a charge to income from operations and a reduction of intangible assets and could materially reduce our profitability in the period in which the charge is recorded.

Recent Trends and Events

Acquisitions—During the first three months of 2004, we acquired a hospital-based practice in Bountiful, Utah. The total consideration paid by us in connection with this acquisition included cash and contingent notes. During the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, we acquired a start-up operation in Charleston, South Carolina. The total consideration paid by us in connection with this acquisition included cash and the assumption of certain liabilities. During the first three months of 2004, we made contingent note payments of approximately $7.9 million relating to previous acquisitions.

Medical Malpractice Costs. In June 2002, we replaced our existing medical malpractice insurance coverage with third party insurance companies with a new self-insurance, or captive, arrangement. We entered into this self-insurance arrangement because we were unable to renew our existing coverage at acceptable rates, which we believe was an industry-wide situation. Under our self-insurance structure, we retain more risk for medical malpractice costs, including settlements and claims expense, than under our previous coverage. While we have obtained excess liability coverage for medical malpractice costs, we have no aggregate excess stop loss protection, meaning there is no aggregate limitation on the amount of risk we retain under these arrangements. Our medical malpractice costs are based on actuarial estimates of our medical malpractice settlement and claims expense and the costs of maintaining our captive insurance program and excess coverage. We periodically review and update the appropriateness of our accrued liability for medical malpractice costs. Because we retain these risks, in addition to an actual increase in claims or related expenses, a change in the actuarial assumptions upon which our medical malpractice costs are based could materially affect results of operations in a particular period even if we do not experience an actual increase in claims or related expenses. For fiscal year 2003, our medical malpractice costs were approximately $12.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, our medical malpractice costs were approximately $3.1 million.

Quest Contracts. During 2002, Quest cancelled its contract with our Jacksonville laboratory, and Quest cancelled its contract with our Orlando laboratory effective March 31, 2003. Quest is in the process of internalizing the anatomic pathology work currently subcontracted to us. Our revenues from Quest for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $0.1 million.

Medicare Reimbursement. The Medicare statute includes a methodology to adjust payments for services, including anatomic pathology services, under the physician fee schedule. This methodology is applied each year unless it is overridden by congressional action. The statutory methodology would have led to a 4.4% reduction in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in 2003 and a 4.5% reduction in 2004 if those reductions had not been blocked by Congress. Instead, Congress required a 1.6% increase in 2003 and a 1.5% increase in each of 2004 and 2005. In addition, because it was projected that the statutory methodology would result in additional reductions in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years, Congress revised the methodology through legislation enacted in December 2003. It is unclear how this revision in the methodology will affect the annual adjustments in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years and, if it will not prevent reductions, whether Congress will intervene to prevent decreases in the physician fee schedule conversion factor in future years.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies remain consistent with those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our owned operations. As part of the consolidation process, we have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions. We do not consolidate the results of operations of our managed operations.

Segments

Our two reportable segments are our owned operations and our managed operations. We determine our segments based upon the type of service performed and our customers. Our owned operations provide anatomic pathology services to hospitals and referring physicians, while our managed operations provide management services to the affiliated physician groups.

Results of Operations

The following table outlines, for the periods indicated, selected operating data as a percentage of net revenues.


	(Successor) Three Months Ended March 31, 2004		(Predecessor) Period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003
Net revenue	100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	53.0	%	52.2	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19.3	%	18.3	%
Provision for doubtful accounts	13.8	%	12.6	%
Amortization expense	2.2	%	2.6	%
Asset impairment & related charges	0.5	%	—
Merger-related charges	—		8.4	%
Restructuring costs	—		1.0	%

Total operating costs and expenses	88.8	%	95.1	%
Income from operations	11.2	%	4.9	%
Interest expense	(8.9	)%	(1.0	)%
Write-off of deferred financing costs	(2.8	)%	(0.8	)%
Other income, net	0.1	%	0.0	%

(Loss) income before income taxes	(0.4	)%	3.1	%
Provision for income taxes	0.1	%	(1.8	)%

Net (loss) income	(0.3	)%	1.3	%

Net Revenues.

Net revenues increased by $6.8 million, or 5.7%, from $119.0 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $125.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Same store net revenue increased $7.6 million or 6.5% from $116.5 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $124.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Same store net revenue, excluding revenue from national laboratory companies, for the first quarter of 2004 increased 8.9%, or $10.2 million, compared to the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003. For the first quarter of 2004, revenue from our contracts with national laboratory companies was $0.1 million, down from $2.7 million from the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003. The national labs continue to reduce the amount of volume they subcontract. Revenue from our contracts with national laboratory companies is expected to be minimal during the remainder of 2004. The remaining increase in net revenue resulted from acquired operations, less any dispositions, during 2003. Our mix of revenue for the first quarter of 2004 was 51% outpatient, 44% inpatient (hospital-based), and 5% management services. This compares to a mix of 47% outpatient, 48% inpatient (hospital based) and 5% management services in the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003.

Cost of Services.

