UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

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

For Quarter Ended:  September 30, 2005

Commission File Number: 1-16609

ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE

 

33-0239910

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

1900 South State College Boulevard
Suite 600
Anaheim, California 92806

(Address of principal executive office)

(714) 688-7100

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

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

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

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of October 31, 2005:

Common Stock, $.01 par value, 49,564,706 shares

 




ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.
FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2005

Index

 

Page

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1—Financial Statements:

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2004 and September 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
Quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005 (Unaudited)

4

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005 (Unaudited)

5

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6

 

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

16

 

Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

26

 

Item 4—Controls and Procedures

27

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1—Legal Proceedings

29

 

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

29

 

Item 3—Defaults Upon Senior Securities

29

 

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

29

 

Item 5—Other Information

29

 

Item 6—Exhibits

29

 

SIGNATURES

33

 

 

2




PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$

20,721

 

 

 

$

33,351

 

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

50,146

 

 

 

50,869

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

12,782

 

 

 

20,081

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

3,082

 

 

 

4,331

 

 

Other receivables

 

 

3,323

 

 

 

7,274

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

90,054

 

 

 

115,906

 

 

Equipment, at cost

 

 

727,232

 

 

 

726,581

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(373,721

)

 

 

(386,891

)

 

Equipment, net

 

 

353,511

 

 

 

339,690

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

122,992

 

 

 

125,238

 

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

 

28,249

 

 

 

28,875

 

 

Deferred financing costs, net

 

 

9,264

 

 

 

7,961

 

 

Other assets

 

 

18,128

 

 

 

25,696

 

 

Total assets

 

 

$

622,198

 

 

 

$

643,366

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

$

20,518

 

 

 

$

17,242

 

 

Accrued compensation and related expenses

 

 

15,661

 

 

 

12,528

 

 

Accrued interest payable

 

 

717

 

 

 

6,925

 

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

865

 

 

 

455

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

22,177

 

 

 

28,981

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

9,390

 

 

 

8,104

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

69,328

 

 

 

74,235

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

 

412,733

 

 

 

386,669

 

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

 

153,541

 

 

 

153,541

 

 

Minority interests and other liabilities

 

 

4,164

 

 

 

3,513

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

49,960

 

 

 

68,742

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

689,726

 

 

 

686,700

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

490

 

 

 

496

 

 

Additional paid-in deficit

 

 

(15,798

)

 

 

(11,962

)

 

Accumulated comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

(278

)

 

 

2,773

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(51,942

)

 

 

(34,641

)

 

Total stockholders’ deficit

 

 

(67,528

)

 

 

(43,334

)

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

 

 

$

622,198

 

 

 

$

643,366

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

3




ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

Revenues

 

$

109,760

 

$

106,198

 

$

324,887

 

$

320,596

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

54,832

 

55,901

 

162,640

 

163,729

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

11,549

 

11,747

 

35,469

 

37,110

 

Employment agreement costs

 

275

 

 

1,790

 

366

 

Severance and related costs

 

627

 

 

627

 

 

Depreciation expense

 

19,832

 

20,385

 

60,466

 

61,311

 

Amortization expense

 

885

 

937

 

2,640

 

2,719

 

Interest expense, net of interest income

 

11,192

 

9,117

 

32,620

 

27,686

 

Other (income) and expense, net

 

(473

)

56

 

(600

)

(331

)

Total costs and expenses

 

98,719

 

98,143

 

295,652

 

292,590

 

Income before income taxes, minority interest expense, and earnings from unconsolidated investees

 

11,041

 

8,055

 

29,235

 

28,006

 

Income tax expense

 

4,701

 

3,494

 

7,227

 

11,795

 

Minority interest expense

 

524

 

550

 

1,956

 

1,506

 

Earnings from unconsolidated investees

 

(1,150

)

(1,000

)

(3,177

)

(2,596

)

Net income

 

$

6,966

 

$

5,011

 

$

23,229

 

$

17,301

 

Comprehensive income, net of taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

6,966

 

$

5,011

 

$

23,229

 

$

17,301

 

Unrealized (loss) gain on hedging transactions, net of taxes 

 

(601

)

1,450

 

(724

)

3,051

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

6,365

 

$

6,461

 

$

22,505

 

$

20,352

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.35

 

Diluted

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.34

 

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

48,344

 

49,517

 

48,169

 

49,313

 

Diluted

 

48,943

 

50,368

 

48,562

 

50,311

 

 

See accompanying notes.

4




ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

23,229

 

$

17,301

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

322

 

2,035

 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

259

 

189

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

63,106

 

64,030

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

2,279

 

1,834

 

Distributions (less than) greater than equity in undistributed income of investees

 

(1,310

)

70

 

Deferred income taxes

 

15,117

 

10,838

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

(600

)

(331

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(3,124

)

(1,558

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(949

)

(1,249

)

Other receivables

 

(430

)

(3,951

)

Other assets

 

(2,067

)

(1,825

)

Accounts payable

 

5,704

 

(3,276

)

Accrued compensation and related expenses

 

4,569

 

(3,133

)

Accrued interest payable

 

6,651

 

6,208

 

Income taxes payable

 

(8,970

)

(410

)

Other accrued liabilities

 

3,329

 

6,189

 

Minority interests and other liabilities

 

(20

)

66

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

107,095

 

93,027

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment purchases

 

(68,950

)

(46,497

)

Decrease (increase) in deposits on equipment

 

4,386

 

(512

)

Acquisitions, net of cash received

 

 

(7,650

)

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

 

(145

)

 

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

5,580

 

1,455

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(59,129

)

(53,204

)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments on equipment debt

 

(4,762

)

(4,485

)

Proceeds from equipment debt

 

4,176

 

558

 

Principal payments on revolving loan facility

 

 

(15,000

)

Proceeds from revolving loan facility

 

 

15,000

 

Principal payments on term loan facility

 

(26,250

)

(25,000

)

Payments of debt issuance costs

 

(170

)

(531

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

50

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options

 

2,831

 

2,265

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(24,125

)

(27,193

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

23,841

 

12,630

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

20,931

 

20,721

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

44,772

 

$

33,351

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

23,812

 

$

20,074

 

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

 

777

 

1,489

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net book value of assets exchanged

 

$

262

 

$

5,698

 

Capital lease obligations assumed for the purchase of equipment

 

 

1,577

 

Comprehensive (loss) income from hedging transactions, net of taxes

 

(724

)

3,051

 

 

See accompanying notes.

5




ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2005
(Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Basis of Presentation, Principles of Consolidation, and Use of Estimates

Basis of Presentation—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Alliance Imaging, Inc. (the “Company”) in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2005. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of all majority owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Investments in non-consolidated affiliates are accounted for under the equity method.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

2. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards using the intrinsic value method prescribed under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and its related interpretations. Other than the awards discussed in Note 8, all other stock-based awards were granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and no compensation cost is reflected in net income from operations for those awards.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”) as amended by SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure,” requires presentation of pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share determined as if the Company has accounted for its employee stock options granted subsequent to December 31, 1994 under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair value for these options was estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the third quarter of 2004: risk-free interest rates of 3.76%; no dividend yield; volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock of 42.6%; and a weighted-average expected life of the options of 6.50 years. There were no stock options granted during the third quarter of 2005. The Company used the following weighted-average assumptions for the first nine months of 2004 and 2005, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 3.32% and 3.79%; no dividend yield; volatility

6




factors of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock of 53.4% and 52.8%; and a weighted-average expected life of the options of 5.68 years and 5.52 years. The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the third quarter of 2004 was $2.01. The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the first nine months of 2004 and 2005 was $1.99 and $6.12, respectively.