Cost of services increased by $4.6 million, or 7.4%, from $62.1 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $66.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Cost of services as a percentage of net revenues increased from 52.2% for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to 53.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in cost of services as a percentage of net revenues is primarily due to increased physician compensation and increased courier and distribution costs associated with the increased revenue from physician’s offices. Gross margin decreased from 47.8% for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to 47.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased by $2.6 million, or 12.0%, from $21.7 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $24.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. As a percentage of net revenues, selling, general and administrative expense increased from 18.3% for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to 19.3% for the first quarter of 2004. The increase was primarily due to the severance of approximately $1.4 million for the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, investments in information technology and the expansion of the sales and marketing efforts.

Provision for Doubtful Accounts.

Our provision for doubtful accounts increased by $2.4 million, or 16.0%, from $15.0 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $17.4 million for the first quarter of in 2004. The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net revenues increased from 12.6% for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to 13.8% for the first quarter of 2004.

Amortization Expense.

Amortization expense decreased by $0.3 million, or 9.7%, from $3.1 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Merger-related Charges.

The merger-related charges of $10.0 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 relate to the March 2003 Transaction. These costs were primarily legal, accounting, advisory services and employee change in control payments related to the March 2003 Transaction. There were no merger-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Restructuring Costs.

In the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, we incurred certain restructuring costs as promulgated by SFAS No. 146 of approximately $1.2 million for employee severance costs in connection with a reduction in workforce at our Southern California, Philadelphia, Central Florida and North Texas laboratories.

Write-off of Deferred Financing Costs.

In March 2003, the Company wrote off the remaining balance of its deferred financing costs of approximately $1.0 million related to the termination of its former credit facility as part of the March 2003 Transaction.

In February 2004, the Company wrote off a portion of the balance of its deferred debt financing costs totaling approximately $3.5 million related to the amendment of its term B credit facility. The remaining balance is being amortized over the life of the term loan facility.

Asset impairment & related charges.

In March 2004, the Company sold a practice in Michigan resulting in an impairment charge of approximately $0.6 million.

Interest Expense.

Interest expense increased by $9.9 million from $1.2 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003 to $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. This increase was attributable to increased interest of $7.7 million on the senior subordinated notes outstanding and interest of $2.0 million on the new credit facility, along with a higher effective interest rate. Our effective interest rate was 9.2% and 5.3% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 and the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, respectively.

Income Taxes.

Our effective income tax rate was 37.0% and 58.0% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, respectively. The 2003 rate was due to the non-deductibility of certain charges relating to the March 2003 Transaction. The effective tax rate for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, excluding the non-deductibility of merger related charges, would have been approximately 39.2%.

Net (Loss) Income.

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2004, was $0.3 million, compared with net income of $1.5 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003. The difference was primarily due to the write-off of $3.5 million in deferred financing costs during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a write-off of $1.0 million of deferred financing costs for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2004, we had working capital of approximately $82.7 million, a decrease of $3.4 million from working capital of $86.1 million at December 31, 2003. The decrease in working capital for the first three months of 2004 was due primarily to an increase in accrued interest of $11.3 million, partially offset by an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $4.2 million, an increase in restricted cash of $1.3 million, and an increase in accounts receivable of $3.5 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2004, net cash provided by operating activities was $18.2 million, compared to $24.7 million for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, cash flows from operations were primarily used to make term note payments of $8.8 million, and acquire property and equipment of $2.7 million.

Our new credit facility provides for senior secured financing of up to $190.0 million, consisting of a $125.0 million term loan facility with a maturity of March 27, 2010 and a $65.0 million revolving loan facility with a maturity of March 27, 2009.

The interest rates per annum applicable to loans under our new credit facility are, at our option, equal to either an alternate base rate or an adjusted LIBOR for a one, two, three or six month interest period chosen by us, or a nine or twelve month period if agreed by all participating lenders, in each case, plus an applicable margin percentage.

On March 27, 2003, in connection with the March 2003 Transaction, Amy Acquisition Corp. issued $275.0 million of 10¹/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. We assumed Amy Acquisition Corp.’s obligations under these notes upon consummation of the March 2003 Transaction. Interest became payable semi-annually in arrears beginning in October 2003. The notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally and on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, by certain of our current and former subsidiaries. The notes and guarantees rank junior to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness, on par with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness and senior to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other equity distributions, purchase or redeem capital stock, make certain investments, enter into arrangements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries, transfer and sell assets, engage in certain transactions with affiliates and effect a consolidation or merger.

In connection with our acquisitions, we generally agree to pay a base purchase price plus additional contingent purchase price consideration to the sellers of the acquired operations. The additional payments generally are contingent upon the achievement of specified levels of income from operations (as defined by the specific purchase agreements with the seller) by the acquired operations over periods of three to five years from the date of acquisition. In certain cases, the payments are contingent upon other factors such as the retention of certain hospital contracts or relationships for periods ranging from three to five years. The amount of the payments cannot be determined until the final determination of the income from operations levels or other performance targets during the relevant periods of the respective agreements. If the maximum specified levels of income from operations for all acquired operations are achieved, we estimate that we would make aggregate maximum principal payments of approximately $85.9 million over the next five years. A lesser amount or no payments at all would be made if the stipulated levels of income from operations or other evaluation factors specified in each agreement were not met. During the first three months of 2004, we made contingent note payments, including interest, aggregating $7.9 million. In addition, we intend to fund future payments under our contingent payment obligations relating to acquisitions completed prior to the transaction from contributions made to us by Holdings out of the funds from the remaining cash collateral account balance of $44.6 million and, if needed, cash flows from operations.