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options’ expected vesting period. Had compensation cost for the Company’s stock option plan been determined based on the estimated fair value at the grant dates for awards under the plan consistent with the fair value method of SFAS 123 utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, the Company’s net income and basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods ended below, would have approximated the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

6,966

 

$

5,011

 

$

23,229

 

$

17,301

 

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects

 

37

 

37

 

154

 

113

 

Deduct: Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method, net of related tax effects

 

(265

)

(349

)

(881

)

(1,062

)

Pro forma net income

 

$

6,738

 

$

4,699

 

$

22,502

 

$

16,352

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.35

 

Pro forma

 

0.14

 

0.09

 

0.47

 

0.33

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

0.14

 

0.10

 

0.48

 

0.34

 

Pro forma

 

0.14

 

0.09

 

0.46

 

0.33

 

 

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets—In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets” (“SFAS 153”), which is an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” (“APB 29”). This statement addresses the measurement of exchanges of nonmonetary assets, and eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets as defined in paragraph 21(b) of APB 29, and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. This statement specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. SFAS 153 is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 153 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

7




Share Based Payment—In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123(R) (revised December 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), which is a revision of SFAS 123 and supersedes APB No. 25. This statement requires that the fair value at the grant date resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. Further, SFAS 123(R) requires entities to apply a fair-value based measurement method in accounting for these transactions. This value is recorded over the vesting period. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 123(R) and the impact on its consolidated financial position and results of operations. The Company will adopt SFAS 123(R) for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2006.

Asset Retirement Obligations—In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), an interpretation of SFAS 143, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” This interpretation clarifies that an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability’s fair value can be reasonably estimated. This interpretation also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company believes the adoption of FIN 47 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections—In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS 154, “Accounting for Changes and Error Corrections” (“SFAS 154”), which is a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” and SFAS 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” This statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of all voluntary changes in accounting principle and in the instance that a pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. This statement requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company believes the adoption of SFAS 154 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Limited Partnerships—In June 2005, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 04-05, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights”(“EITF 04-05”). EITF 04-05 clarifies how general partners in a limited partnership should determine whether they control a limited partnership. A general partner of a limited partnership is presumed to control the limited partnership unless the limited partners have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. For general partners of all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified, EITF 04-05 is effective after June 29, 2005. For general partners in all other limited partnerships, EITF 04-05 is effective for the first period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company believes the adoption of EITF 04-05 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Leasehold Improvements—In June 2005, the FASB issued EITF 05-06, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements” (“EITF 05-06”). EITF 05-06 defines the useful life for leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination, or purchased significantly after, and not contemplated at the beginning of the lease term. EITF 05-06 is effective for leasehold improvements purchased or acquired in reporting periods after June 29, 2005. The adoption of EITF 05-06 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

8




4. Transactions

Effective September 1, 2005, the Company acquired certain assets associated with nine multi-modality fixed-site diagnostic imaging centers. The multi-modality fixed-site diagnostic imaging centers include one MRI system, six CT systems, and 29 other modality systems. The purchase price consisted of $7,650 in cash and $500 in assumed liabilities. The acquisition was financed using the Company’s internally generated funds. As a result of this acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill and intangible assets of $2,246 and $2,400, respectively. The acquisition also includes $246 of contingent payment due to the shareholders of the centers if certain performance targets are met over a three year period. When the contingency is resolved and consideration is distributable, the Company will record the fair value of the consideration as additional purchase price to goodwill. Adjustments to goodwill may occur in future periods as a result of changes in the original valuation of assets and liabilities acquired. The Company’s third quarter ended September 30, 2005 includes one month of operations from this acquisition. The Company has not included pro forma information as this acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

Balance at December 31, 2004

 

$

122,992

 

Additions to goodwill during the period

 

2,246

 

Balance at September 30, 2005

 

$

125,238

 

 

Intangible assets consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31, 2004

 

September 30, 2005

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Intangible

 

Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Intangible

 

 

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Assets, net

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Assets, net

 

Amortizing intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer contracts

 

$

40,426

 

 

$

(15,528

)

 

 

$

24,898

 

 

$

41,763

 

 

$

(17,758

)

 

 

$

24,005

 

 

Other

 

3,272

 

 

(2,010

)

 

 

1,262

 

 

4,437

 

 

(1,709

)

 

 

2,728

 

 

Total amortizing intangible assets

 

$

43,698

 

 

$

(17,538

)

 

 

$

26,160

 

 

$

46,200

 

 

$

(19,467

)

 

 

$

26,733

 

 

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,089

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,142

 

 

Total other intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

28,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

28,875

 

 

 

The Company reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill on an annual basis or more frequently when an event occurs or circumstances change to indicate an impairment of these assets has possibly occurred. Goodwill is allocated to the Company’s various reporting units which represent the Company’s geographical regions. The Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount to determine if there is potential impairment. The implied fair value for goodwill is determined based on the fair value of assets and liabilities of the respective reporting units, in accordance with SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” based on discounted cash flows, market multiples, or appraised values as appropriate.

9




Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization was $885and $937 for the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, respectively, and $2,640 and $2,719 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, respectively. The intangible assets not subject to amortization represent certificate of needs and regulatory authority rights which have indefinite useful lives.

Estimated annual amortization expense for existing intangibles for each of the fiscal years ending December 31 is presented below:

2005

 

$

3,715

 

2006

 

3,933

 

2007

 

3,717

 

2008

 

3,503

 

2009

 

3,181

 

 

6. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,
2004

 

September 30,
2005

 

Accrued systems rental and maintenance costs

 

 

$

3,058

 

 

 

$

5,511

 

 

Accrued site rental fees

 

 

1,796

 

 

 

1,239

 

 

Accrued property and sales taxes payable

 

 

8,061

 

 

 

9,129

 

 

Accrued self-insurance expense

 

 

4,789

 

 

 

5,727

 

 

Other accrued expenses

 

 

4,473

 

 

 

7,375

 

 

Total

 

 

$

22,177

 

 

 

$

28,981

 

 

 

7. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,
2004

 

September 30,
2005

 

Term loan facility

 

 

$

409,875

 

 

 

$

384,875

 

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

 

153,541

 

 

 

153,541

 

 

Equipment debt

 

 

12,248

 

 

 

9,898

 

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

575,664

 

 

 

548,314

 

 

Less current portion

 

 

9,390

 

 

 

8,104

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

$

566,274

 

 

 

$

540,210

 

 

 

8. Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation

In November 2000, the Company granted stock options to certain employees at exercise prices below the fair value of the Company’s common stock, of which 35,000 options were outstanding at September 30, 2005. The exercise prices of these options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date were $5.60 and $9.52 per share, respectively. Compensation expense of $28 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining vesting period of the options. The Company recorded non-cash stock-based compensation of $6 for each of the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, respectively, and $42 and $18, for the first nine months of 2004 and 2005, respectively, with an offset to paid-in-capital deficit.

On June 20, 2001, the Company’s compensation committee authorized the Company to amend the option agreements under its 1999 Equity Plan to reduce the performance targets for 1,899,600

10




performance options out of the 2,284,222 performance options outstanding. On May 18, 2004, the Company’s compensation committee authorized the Company to make a second amendment to the option agreements under its 1999 Equity Plan to further reduce the performance targets for all of the 1,914,500 performance options outstanding. These options vest on the eighth anniversary of the grant date if the option holder is still an employee, but the vesting accelerates if the Company meets the operating performance targets specified in the option agreements. As a result of the amendments, if the Company achieves the reduced performance targets but does not achieve the previous performance targets, and an option holder terminates employment prior to the eighth anniversary of the option grant date, the Company would be required to record a non-cash stock-based compensation charge equal to the amount by which the actual value of the shares subject to the performance option on the date of the respective amendment exceeded the option’s exercise price. Under the first amendment, management estimates that the Company could incur an additional $100 to $300 in the aggregate of these non-cash stock-based compensation charges over the next 3 months. Under the second amendment, management estimates that the Company could incur an additional $100 to $200 in the aggregate of these non-cash stock-based compensation charges over the next 3 3/4 years. These charges, however, may not be evenly distributed over each of these respective periods or over the four quarters in any one year, depending upon the timing of employee turnover and the number of shares subject to the options held by departing employees.

For each of the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, the Company recorded $57 in non-cash stock-based compensation as a result of these amendments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, the Company recorded $217 and $171, respectively, in non-cash stock-based compensation as a result of these amendments. Non-cash stock-based compensation is included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

9. Derivatives

In the second quarter of 2004, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements, with notional amounts of $56,813, $46,813 and $48,438 to hedge the future cash interest payments associated with a portion of the Company’s variable rate bank debt. These agreements are three years in length and mature in 2007. As of September 30, 2005, the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was an accumulated income of $2,440. Under these arrangements, the Company receives three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and pays a fixed rate of 3.15%, 3.89% and 3.69%, respectively. The net effect of the hedges is to record interest expense at fixed rates of 5.40%, 6.14% and 5.94%, respectively, as the debt incurs interest based on three-month LIBOR plus 2.25%. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded a net settlement amount of $564. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recorded net settlement amounts of $102 and $848, respectively. The Company has designated these swaps as cash flow hedges of variable future cash flows associated with its long-term debt. For the quarter and nine month period ended September 30, 2004 the Company recognized a comprehensive loss, net of tax, of $601 and $724, respectively, based on the change in fair value of these instruments. For the quarter and nine month period ended September 30, 2005 the Company recognized a comprehensive income, net of tax, of $842 and $1,742, respectively, based on the change in fair value of these instruments. The Company will continue to record subsequent changes in the fair value of the swaps through comprehensive income during the period these instruments are designated as hedges.

In the first quarter of 2005, the Company entered into multiple interest rate collar agreements for its variable rate bank debt. The total underlying notional amount of the debt was $178,000. Under these arrangements the Company has purchased a cap on the interest rate of 4.00% and has sold a floor of 2.25%. The Company paid a net purchase price of $1,462 for these collars. These agreements are two and three years in length and mature at various dates between January 2007 and January 2008. As of September 30, 2005, the fair value of the Company’s interest rate collar agreements was an accumulated

11




income of $2,181. For the quarter and nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company did not record any net settlement amount. The Company has designated these collars as cash flow hedges of variable future cash flows associated with its long-term debt. For the quarter and nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a comprehensive income, net of tax, of $608 and $1,309 based on the change in fair value of these instruments. The Company will record subsequent changes in the fair value of the collars through comprehensive income during the period these instruments are designated as hedges.

The Company accounts for derivative instruments and hedging activities in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Actvities” (“SFAS 133”) and SFAS 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 138”), an amendment of SFAS 133. On the date the Company enters into a derivative contract, management designates the derivative as a hedge of the identified exposure. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments that do not qualify as cash flow hedges as described in SFAS 133 and SFAS 138. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. In this documentation, the Company specifically identifies the firm commitment or forecasted transaction that has been designated as a hedged item and states how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the risks related to the hedged item. The Company formally measures effectiveness of its hedging relationships, both at the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, in accordance with its risk management policy. The Company would discontinue hedge accounting prospectively (i) if it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting change in the cash flows of a hedged item, (ii) when the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, (iii) because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, (iv) because a hedged firm commitment no longer meets the definition of a firm commitment, or (v) if management determines that designation of the derivative as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate. The Company’s derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value. For derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges any unrealized gains or losses on fair value are included in comprehensive income (loss), net of tax.

10. Income Taxes

For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $3,494 and $11,795, or 41.1% and 40.5% of the Company’s pretax income, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate was higher than statutory rates primarily as a result of state income taxes.

For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded income tax expense of $4,701 and $7,227, respectively. The third quarter 2004 effective income tax rate was 40.3% of the Company’s pretax income, which was higher than federal statutory rates primarily as a result of state income taxes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the effective income tax rate was 23.7%, which was lower than federal statutory rates due to the reversal of income tax reserves of $5,099 primarily related to the favorable outcome of examinations of the Company’s 1998 and 1999 federal income tax returns and a favorable final IRS determination letter related to the treatment of an income item in a federal income tax return of one of the Company’s subsidiaries.

12




11. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

6,966

 

$

5,011

 

$

23,299

 

$

17,301

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per share
—weighted-average shares

 

48,344

 

49,517

 

48,169

 

49,313

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee stock options

 

599

 

851

 

393

 

998

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share
—adjusted weighted-average shares

 

48,943

 

50,368

 

48,562

 

50,311

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.35

 

Diluted

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.34

 

Stock options excluded from the computation of diluted per share amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted- average shares for which the exercise price exceeds average market price of common stock

 

607

 

1,329

 

3,241

 

1,219

 

Average exercise price per share that exceeds average market price of common stock

 

$

11.28

 

$

11.57

 

$

6.44

 

$

11.74

 

 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has applied the disclosure provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” to its agreements that contain guarantee or indemnification clauses. These disclosure provisions expand those required by FASB Statement No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” by requiring a guarantor to disclose certain type of guarantees, even if the likelihood of requiring the guarantor’s performance is remote. The following is a description of arrangements in which the Company is the guarantor or indemnifies a party.

In the normal course of business, the Company has made certain guarantees and indemnities, under which it may be required to make payments to a guaranteed or indemnified party, in relation to certain transactions. The Company indemnifies other parties, including customers, lessors, and parties to other transactions with the Company, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from certain events as defined within the particular contract, which may include, for example, litigation or claims arising from a breach of representations or covenants. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its executive officers and directors and the Company’s bylaws contain similar indemnification obligations. Under these arrangements, we are obligated to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our current or former officers and directors for various amounts incurred with respect to actions, suits or proceedings in which they were made, or threatened to be made, a party as a result of acting as an officer or director.