Historically, our capital expenditures have been primarily for laboratory equipment, information technology equipment and leasehold improvements. Total capital expenditures were $2.7 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, respectively.

We intend to fund our ongoing capital and working capital requirements, including our internal growth and acquisitions, through a combination of cash flows from operations and borrowings under our new $65.0 million revolving loan facility. In addition, we intend to fund payments under our contingent payment obligations from contributions made to us by our parent out of the funds that will be held in the cash collateral account and, if needed, cash flows from operations.

We expect to use our new revolving loan facility to fund internal growth and acquisitions and for working capital. We anticipate that funds generated by operations, funds available under our new revolving loan facility and funds in the cash collateral account will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements and anticipated contingent note obligations and to finance capital expenditures over the next twelve months. Further, in the event payments under the contingent payment obligations exceed the amounts held in the cash collateral account, we believe that the incremental cash generated from operations would exceed the cash required to satisfy those additional payments. Such additional payments, if any, will result in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2004.

Contractual Obligations

The following is a summary of our contractual cash obligations, excluding contingent payments, as of March 31, 2004 (in millions):


	Payments Due By Period
Contractual Obligations	1 year		1-2 years		3-5 years		After 5 years		Total
Term loans under our new credit facility	$	1.3	$	1.3	$	3.8	$	118.6	$	125.0
Other indebtedness		0.6		2.6		0.2		—		3.4
Operating leases		5.6		10.2		9.4		12.6		37.8
Senior subordinated notes		—		—		—		350.0		350.0

Total contractual cash obligations	$	7.5	$	14.1	$	13.4	$	481.2	$	516.2

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to market risk associated principally with changes in interest rates. Our principal interest rate exposure relates to the term loans outstanding under our new credit facility. We have $125.0 million of outstanding term loans subject to variable rates. Each quarter point increase or decrease in the applicable interest rate would change our interest expense by approximately $0.3 million per year. In April 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to manage its exposure to market risks related to changes in interest rates associated with our variable rate debt under our credit facility.

Inflation

Inflation was not a material factor in either revenue or operating expenses during the first three months of 2004.

Qualification of Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Form 10-Q that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of AmeriPath, and its subsidiaries. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events.

These forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us. They are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this Form 10-Q, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors,” will be important in determining future results.

Because of these factors, we caution that investors should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and except as required by law we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Form 10-Q. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. You should also review the risk factors and cautionary statements we make in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our term loans and subordinated debt.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of March 31, 2004, as adjusted to give effect to the refinancing of the term loan outstanding under our senior credit facility and the issuance of additional senior subordinated notes, our total debt was $478.4 million, excluding unused revolving loan commitments under our senior credit facility, which would have represented approximately 58.0% of our total anticipated capitalization. This debt does not include our obligations under our existing contingent notes.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences by adversely affecting our financial condition and thus making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations. Our substantial indebtedness could:

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increase our vulnerability to adverse general economic and industry conditions,

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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, payments under our contingent notes and other general corporate purposes,

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

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

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limit our ability to borrow additional funds.

Despite our level of indebtedness, we will be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.

We will be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although the indenture governing the notes and the credit agreement governing our senior credit facility contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Moreover, the restrictions also do not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness. To the extent new debt is added to our currently anticipated debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described above would increase.

The terms of our senior credit facility and the indenture relating to our notes may restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.

Our senior credit facility contains a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interests. Our senior credit facility includes covenants restricting, among other things, our ability to:

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incur additional debt,

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pay dividends and make restricted payments,

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create liens,

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use the proceeds from sales of assets and subsidiary stock,

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enter into sale and leaseback transactions,

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make capital expenditures,

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change our business,

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enter into transactions with affiliates and

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transfer all or substantially all of our assets or enter into merger or consolidation transactions.

The indenture relating to the notes also contains numerous operating and financial covenants including, among other things, restrictions on our ability to:

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incur additional debt,

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pay dividends or purchase our capital stock,

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make investments,

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enter into transactions with affiliates,

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sell or otherwise dispose of assets and

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merge or consolidate with another entity.

Our senior credit facility, as amended, also includes financial covenants, including requirements that we maintain:

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a minimum interest coverage ratio,

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a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and

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a maximum senior leverage ratio.

These financial covenants will become more restrictive over time.

A failure by us to comply with the covenants contained in our senior credit facility or the indenture could result in an event of default. In the event of any default under our senior credit facility, the lenders under our senior credit facility could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be due and payable, enforce their security interest, require us to apply all of our available cash to repay these borrowings (even if the lenders have not declared a default) or prevent us from making debt service payments on the notes, any of which would result in an event of default under the notes. In addition, future indebtedness could contain financial and other covenants more restrictive than those applicable to our senior credit facility and the notes.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service obligations.

Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make scheduled payments on our debt obligations will depend on our future financial performance, which will be affected by a range of economic, competitive, regulatory, legislative and business factors, many of which are outside of our control. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy our debt obligations, including payments on the notes, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring our debt, selling assets, reducing or delaying capital investments or seeking to raise additional capital. We cannot assure you that any refinancing would be possible or that any assets could be sold on acceptable terms or otherwise. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms, would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on our ability to satisfy our obligations under the notes.