13




It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, payments made related to these indemnifications have been immaterial. At September 30, 2005 the Company has determined that no liability is necessary related to these guarantees and indemnities.

The Company guarantees a portion of a loan on behalf of an unconsolidated investee under an agreement executed prior to 2002. The maximum potential future payment under this financial guarantee is $227 at September 30, 2005. The Company has not recorded an obligation for this guarantee.

On May 5, 2005, Alliance Imaging, Inc. was served with a complaint filed in Alameda County Superior Court alleging wage claims on behalf of a putative class of an estimated 350 former and current California employees of Alliance Imaging. In Linda S. Jones, et al. v. Alliance Imaging, Inc., et al., the plaintiffs allege violations of California’s wage, meal period, and break time laws and regulations. Plaintiffs seek recovery of unspecified economic damages, statutory penalties, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs of suit. Alliance Imaging responded to the complaint on August 26, 2005, and the parties are currently taking discovery to develop facts relevant to the named plaintiffs’ expected motion for certification of one or more classes. No date for the filing or hearing of such a motion has been set. We are currently evaluating the allegations of the complaint and are unable to predict the likely timing or outcome of this lawsuit.

The Company from time to time is also involved in other litigation and regulatory matters incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company believes that resolution of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.

13. Investments in Unconsolidated Investees

The Company has direct ownership in six investees at September 30, 2005. The Company owns between 30 percent and 50 percent of these investees, and provides management services under agreements with four of these investees, expiring at various dates through 2024. These investees are accounted for under the equity method since the Company does not exercise control over the operations of these investees.

Set forth below is certain financial data of these investees (amounts in thousands):

 

 

September30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

Combined Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

9,037

 

$

11,762

 

Noncurrent assets

 

23,093

 

29,514

 

Current liabilites

 

7,962

 

9,120

 

Noncurrent liabilites

 

11,209

 

13,252

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

Combined Operating Results:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

8,345

 

$

9,156

 

$

22,709

 

$

25,153

 

Expenses

 

5,766

 

6,922

 

15,813

 

19,242

 

Net income

 

2,579

 

2,234

 

6,896

 

5,911

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees

 

1,150

 

1,000

 

3,177

 

2,596

 

 

14




14. Related-Party Transactions

The Company recorded management fees payable to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (“KKR”) of $163 and $488 for each of the quarters and for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, and will continue to receive financial advisory services from KKR on an ongoing basis. At September 30, 2004 and 2005, the Company has accrued $163 related to these services.

Revenue from management agreements with unconsolidated equity investees was $3,042 and $3,338 for the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, respectively, and $8,409 and $10,638 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

15. Subsequent Events

Effective October 1, 2005, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common stock of PET Scans of America Corp, a mobile provider of PET and PET/CT services primarily to hospitals in 13 states. The Company acquired nine PET and PET/CT systems in connection with the acquisition. The purchase price consisted of $36,596 in cash and $3,993 of assumed liabilities and transaction costs, which was substantially financed through a combination of the Company’s revolving line of credit, internally generated funds, and capital leases. The Company has not yet completed the evaluation and allocation of the purchase price for the acquisition as the valuation of certain intangible assets is not yet complete.

15




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

Overview

We are a leading national provider of shared-service and fixed-site diagnostic imaging services, based upon annual revenue and number of diagnostic imaging systems deployed. Our principal sources of revenue are derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET and PET/CT) services on a shared-service and full-time basis, primarily in partnership with hospitals or health systems and other healthcare providers. We also provide services through a growing number of fixed sites. Our services normally include the use of our imaging systems, technologists to operate the systems, equipment maintenance and upgrades, and management of day-to-day shared-service and fixed-site diagnostic imaging operations. We also provide non scan-based services, which includes only the use of our imaging systems under a short-term contract. In the first nine months of 2005, MRI services and PET and PET/CT services generated 70% and 21% of our revenues, respectively. The remaining revenue was comprised of other modality diagnostic imaging services revenue, primarily computed tomography (CT), and management contract revenue. We had 497 diagnostic imaging systems, including 350 MRI systems and 58 PET or PET/CT systems and served over 1,000 clients in 44 states at September 30, 2005.

Our fixed-sites diagnostic imaging services are classified into one of three categories. The first category is hospital-based fixed-sites, which includes systems installed in hospitals or other buildings on hospital campuses, including modular buildings. The second category is physician-based fixed-sites, which includes systems installed inside medical groups’ offices. The third category is free-standing fixed-sites, which includes systems installed in a medical office building, ambulatory surgical center, or other retail space. At September 30, 2005 we had 72 fixed-sites. Of these fixed-sites, 38 were hospital-based fixed-sites, 12 were physician-based fixed-sites, and 22 were free-standing fixed-sites or full-time systems under a long-term contract. Of the 72 fixed-sites at September 30, 2005, there were 57 MRI fixed-sites and 3 PET or PET/CT fixed-sites.

Approximately 87% of our revenues for the first nine months ended September 30, 2005 were generated by providing services to hospitals and other healthcare providers, which we refer to as wholesale revenues. Our wholesale revenues are typically generated from contracts that require our clients to pay us based on the number of scans we perform, although some pay us a flat fee for a period of time regardless of the number of scans we perform. These payments are due to us independent of our clients’ receipt of reimbursement from third-party payors. We typically deliver our services for a set number of days per week through exclusive, long-term contracts with hospitals and other healthcare providers. The contracts initial terms average approximately three years in length for mobile services and approximately seven to ten years in length for fixed-site arrangements. These contracts often contain automatic renewal provisions and certain contracts have cancellation clauses if the hospital or other healthcare provider purchases their own system. We price our contracts based on the type of system used, the scan volume, and the number of ancillary services provided. Pricing is also affected by competitive pressures.

In November 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a 21% reduction in PET hospital reimbursement rates effective January 1, 2005. Although the effect of this rate reduction to date has not had a material adverse effect on our PET or PET/CT revenues, this could have a significant negative impact on our PET and PET/CT revenues in the future. Our healthcare provider clients on whom we depend for the majority of our PET and PET/CT revenues generally rely on reimbursement from Medicare and other third-party payors. Because unfavorable reimbursement policies may constrict the profit margins of the hospitals and other healthcare providers we bill directly, we may need to lower our fees to retain existing PET and PET/CT clients and attract new ones.

16




Approximately 13% of our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were generated by providing services directly to patients from our sites located at or near hospitals or other healthcare provider facilities, which we refer to as retail revenues. Our revenue from these sites is generated from direct billings to patients or their third-party payors, which are recorded net of contractual discounts and other arrangements for providing services at discounted prices. We typically charge a higher price per scan under retail billing than we do under wholesale billing.

Revenues from our fixed-sites are included in both our wholesale and retail revenues.

The principal components of our cost of revenues are compensation paid to technologists and drivers, system maintenance costs, medical supplies, system transportation and technologists’ travel costs. Because a majority of these expenses are fixed, increased revenues as a result of higher scan volumes per system significantly improves our margins while lower scan volumes result in lower margins.

The principal components of selling, general and administrative expenses are sales and marketing costs, corporate overhead costs, provision for doubtful accounts, and non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

We record minority interest expense and earnings from unconsolidated investees related to our consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, respectively. These subsidiaries primarily provide shared service and fixed-site diagnostic imaging services.

Prior to 2004, MRI industry-wide scan volumes were adversely affected by relatively flat hospital growth rates of outpatient procedures and inpatient admissions. In addition, the increase in patient co-payments, higher patient deductibles, and the uncertain U.S. employment climate contributed to lower MRI industry wide scan volumes. In 2004, MRI industry-wide scan volumes returned to a more normal growth rate primarily due to improved hospital growth rates of outpatient procedures and inpatient admissions. In the first nine months of 2005, the growth rate of MRI industry-wide scan volumes has slowed in part due to weak hospital volumes as reported by several investor-owned hospital companies, the increasing trend of third-party payors intensifying their utilization management efforts to control MRI scan volume growth rate and additional patient-related cost-sharing programs. We expect that this trend will continue through the fourth quarter of 2005. The quarter ended September 30, 2005 was also impacted by the disruption of operations caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In recent years, we began to see an increase in the competitive climate in the MRI industry, resulting in an increase in activity by original equipment manufacturers, or OEM’s, selling systems directly to certain of our clients. Typically, OEM’s target our higher scan volume clients. This increase in activity by OEM’s has resulted in overcapacity of systems in the marketplace, especially related to medical groups adding imaging capacity within their practice setting. This has caused an increase in the number of our higher scan volume clients deciding not to renew their contracts. We replace these higher volume scan clients typically with lower volume clients. During 2005, our MRI revenues modestly declined compared to 2004 levels and we believe that MRI revenues will continue to modestly decline in future years.

Seasonality

We experience seasonality in the revenues and margins generated for our services. First and fourth quarter revenues are typically lower than those from the second and third quarters. First quarter revenue is affected primarily by fewer calendar days and inclement weather, typically resulting in fewer patients being scanned during the period. Fourth quarter revenue is affected primarily by holiday and client and patient vacation schedules and inclement weather, also resulting in fewer scans during the period. The variability in margins is higher than the variability in revenues due to the fixed nature of our costs.

17




Transactions

Effective September 1, 2005, we acquired certain assets associated with nine multi-modality fixed-site diagnostic imaging centers.The multi-modality fixed-site diagnostic imaging centers include one MRI system, six CT systems, and 29 other modality systems. The purchase price consisted of $7.7 million in cash and $0.5 million in assumed liabilities. As a result of this acquisition we recorded goodwill and intangible assets of $2.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The acquisition was financed using our internally generated funds. The acquisition also includes $0.2 million of contingent payment due to the shareholders of the centers if certain performance targets are met over a three year period. When the contingency is resolved and consideration is distributable, we will record the fair value of the consideration as additional purchase price to goodwill. Adjustments to goodwill may occur in future periods as a result of changes in the original valuation of assets and liabilities acquired. The acquisition is expected to generate approximately $6.0 million in annualized revenue. The third quarter ended September 30, 2005 includes one month of operations from this acquisition. We have not included pro forma information as this acquisition did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Results of Operations

The following table shows our condensed consolidated statements of income as a percentage of revenues:

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

  2004  

 

  2005  

 

  2004  

 

  2005  

 

Revenues

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

 

50.0

 

 

 

52.6

 

 

 

50.0

 

 

 

51.1

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

10.5

 

 

 

11.1

 

 

 

10.9

 

 

 

11.6

 

 

Employment agreement costs

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

Severance and related costs

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

 

 

18.1

 

 

 

19.2

 

 

 

18.6

 

 

 

19.1

 

 

Amortization expense

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

0.9

 

 

Interest expense, net of interest income

 

 

10.2

 

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

8.6

 

 

Other (income) and expense, net

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

90.0

 

 

 

92.4

 

 

 

90.9

 

 

 

91.3

 

 

Income before income taxes, minority interest expense and earnings from unconsolidated investees

 

 

10.0

 

 

 

7.6

 

 

 

9.1

 

 

 

8.7

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4.3

 

 

 

3.3

 

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

Minority interest expense

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

Earnings from unconsolidated investees

 

 

(1.1

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

Net income

 

 

6.3

%

 

 

4.7

%

 

 

7.1

%

 

 

5.4

%

 

 

18




The table below provides MRI statistical information:

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

MRI statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of total systems

 

336.3

 

328.3

 

340.6

 

332.3

 

Average number of scan-based systems

 

291.7

 

280.6

 

293.9

 

282.5

 

Scans per system per day (scan-based systems)

 

9.73

 

9.53

 

9.65

 

9.53

 

Total number scan-based MRI scans

 

204,318

 

188,731

 

613,766

 

575,251

 

Price per scan

 

$

360.26

 

$

350.80

 

$

356.09

 

$

353.77

 

 

The table below provides PET and PET/CT statistical information:

 

 

Quarter Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

PET and PET/CT statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of systems

 

49.9

 

52.2

 

47.9

 

51.6

 

Scans per system per day

 

4.87

 

5.45

 

4.96

 

5.34

 

Total number of PET and PET/CT scans

 

14,363

 

17,342

 

42,101

 

50,150

 

Price per scan

 

$

1,406

 

$

1,320

 

$

1,359

 

$

1,339

 

 

Following are the components of revenue (in millions):

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

Total MRI revenue

 

$

79.9

 

$

72.7

 

 

$

238.2

 

 

 

$

223.6

 

 

PET and PET/CT revenue

 

20.2

 

23.0

 

 

57.4

 

 

 

67.5

 

 

Other modalites and other revenue

 

9.7

 

10.5

 

 

29.3

 

 

 

29.5

 

 

Total

 

$

109.8

 

$

106.2

 

 

$

324.9

 

 

 

$

320.6

 

 

 

19




Quarter Ended September 30, 2005 Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2004