We conduct business in a heavily regulated industry, and changes in regulations or violations of regulations may, directly or indirectly, reduce our revenues and harm our business.

The healthcare industry is highly regulated, and there can be no assurance that the regulatory environment in which we operate will not change significantly and adversely in the future. Several areas of regulatory compliance that may affect our ability to conduct business include:

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federal and state anti-kickback laws,

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federal and state self-referral and financial inducement laws, including the federal physician anti-self referral law, or the Stark Law,

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federal and state false claims laws,

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state laws regarding prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine,

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state laws regarding prohibitions on fee-splitting,

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federal and state anti-trust laws,

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the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA,

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federal and state regulation of privacy, security and electronic transactions and code sets and

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federal, state and local laws governing the handling and disposal of medical and hazardous waste.

These laws and regulations are extremely complex. In many instances, the industry does not have the benefit of significant regulatory or judicial interpretation of these laws and regulations. It also is possible that the courts could ultimately interpret these laws in a manner that is different from our interpretations. While we believe that we are currently in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations, a determination that we have violated these laws, or the public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these laws, would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For a more complete description of these regulations, see “Business - Government Regulation” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Our business could be materially harmed by future interpretation or implementation of state laws regarding prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine.

The manner in which licensed physicians can be organized to perform and bill for medical services is governed by state laws and regulations. Under the laws of some states, business corporations generally are not permitted to employ physicians or to own corporations that employ physicians or to otherwise exercise control over the medical judgments or decisions of physicians.

We believe that we currently are in compliance with the corporate practice of medicine laws in the states in which we operate in all material respects. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that regulatory authorities or other parties will not assert that we are engaged in the corporate practice of medicine or that the laws of a particular state will not change. If such a claim were successfully asserted in any jurisdiction, or as a result of such a change in law, we could be required to restructure our contractual and other arrangements, our company and our pathologists could be subject to civil and criminal penalties and some of our existing contracts, including non-competition provisions, could be found to be illegal and unenforceable. In addition, expansion of our operations to other states may require structural and organizational modification of our form of relationship with pathologists, operations or hospitals. These results or the inability to successfully restructure contractual arrangements would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We could be hurt by future interpretation or implementation of federal and state anti-kickback and anti-referral laws.

Federal and state anti-kickback laws prohibit the offer, solicitation, payment and receipt of remuneration in exchange for referrals of products and services for which payment may be made by Medicare, Medicaid or other federal and state healthcare programs. Federal and state anti-referral laws, including the Stark Law, prohibit physicians from referring their patients to healthcare providers with which the physicians or their immediate family members have a financial relationship for designated services when such services are subject to reimbursement by Medicare or Medicaid. A violation of any of these laws could result in monetary fines, civil and criminal penalties and exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state healthcare programs, which accounted for approximately 21% of our revenues during the first three months of 2004.

We owe some of our physicians contingent payment obligations entered into in connection with acquisitions we have completed and some of our physicians are party to compensation arrangements with us and own common stock of our parent. Although we have attempted to structure our businesses so that our financial relationships with our physicians and our referral practices comply in all material respects with federal and state anti-referral laws, including the Stark Law, the government may take the position that they do not comply, or a prohibited referral may be made by one of our physicians without our knowledge. If our financial relationships with our physicians were found to be unlawful or unlawful referrals were found to have been made, we or they could be fined, become subject to government recoupment of fees previously paid to us and forfeiture of revenues due to us or become subject to civil and criminal penalties. In such situations, we also may be excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs. Any one of these consequences could have an adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

Our business could be harmed by future interpretation or implementation of state law prohibitions on fee-splitting.

Many states prohibit the splitting or sharing of fees between physicians and non-physicians. We believe our arrangements with pathologists and operations comply in all material respects with the fee-splitting laws of the states in which we operate. Nevertheless, it is possible that regulatory authorities or other parties could claim we are engaged in fee-splitting. If such a claim were successfully asserted in any jurisdiction, our pathologists could be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including loss of licensure, and we could be required to restructure our contractual and other arrangements. In addition, expansion of our operations to new states with fee-splitting prohibitions may require structural and organizational modification to the form of our current relationships which may be less profitable. A claim of fee-splitting or modification of our business to avoid such a claim could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Federal and state regulation of privacy could cause us to incur significant costs.

The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, pursuant to consumer protection laws, and the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, pursuant to HIPAA, regulate the use and disclosure of information we may have about our patients. Many states also have laws regarding privacy of health information. While we believe that we are in compliance with FTC and state laws regarding privacy, and with the HIPAA privacy regulations, these laws are complex and will have an impact upon our operations. Violations of the HIPAA privacy regulations are punishable by civil and criminal penalties. In addition, while individuals do not have a private right of action under HIPAA, the privacy regulations may be viewed by the courts as setting a standard of conduct, and the failure to comply could serve as the basis for a private claim. In addition, HIPAA regulations regarding the security of health information and standards for electronic transactions have also been issued. While many of our systems have already been configured to comply with these regulations, to achieve compliance we may need to modify or replace systems in certain of our locations and incur related expenses.

We are subject to significant professional or other liability claims and we cannot assure you that insurance coverage will be available or sufficient to cover such claims.