Revenue decreased $3.6 million, or 3.2%, to $106.2 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $109.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 as a result of lower MRI revenue, partially offset by higher PET and PET/CT revenue and higher other modalities and other revenue. MRI revenue in the third quarter of 2005 decreased $7.2 million, or 9.0%, compared to the third quarter of 2004. Of the total $7.2 million decrease in MRI revenue, scan-based MRI revenue decreased $7.4 million, or 10.1%, to $66.2 million in the third quarter of 2005, from $73.6 million in the third quarter of 2004, primarily as a result of a 7.6% decrease in our scan-based MRI scan volume. Scan-based MRI scan volume decreased to 188,731 scans in the third quarter of 2005 from 204,318 scans in the third quarter of 2004, primarily due to a decrease in the average number of scan-based systems in service due to lower client demand. Scan-based systems in service decreased to 280.6 systems in the third quarter of 2005 from 291.7 systems in the third quarter of 2004 to adjust to modestly declining MRI scan volumes and to increase the efficiency of our MRI systems. Average scans per system per day also decreased by 2.1% to 9.53 in the third quarter of 2005 from 9.73 in the third quarter of 2004. Average price per MRI scan also decreased by 2.6% to $350.80 per scan in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $360.26 per scan in the third quarter of 2004. Non-scan based MRI revenue increased by $0.2 million or 3.0% to $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2005 from $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. PET and PET/CT revenue in the third quarter of 2005 increased $2.8 million, or 14.0%, compared to the third quarter of 2004. Total PET and PET/CT scan volumes increased 20.7% to 17,342 scans in the third quarter of 2005 from 14,363 scans in the third quarter of 2004, primarily as a result of an increase in the average number of PET and PET/CT systems in operation. The average number of PET and PET/CT systems in service increased to 52.2 systems in the third quarter of 2005 from 49.9 systems in the third quarter of 2004. Scans per system per day also increased 11.6%, to 5.45 scans per system per day in the third quarter of 2005, from 4.87 in the third quarter of 2004. These increases were offset by a decrease in the average price per PET and PET/CT scan of 6.1% to $1,320 per scan in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $1,406 per scan in the third quarter of 2004. Other modalities and other revenue increased $0.8 million, or 8.5%, to $10.5 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $9.7 million in the third quarter of 2004 primarily due to an increase in management contract revenue from our management agreements and reimbursement of expenses from unconsolidated investees partially offset by a decrease in CT revenue.

We had 350 MRI systems at September 30, 2005 compared to 362 MRI systems at September 30, 2004. We had 58 PET and PET/CT systems at September 30, 2005 compared to 53 PET and PET/CT systems at September 30, 2004. We operated 72 fixed-sites at September 30, 2005, which includes 9 fixed-sites acquired through our third quarter acquisition, compared to 51 fixed sites at September 30, 2004.

Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased $1.1 million, or 2.0%, to $55.9 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $54.8 million in the third quarter of 2004. Fuel expense increased $0.4 million, or 30.3%, as a result of higher diesel fuel costs in 2005 versus 2004. Equipment rental expense increased $0.3 million, or 32.7% primarily due to a higher number of MRI rental systems in use. Management contract expenses increased $0.3 million, or 13.2%, primarily as a result of an increase in expenses incurred on behalf of unconsolidated investees. Outside medical services increased $0.3 million, or 17.0%, primarily due to an increase in the number of leased technologists utilized to accommodate for the increase in systems acquired in our third quarter acquisition. Compensation and related employee expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 1.2%, primarily due to lower average headcount in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the third quarter of 2004, which was primarily a result of a decrease in the average number of MRI systems in use. This decrease in payroll costs was partially offset by an increase in mileage reimbursement rates, technologists’ wage rates, and an increase in payroll costs necessary to support the increase in the average number of PET and PET/CT systems in operation. PET and PET/CT technologists generally have a higher hourly rate than MRI technologists. The decrease in compensation and related expenses was also partially offset by an increase in recruiting

20




costs. All other cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased $0.1 million, or 0.4%. Cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 52.6% in the third quarter of 2005 from 50.0% in the third quarter of 2004 as a result of the factors described above.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.1 million, or 1.7%, to $11.7 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $11.6 million in the third quarter of 2004. The provision for doubtful accounts increased $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2005 to $0.6 million compared to ($0.1) million in the third quarter of 2004, primarily as a result of the collection of higher than normal amounts of aged accounts receivable in the third quarter of 2004. The provision for doubtful accounts was 0.5% of revenue in the third quarter of 2005 compared to (0.1%) of revenue in the third quarter of 2004. Professional services increased $0.3 million, or 229.9%, primarily due an increase in legal and investor relations costs. The increases were partially offset by a decrease in compensation and related employee expenses of $0.8 million, or 8.5%, primarily due to a decrease in fees paid to consultants to temporarily backfill positions in the information technology, business development and finance departments as well as a decrease in management incentive compensation. All other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 2.7%, in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the third quarter of 2004. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue were 11.1% and 10.5% in the third quarter of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

We recorded employment agreement costs of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2004 related to payments under an amendment to an employment agreement with our former chairman of the board. We do not expect to incur any further costs relating to the employment agreement with our former chairman of the board. We did not incur any employment agreement costs in the third quarter of 2005.

We recorded severance and related costs of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 primarily for severance costs associated with reductions-in-force due to our consolidation of operating in 10 geographic regions to 5 geographic regions and a further consolidation of our retail billing and scheduling functions. We did not incur any severance and related costs in the third quarter of 2005.

Depreciation expense increased $0.6 million, or 2.8%, to $20.4 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $19.8 million in the third quarter of 2004.

Amortization expense for both the third quarter of 2005 and 2004 totaled $0.9 million.

Interest expense, net, decreased $2.1 million, or 18.5%, to $9.1 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2004. This decrease was primarily a result of lower average interest rates on our senior subordinated notes which were refinanced in December 2004 and lower average debt balances in the third quarter of 2005 versus the third quarter of 2004.

Income tax expense was $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2005, resulting in an effective tax rate of 41.1%. Our effective tax rates were higher than statutory rates in the third quarter of 2005 primarily due to state income taxes. For the quarter ended September 30, 2004, we recorded income tax expense of $4.7 million, which was 40.3% of our pretax income. This effective tax rate was higher than federal statutory rates primarily due to state income taxes.

Minority interest expense increased $0.1 million, or 5.0%, to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2004.

Earnings from unconsolidated investees decreased by $0.1 million, or 13.0%, to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2004, primarily due to net losses in 2005 from newly formed unconsolidated investees.

Our net income was $5.0 million, or $0.10 per share on a diluted basis, in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $7.0 million, or $0.14 per share on a diluted basis, in the third quarter of 2004.

21




Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

Revenue decreased $4.3 million, or 1.3%, to $320.6 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $324.9 million in the first nine months of 2004 as a result of lower MRI revenue, partially offset by higher PET and PET/CT revenue and higher other modalities and other revenue. MRI revenue in the first nine months of 2005 decreased $14.6 million, or 6.1%, compared to the first nine months of 2004. Of the total $14.6 million decrease in MRI revenue, scan-based MRI revenue decreased $15.0 million, or 6.9%, to $203.5 million in the first nine months of 2005, from $218.5 million in the first nine months of 2004, primarily as a result of a 6.3% decrease in our scan-based MRI scan volume. Scan-based MRI scan volume decreased to 575,251 scans in the first nine months of 2005 from 613,766 scans in the first nine months of 2004, primarily due to a decrease in the average number of scan-based systems in service due to lower client demand. Scan-based systems in service decreased to 282.5 systems in the first nine months of 2005 from 293.9 systems in the first nine months of 2004 to adjust to modestly declining scan volumes and to increase the efficiency of our MRI systems. Average scans per system per day also decreased by 1.2% to 9.53 in the first nine months of 2005 from 9.65 in the first nine months of 2004. The average price per MRI scan decreased by 0.7% to $353.77 per scan in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $356.09 per scan in the first nine months of 2004. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in non-scan based MRI revenue. PET and PET/CT revenue in the first nine months of 2005 increased $10.1 million, or 17.7%, compared to the first nine months of 2004. Total PET and PET/CT scan volumes increased 19.1% to 50,150 scans in the first nine months of 2005 from 42,101 scans in the first nine months of 2004, primarily as a result of an increase in the average number of PET and PET/CT systems in operation. The average number of PET and PET/CT systems in service increased to 51.6 systems in the first nine months of 2005 from 47.9 systems in the first nine months of 2004. Scans per system per day also increased 7.7%, to 5.34 scans per system per day in the first nine months of 2005, from 4.96 in the first nine months of 2004. These increases were offset by a slight decrease in the average price per PET and PET/CT scan of 1.5% to $1,339 per scan in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $1,359 per scan in the first nine months of 2004. Other modalities and other revenue increased $0.2 million, or 1.3%, to $29.5 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $29.3 million in the first nine months of 2004 primarily due to an increase in management contract revenue for our management agreements and reimbursement of expenses from unconsolidated investees partially offset by a decrease in CT revenue.