We may be sued under physician liability or other liability law for acts or omissions by our pathologists, laboratory personnel and hospital employees who are under the supervision of our hospital-based pathologists. We and our pathologists periodically become involved as defendants in medical malpractice and other lawsuits, some of which are currently ongoing, and are subject to the attendant risk of substantial damage awards.

Through June 30, 2002, we were insured for medical malpractice risks on a claims made basis under traditional professional liability insurance policies. In July 2002, we began using a captive insurance program to partially self-insure our medical malpractice risk. Under the captive insurance program we retain more risk for medical malpractice costs, including settlements and claims expenses, than under our prior coverage. We have no aggregate excess stop loss protection under our captive insurance arrangements, meaning there is no aggregate limitation on the amount of risk we retain under these arrangements. Because of our self-insurance arrangements and our lack of aggregate excess stop loss protection, professional malpractice claims could result in substantial uninsured losses. In addition, it is possible that the costs of our captive insurance arrangements and excess insurance coverage will rise, causing us either to incur additional costs or to further limit the amount of our coverage. Further, our insurance does not cover all potential liabilities arising from governmental fines and penalties, indemnification agreements and certain other uninsurable losses. For example, from time to time we agree to indemnify third parties, such as hospitals and national clinical laboratories, for various claims that may not be covered by insurance. As a result, we may become responsible for substantial damage awards that are uninsured. We are currently subject to indemnity claims, which if determined adversely to us, could result in substantial uninsured losses. Therefore, it is possible that pending or future claims will not be covered by or will exceed the limits of our insurance coverage and indemnification agreements or that third parties will fail or otherwise be unable to comply with their obligations to us.

Government programs account for approximately 21% of our revenues, so a decline in reimbursement rates from government programs would harm our revenues and profitability.

We derived approximately 21% of our net revenue during the first quarter of 2004 from payments made by government programs, principally Medicare and Medicaid. These programs are subject to substantial regulation by federal and state governments. Any changes in reimbursement policies, practices, interpretations or statutes that place limitations on reimbursement amounts or change reimbursement coding practices could materially harm our business by reducing revenues and lowering profitability. Increasing budgetary pressures at both the federal and state levels and concerns over escalating costs of healthcare have led, and may continue to lead, to significant reductions in healthcare reimbursements, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We incur financial risk related to collections as well as potentially long collection cycles when seeking reimbursement from third-party payors.

Substantially all of our net revenues are derived from services for which our operations charge on a fee-for-service basis. Accordingly, we assume the financial risk related to collection, including potential write-offs of doubtful accounts, and long collection cycles for accounts receivable, including reimbursements by third-party payors, such as governmental programs, private insurance plans and managed care organizations. Our provision for doubtful accounts for the first three months of 2004 was 13.8% of net revenues, with net revenues from inpatient services having a provision for doubtful accounts of approximately 21.6%. If our revenue from hospital-based services increases as a percentage of our total net revenues, our provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of total net revenues may increase. Increases in write-offs of doubtful accounts, delays in receiving payments or potential retroactive adjustments and penalties resulting from audits by payors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition to services billed on a fee-for-service basis, our hospital-based pathologists in their capacities as medical directors of hospitals’ clinical laboratories, microbiology laboratories and blood banking operations bill non-Medicare patients according to a fee schedule for their clinical professional component, or CPC, services. Our historical collection experience for CPC services is significantly lower than other anatomic pathology procedures. See “Business-Billing” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Hospitals and third party payors are continuing to increase pressure to reduce our revenue from CPC services, including but not limited to encouraging their patients not to pay us for such services.

The continued growth of managed care may have a material adverse effect on our business.

The number of individuals covered under managed care contracts or other similar arrangements has grown over the past several years and may continue to grow in the future. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid and other government healthcare programs may continue to shift to managed care. For the first quarter of 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2003 through March 27, 2003, approximately 59%, and 58%, respectively, of our net revenue was derived from reimbursements from managed care organizations and third party payors. Entities providing managed care coverage have reduced payments for medical services in numerous ways, including entering into arrangements under which payments to a service provider are capitated, limiting testing to specified procedures, denying payment for services performed without prior authorization and refusing to increase fees for specified services. These trends reduce our revenues and limit our ability to pass cost increases to our customers. Also, if these or other managed care organizations do not select us as a participating provider, we may lose some or all of that business, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There has been an increasing number of state and federal investigations of healthcare companies, which may increase the likelihood of investigations of our business practices and the possibility that we will become subject to lawsuits.

Prosecution of fraudulent practices by healthcare companies is a priority of the United States Department of Justice, HHS’s Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, and state authorities. The federal government has become more aggressive in examining laboratory billing practices and seeking repayments and penalties allegedly resulting from improper billing practices, such as using an improper billing code for a test to realize higher reimbursement. While the primary focus of this initiative has been on hospital laboratories and on routine clinical chemistry tests, which comprise only a small portion of our revenues, the scope of this initiative could expand, and it is not possible to predict whether or in what direction the expansion might occur. In certain circumstances, federal and some state laws authorize private whistleblowers to bring false claim or qui tam suits against providers on behalf of the government and reward the whistleblower with a portion of any final recovery. In addition, the federal government has engaged a number of non-governmental audit organizations to assist in tracking and recovering false claims for healthcare services.