We had 350 MRI systems at September 30, 2005 compared to 362 MRI systems at September 30, 2004. We had 58 PET and PET/CT systems at September 30, 2005 compared to 53 PET and PET/CT systems at September 30, 2004. We operated 72 fixed-sites at September 30, 2005, which includes 9 fixed-sites acquired through our third quarter acquisition, compared to 51 fixed sites at September 30, 2004.

Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased $1.1 million, or 0.7%, to $163.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 from $162.6 million in the first nine months of 2004. Management contract expenses increased $1.5 million, or 21.2%, primarily as a result of an increase in expenses incurred on behalf of unconsolidated investees. Equipment rental expense increased $1.2 million, or 50.8%, primarily due to a higher number of MRI rental systems in use. Maintenance and related costs increased $0.5 million, or 1.5%, primarily due to an increase in the average service cost per system, offset by a decrease in cryogen expense as a result of a decrease in MRI systems in service and cryogen sourcing discounts. Compensation and related employee expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 1.8%, primarily due to lower average headcount in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the first nine months of 2004, which was primarily a result of a decrease in the average number of MRI systems in use. This decrease in payroll costs was partially offset by an increase in mileage reimbursement rates, technologists’ wage rates, and an increase in payroll costs necessary to support the increase in the average number of PET and PET/CT systems in operation. PET and PET/CT technologists generally have a higher hourly rate than MRI technologists. The decrease in compensation and related expenses was also partially offset by an increase in recruiting costs. Medical supplies decreased $0.8 million, or 6.0%, primarily due to a decrease in film

22




expense related to lower MRI scan volume and an increase in demand for digital images, as well as film purchasing sourcing discounts. Medical supplies also decreased due to a reduction in per unit PET and PET/CT radiopharmaceutical costs, partially offset by the increase in volume of radiopharmaceutical purchased due to an increase in PET and PET/CT scans. All other cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased $0.2 million, or 0.9%. Cost of revenues, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 51.1% in the first nine months of 2005 from 50.1% in the first nine months of 2004 as a result of the factors described above.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.6 million, or 4.6%, to $37.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $35.5 million in the first nine months of 2004. The provision for doubtful accounts increased $1.7 million, or 532.6%, in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the first nine months of 2004, primarily as a result of the collection of higher than normal amounts of aged accounts receivable in the first nine months of 2004. The provision for doubtful accounts was 0.6% of revenue in the first nine months of 2005 compared to 0.1% of revenue in the first nine months of 2004. Professional services increased $0.6 million, or 67.4%, primarily due to professional service costs associated with our Form S-3 shelf registration statement as well as an increase in legal and investor relations costs. Compensation and related employee expenses decreased $0.4 million, or 1.4%, primarily due to a decrease in management incentive compensation. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in recruiting costs primarily to further develop the sales, business development, human resources and finance infrastructure and an increase in costs associated with national management meetings. All other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 4.9%, in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the first nine months of 2004. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue were 11.6% and 10.9% in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

We recorded employment agreement costs of $0.4 million in the first nine months of 2005 related to payments under an amendment to an employment agreement with our former chairman of the board. We recorded employment agreement expenses of $1.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 related to an employment agreement with our former chief financial officer and payments under an amendment to an employment agreement with our former chairman of the board. We do not expect to incur any further costs relating to the employment agreement with our former chairman of the board.

We recorded severance and related costs of $0.6 million in the first nine months of 2004 primarily for severance costs associated with reductions-in-force due to our consolidation of operating in 10 geographic regions to 5 geographic regions and a further consolidation of our retail billing and scheduling functions.

Depreciation expense increased $0.8 million, or 1.4%, to $61.3 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $60.5 million in the first nine months of 2004.

Amortization expense increased $0.1 million, or 3.0%, to $2.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2004.

Interest expense, net, decreased $4.9 million, or 15.1%, to $27.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $32.6 million in the first nine months of 2004. This decrease was primarily a result of lower average interest rates on our senior subordinated notes which were refinanced in December 2004 as well as lower average debt balances in the first nine months of 2005 versus the first nine months of 2004.

Income tax expense was $11.8 million in the first nine months of 2005, resulting in an effective tax rate of 40.5%. Our effective tax rates were higher than statutory rates for the first nine months of 2005 primarily as a result of state income taxes. In the first nine months of 2004, we recorded a provision for income taxes of $7.2 million, which was 23.7% of our pretax income. This effective tax rate was lower than statutory rates primarily due to the reversal of income tax reserves of $5.1 million primarily related to the favorable outcome of examinations of our 1998 and 1999 federal income tax returns and a favorable final

23




IRS determination letter related to the treatment of an income item in a federal income tax return of one of our subsidiaries.

Minority interest expense decreased $0.5 million, or 23.0%, to $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2004.

Earnings from unconsolidated investees decreased by $0.6 million, or 18.3%, to $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2004, primarily due to net losses in 2005 from newly formed unconsolidated investees.

Our net income was $17.3 million, or $0.34 per share on a diluted basis, in the first nine months of 2005 compared to $23.2 million, or $0.48 per share on a diluted basis, in the first nine months of 2004.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary source of liquidity is cash provided by operating activities. We generated $93.0 million and $107.1 million of cash flow from operating activities in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our ability to generate cash flow is affected by numerous factors, including demand for MRI and PET and PET/CT scans, the price we can charge our clients for providing our services and the costs to us of providing those services. Our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities is also dependent upon the collections of our accounts receivable. Provision for doubtful accounts increased by $1.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the first nine months of 2004. The number of days of revenue outstanding for our accounts receivable was 48 days and 43 days as of September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. In addition, as of September 30, 2005, we had $64.4 million available borrowings under our revolving line of credit.

Our primary use of capital resources is to fund capital expenditures. We used cash of $53.2 million and $59.1 million for investing activities in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. Investing activities in the first nine months of 2005 includes $7.7 million used for the third quarter acquisition of certain assets associated with nine multi-modality fixed-site diagnostic imaging centers. We incur capital expenditures for the purposes of:

·       purchasing new systems;

·       replacing less advanced systems with new systems; and

·       providing upgrades of our MRI and PET and PET/CT systems and upgrading our corporate infrastructure for future growth.