Since investigations relating to false claims have increased in recent years, it is more likely that companies in the healthcare industry, like us, could become the subject of a federal or state civil or criminal investigation or action. While we believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with federal and state fraud and abuse statutes and regulations, and we monitor our billing practices and hospital arrangements for compliance with prevailing industry practices under applicable laws, these laws are complex and constantly evolving, and it is possible that governmental investigators may take positions that are inconsistent with our practices. Moreover, even when the results of an investigation or a qui tam suit are favorable to a company, the process is time consuming and legal fees and diversion of company management focus are expensive. Any lengthy investigation could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Investigations of entities with which we do business could adversely affect us.

HCA Inc., or HCA, has been under investigation with respect to fraud and abuse issues. As of March 31, 2004, we provided medical director services for 27 HCA hospital laboratories. As a result, the government’s investigation of HCA could result in

investigations of one or more of our operations. Furthermore, we have received subpoenas from the United States Attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida to deliver Medicare billing records and other documents relating to alleged financial inducements received by a Florida physician who is not a pathologist with our company but is one of our clients. We are providing information to the United States Attorney’s office and intend to cooperate in the investigation. We also are conducting our own internal investigation of the matter. It is not possible at this point in the investigation to determine whether the government will pursue action against us or to assess the merits of possible defenses we may have to any such action. Accordingly, no assurances can be given regarding the ultimate outcome of the investigation.

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from short-term hospital contracts and hospital relationships that can be terminated without penalty.

Many of our hospital contracts may be terminated prior to the expiration of the initial or any renewal term by either party with relatively short notice and without cause. We also have business relationships with hospitals that are not governed by written contracts and may be terminated by the hospitals at any time. Loss of a hospital contract or relationship would not only result in a loss of net revenue but may also result in a loss of the outpatient net revenue derived from our association with the hospital and its medical staff. Any such loss could also result in an impairment of the balance sheet value of the assets we have acquired or may acquire, requiring substantial charges to earnings. Continuing consolidation in the hospital industry resulting in fewer hospitals and fewer laboratories enhances the risk that some of our hospital contracts and relationships may be terminated, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we cannot effectively implement our internal growth strategy, it would materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our focus on internal growth, which is based upon our existing relationships and services offered, is a departure from our prior focus on growth through acquisitions. The success of our strategy rests upon increasing testing volumes, improving the mix of our services and obtaining more favorable pricing, all of which will result in a greater focus on our sales and marketing function. The success of this strategy also is dependent upon our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel, including pathologists, to develop new areas of expertise and new customer relationships and to expand our current relationships with existing customers. There can be no assurance that we will be able to make our new strategy a success.

We may inherit significant liabilities from operations that we have acquired or acquire in the future.

We perform due diligence investigations with respect to potential liabilities of acquired operations and typically obtain indemnification from the sellers of such operations. Nevertheless, undiscovered claims may arise, and liabilities for which we become responsible may be material and may exceed either the limitations of any applicable indemnification provisions or the financial resources of the indemnifying parties. Claims or liabilities of acquired operations may include matters involving compliance with laws, including healthcare laws. While we believe, based on our due diligence investigations that our acquired operations were generally in compliance with applicable healthcare laws prior to their acquisition, they may not have been in full compliance and we may become accountable for their non-compliance. A violation of the healthcare laws could result in monetary fines, government recoupment of fees previously paid to us, forfeiture of revenues due to us, or civil and criminal penalties. In such situations, we may also be excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs. Any one of these consequences could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have significant contingent liabilities payable to many of the sellers of operations that we have acquired.

In connection with our past acquisitions, we typically have agreed to pay the sellers additional consideration in the form of contingent note obligations. Payment on these contingent notes typically depends upon the financial performance of the acquired operation or the retention of specified hospital contracts over periods ranging from three to five years after the acquisition. The amount of these contingent note payments cannot be determined until the contingency periods terminate and the level of the performance is ascertainable. As of March 31, 2004, if the minimum performance that would result in the maximum amount being payable for existing contingent notes were achieved, we would be obligated to make principal payments of approximately $85.9 million over the next five years. Lesser amounts would be paid if the maximum criteria is not met. Although we believe we will be able to make payments on contingent note obligations existing prior to the March 2003 Transaction from the remaining balance in the cash collateral account held by our parent, it is possible that such payments, or payments on additional contingent notes issued as part of subsequent acquisitions, could cause significant liquidity problems for us.

We have recorded a significant amount of intangible assets, which may never generate the returns we expect.

Our acquisitions have resulted in significant increases in net identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Net identifiable intangible assets, which include hospital contracts, management service agreements and laboratory contracts acquired in acquisitions,

were approximately $184.2 million at March 31, 2004, representing approximately 19.9% of our total assets. Goodwill, which relates to the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets of the businesses acquired, was approximately $541.2 million at March 31, 2004, representing approximately 58.5% of our total assets. Goodwill and net identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition and, under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142, will be reviewed at least annually for impairment. Impairment may result from, among other things, deterioration in performance of the acquired company, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes that restrict the activities of the acquired business, and a variety of other circumstances. The amount of any impairment must be written off. We evaluated our recorded goodwill and identifiable intangible assets during the fourth quarter of 2003 and determined that there was no asset impairment charge required with respect to our intangible assets. We may not ever realize the full value of our intangible assets. Any future determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of intangible assets would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our business is highly dependent on the recruitment and retention of qualified pathologists.

Our business is dependent upon recruiting and retaining pathologists, particularly those with subspecialties, such as dermatopathology, hematopathology, immunopathology and cytopathology. While we have been able to recruit and retain pathologists in the past, we may be unable to continue to do so in the future as competition for the services of pathologists increases. In addition, we may need to provide more compensation to our pathologists in order to enhance our recruitment and retention efforts and may be unable to recover these increased costs through price increases. The relationship between the pathologists and their respective local medical communities is important to the operation and continued profitability of each of our local operations. Loss of even one of our pathologists could lead to the loss of hospital contracts or other sources of revenue derived from our relationship with the pathologist. For the years ending 2001, 2002 and 2003, turnover rates for our pathologists were 10.0%, 8.8% and 13.3%, respectively. If turnover rates were to increase, our revenues and earnings could be adversely affected.

Our success is dependent on the ability of our new management team to work together effectively.

A number of the members of our senior management team, including David Redmond, our Chief Financial Officer, and Martin Stefanelli, our Chief Operating Officer, have been with our company for less than a year. Other senior officers, including Joseph Sonnier, our President, and Jeffrey Mossler, our Chief Medical Officer, have also been in their current positions for less than a year. Given the limited experience that our new management team has working together, it is possible that these officers will not integrate well within our organization. In addition, we are currently looking to hire a new Chief Executive Officer. Once hired, there is no guarantee that our new Chief Executive Officer will integrate well with the other members of management. The failure of our new management team to integrate well within our organization would have a significant effect on our future operations.

We may be unable to enforce non-competition provisions with departed pathologists.

We either directly employ our pathologists or control a physician-owned entity that employs our pathologists. Each of our pathologists typically enters into an employment agreement with us or a company we control. Most of these employment agreements prohibit the pathologist from competing with our company within a defined geographic area and prohibit solicitation of other pathologists, employees or clients for a period of one to two years after termination of employment. We attempt to structure all of these contracts in accordance with applicable laws and to maintain and enforce these contracts as necessary. However, agreements not to compete are subject to many limitations under state law and these limitations may vary from state to state. We cannot predict whether a court will enforce the non-competition covenants in our various employment agreements. A finding that these covenants are unenforceable could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Competition from other providers of pathology services may materially harm our business.

We have numerous competitors, including anatomic pathology practices, large physician group practices, hospital laboratories, specialized commercial laboratories and the anatomic pathology divisions of some national clinical laboratories. Moreover, companies in other healthcare segments, some of which have previously been customers of ours, such as hospitals, national clinical laboratories, managed care organizations and other third-party payors, may enter our markets and begin to compete with us. For example, Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated, or Quest, a national clinical laboratory company and former customer of ours, has begun to compete with us in some markets. Some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than us, which could further intensify competition. Increasing competition may erode our customer base, reduce our sources of revenue, cause us to reduce prices, enter into more capitated contracts in which we take on greater pricing risks or increase our marketing and other costs of doing business. Increasing competition may also impede our growth objectives by making it more difficult or more expensive for us to acquire or affiliate with additional pathology operations.

We depend on numerous complex information systems, and any failure to successfully maintain those systems or implement new systems could materially harm our operations.

We depend upon numerous information systems for operational and financial information, test reporting for our physicians and our complex billing operations. We currently have several major information technology initiatives underway, including the

integration of information from our operations. No assurance can be given that we will be able to enhance existing or implement new information systems that can integrate successfully our disparate operational and financial information systems. In addition to their integral role in helping our operations realize efficiencies, these new systems are critical to developing and implementing a comprehensive enterprise-wide management information database. To develop an integrated network, we must continue to invest in and administer sophisticated management information systems. We may experience unanticipated delays, complications and expenses in implementing, integrating and operating our systems. Furthermore, our information systems may require modifications, improvements or replacements as we expand and as new technologies become available. These modifications, improvements or replacements may require substantial expenditures and may require interruptions in operations during periods of implementation. Moreover, implementation of these systems is subject to the availability of information technology and skilled personnel to assist us in creating and implementing the systems. The failure to successfully implement and maintain operation, financial, test reports, billing and physician practice information systems would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to timely or accurately bill for our services may have a substantial negative impact on our revenues, cash flow and bad debt expense.

Billing for laboratory testing services involves numerous parties and complex issues and procedures. The industry practice is to perform tests in advance of payment and without certainty as to the outcome of the billing process. We bill various payors, such as patients, government programs, physicians, hospitals and managed care organizations. These various payors have different billing information requirements and typically reimburse us only for medically necessary tests and only after we comply with a variety of procedures, such as providing them with Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, codes and other information. If we do not meet all of the payors’ stringent requirements, we may not be reimbursed, which would increase our bad debt expense.

Among many other factors complicating our billing are:

•

disputes between payors as to which party is responsible for payment,

•

disparity in coverage among various payors, and

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difficulty satisfying the specific compliance requirements and CPT coding of and other procedures mandated by various payors.

The complexity of laboratory billing also tends to cause delays in our cash collections. Confirming incorrect or missing billing information generally slows down the billing process and increases the age of our accounts receivable. We assume the financial risk related to collection, including the potential write-off of doubtful accounts and delays due to incorrect or missing information.

Our tests and business processes may infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, which could cause us to engage in costly litigation, pay substantial damages or prohibit us from selling our services.

Other companies or individuals, including our competitors, may obtain patents or other property rights that would prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to develop, perform or sell our tests or operate our business. As a result, we may be involved in intellectual property litigation and may be found to infringe on the proprietary rights of others, which could force us to do one or more of the following:

•

cease developing and performing services that incorporate the challenged intellectual property,

•

obtain and pay for licenses from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right,

•

redesign or reengineer our tests,

•

change our business processes or

•

pay substantial damages, court costs and attorneys’ fees, including potentially increased damages for any infringement determined to be willful.

Infringement and other intellectual property claims, whether with or without merit, can be expensive and time-consuming to litigate. In addition, any requirement to reengineer our tests or change our business processes could substantially increase our costs, force us to interrupt the delivery of our services or delay new test releases.

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

The Company is subject to market risk associated principally with changes in interest rates. Our principal interest rate exposure relates to the amount outstanding under the Company’s new credit facility. Currently the balances outstanding under the credit facility are at floating rates. Based on the outstanding balance of $125.0 million at March 31, 2004, each quarter point increase or decrease in the floating rate increases or decreases interest expense by approximately $0.3 million per year, respectively.

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2004. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2004 were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

During the ordinary course of business, the Company has become and may in the future become subject to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings. The Company may have liability with respect to its employees and its pathologists as well as with respect to hospital employees who are under the supervision of the hospital based pathologists. The majority of the Company’s pending legal proceedings involve claims of medical malpractice. Most of these relate to cytology services. Based upon current information, the Company believes the outcome of such pending legal actions and proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. If the Company is ultimately found liable under these medical malpractice claims, there can be no assurance that the Company’s medical malpractice insurance coverage will be adequate to cover any such liability, and thus, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and liquidity could suffer a material adverse effect. The Company may also, from time to time, be involved with legal actions related to the acquisition of and affiliation with physician operations, the prior conduct of such practices, or the employment (and restriction on competition of) physicians. There can be no assurance that any costs or liabilities for which the Company becomes responsible in connection with such claims or actions will not be material or will not exceed the limitations of any applicable indemnification provisions or the financial resources of the indemnifying parties.

During the fourth quarter of 2002, two civil actions were commenced in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida. The two actions were consolidated on February 14, 2003 and an Amended Complaint was filed on March 6, 2003. The Amended Complaint alleges a breach of duty to stockholders in connection with the March 2003 Transaction. The plaintiffs seek to represent a putative class consisting of the former public stockholders of AmeriPath, Inc. Named as defendants in the Amended Complaint are AmeriPath, Inc. and the members of the AmeriPath, Inc. board of directors. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the consideration was inadequate, that the announcement was improperly timed, that AmeriPath, Inc. was not properly auctioned, that the March 2003 Transaction was unfair, that the proxy statement omitted certain information that the plaintiffs contend was material and that such AmeriPath, Inc. directors breached their fiduciary duties. The Amended Complaint seeks injunctive relief against consummation of the merger, unspecified amounts of damages, costs and expenses related to their actions and other unspecified relief. We believe the Amended Complaint lacks merit and have moved to dismiss it. Notwithstanding this motion, the plaintiffs and we have agreed in principal to a non-class settlement that will be funded by our Directors and Officers insurance carrier, is in the range of future defense costs and will not materially impact our financial statements or operations. Upon consummation of the settlement, the litigation will be dismissed.

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K



(a	)	Exhibits

		4.1	Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 13, 2004 among AmeriPath, Inc., AmeriPath Holdings, Inc., the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		10.1	Purchase Agreement, amended and restated as of February 11, 2004 between AmeriPath, Inc., the Guarantors and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		10.2	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2004, among AmeriPath, Inc., the Guarantors and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		10.3	Amendment Agreement dated as of February 17, 2004, to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2003, and AmeriPath, Inc., AmeriPath Holdings, Inc., the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse First Boston (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		10.4	Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2004, among AmeriPath, Inc., AmeriPath Holdings, Inc., the Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		10.5	Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2004, among AmeriPath Florida, LLC, AmeriPath Pennsylvania, LLC, AmeriPath Wisconsin, LLC, Regional Pathology Consultants, LLC and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with AmeriPath’s registration statement on Form S-4 on April 14, 2004 (File No. 333-114470))

		31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

		31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

		32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

		32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(b	)	Reports on Form 8-K

		A current report on Form 8-K, dated January 21, 2004, was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing the retirement of James C. New, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

		A current report on Form 8-K, dated February 3, 2004, was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing the proposed offering of $75.0 million principal amount of 10¹/2% senior subordinated notes due 2013.

		A current report on Form 8-K, dated February 3, 2004, was furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing that the offering circular to be disseminated in connection with the proposed offering of $75.0 million principal amount of 10¹/2% senior subordinated notes due 2013 would contain preliminary financial data regarding the Company’s fiscal 2003 operating results.

SIGNATURES

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


		AMERIPATH, INC.

Date: May 13, 2004	By:	/S/ JOSEPH A. SONNIER, M.D.
		Joseph A. Sonnier, MD
		President

Date: May 13, 2004	By:	/S/ DAVID L. REDMOND
		David L. Redmond
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

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