Capital expenditures totaled $46.5 million and $69.0 million in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. During the first nine months of 2005, excluding systems acquired through our third quarter acquisition, we purchased 13 MRI systems, 10 PET or PET/CT systems, 3 CT systems and three other systems. We traded-in or sold 46 total systems for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Our decision to purchase a new system is typically predicated on obtaining new or extending existing client contracts, which serve as the basis of demand for the new system. We expect to purchase additional systems in 2005 and finance substantially all of these purchases with our available cash, cash from operating activities, our revolving line of credit, and equipment leases. Based upon the client demand described above, which dictates the type of equipment purchased, we expect capital expenditures to total approximately $70 to $75 million in 2005.

We believe that, based on current levels of operations, our cash flow from operating activities, together with other available sources of liquidity, including borrowings available under our revolving loan facility, will be sufficient over the next one to two years to fund anticipated capital expenditures and make required payments of principal and interest on our debt.

24




Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets” (“SFAS 153”), which is an amendment of Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” (“APB 29”). This statement addresses the measurement of exchanges of nonmonetary assets, and eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets as defined in paragraph 21(b) of APB 29, and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. This statement specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. SFAS 153 is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 153 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123(R) (revised December 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), which is a revision of SFAS 123 and supersedes APB No. 25. This statement requires that the fair value at the grant date resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. Further, SFAS 123(R) requires entities to apply a fair-value based measurement method in accounting for these transactions. This value is recorded over the vesting period. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 123(R) and the impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations. We will adopt SFAS123(R) for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2006.

In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), an interpretation of SFAS 143, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” This interpretation clarifies that an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability’s fair value can be reasonably estimated. This interpretation also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2005. We believe the adoption of FIN 47 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS 154, “Accounting for Changes and Error Corrections” (“SFAS 154”), which is a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” and SFAS 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” This statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of all voluntary changes in accounting principle and in the instance that a pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. This statement requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. We believe the adoption of SFAS 154 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2005, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 04-05, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights”(“EITF 04-05”). EITF 04-05 clarifies how general partners in a limited partnership should determine whether they control a limited partnership. A general partner of a limited partnership is presumed to control the limited partnership unless the limited partners have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. For general partners of all new limited partnerships formed and for existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreements are modified, EITF 04-05 is effective after June 29, 2005. For general partners in all other limited partnerships, EITF 04-05 is effective for the first period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. We believe

25




the adoption of EITF 04-05 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2005, the FASB issued EITF 05-06, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements” (“EITF 05-06”). EITF 05-06 defines the useful life for leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination, or purchased significantly after, and not comtemplated at the beginning of the lease term. EITF 05-06 is effective for leasehold improvements purchased or acquired in reporting periods after June 29, 2005. The adoption of EITF 05-06 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Cautionary Statement Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements contained in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, particularly in the section entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources”, and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, are “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements which address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as results of operations and financial condition, capital expenditures, the consummation of acquisitions and financing transactions and the effect of such transactions on our business and our plans and objectives for future operations and expansion are examples of forward-looking statements. In some cases you can identify these statements by forward-looking words like “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate” “predict”, “continue” or similar words. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from our expectations, forecasts and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include factors affecting our leverage, including fluctuations in interest rates, the risk that the counter-parties to our interest rate swap agreements fail to satisfy their obligations under these agreements, our ability to incur financing, the effect of operating and financial restrictions in our debt instruments, the accuracy of our estimates regarding our capital requirements, the effect of intense levels of competition in our industry, changes in the healthcare regulatory environment, our ability to keep pace with technological developments within our industry, the growth rate of MRI industry-wide scan volumes, the disruptive effect of hurricanes and other natural disasters, and other risks and uncertainties, including those enumerated and described under “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K/A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The foregoing should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by us.

ITEM 3.                QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We sell our services exclusively in the United States and receive payment for our services exclusively in United States dollars. As a result, our financial results are unlikely to be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets.

Our interest expense is sensitive to changes in the general level of interest rates in the United States, particularly because the majority of our indebtedness has interest rates which are variable. The recorded carrying amount of our long-term debt under our existing credit agreement approximates fair value as these borrowings have variable rates that reflect currently available terms and conditions for similar debt. To decrease the risk associated with interest rate increases, we entered into multiple interest rate swap and collar agreements for a portion of our variable rate debt. These swaps and collars are designated as cash flow hedges of variable future cash flows associated with our long-term debt.

The swap agreements have notional amounts of $56.8 million, $46.8 million and $48.4 million at September 30, 2005. Under the terms of these agreements, we receive three-month LIBOR and pay a fixed

26




rate of 3.15%, 3.89%, and 3.69%, respectively. The net effect of the hedges is to record interest expense at fixed rates of 5.40%, 6.14% and 5.94% respectively, as the debt incurs interest based on three-month LIBOR plus 2.25%. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005 we recorded a net settlement amount on the swap agreements of $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the quarter ended September 30, 2004 we recorded a net settlement amount on the swap agreements of $0.6 million. We did not record any net settlement amount on these swap agreements prior to the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The swap agreements mature during 2007.

We have also entered into multiple interest rate collar agreements which have a total notional amount of $178.0 million. Under the terms of these agreements, we have purchased a cap on the interest rate of 4.00% and have sold a floor of 2.25%. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we did not record any net settlement on these collar agreements. The collar agreements mature at various dates between January 2007 and January 2008.

The swap and collar agreements have been designated as cash flow hedges of variable future cash flows associated with our long term debt. In accordance with SFAS 133, the swaps and collars are recorded at fair value. On a quarterly basis, the fair value of the swaps and collars will be determined based on quoted market prices and, assuming perfect effectiveness, the difference between the fair value and the book value of the swaps and collars will be recognized in comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity. Any ineffectiveness of the swaps and collars is required to be recognized in earnings.

The outstanding interest rate swaps and collars expose us to credit risk in the event that the counterparties to the agreements do not or cannot meet their obligations. The notional amount is used to measure interest to be paid or received and does not represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The loss would be limited to the amount that would have been received, if any, over the remaining life of the swap and collar agreements. The counterparties to the swaps and collars are major financial institutions and we expect the counterparties to be able to perform their obligations under the swaps and collars. We use derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes only and not for trading or speculative purposes.

Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of interest rates in the United States, particularly because the majority of our investments are in cash equivalents. The recorded carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.

ITEM 4.                CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, we have investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As we do not control or manage these entities, our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries. These unconsolidated entities are not considered material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and interim

27




Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurring during the fiscal quarter covered by this report which have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

28




PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On May 5, 2005, Alliance Imaging, Inc. was served with a complaint filed in Alameda County Superior Court alleging wage claims on behalf of a putative class of an estimated 350 former and current California employees of Alliance Imaging. In Linda S. Jones, et al. v. Alliance Imaging, Inc., et al., the plaintiffs allege violations of California’s wage, meal period, and break time laws and regulations. Plaintiffs seek recovery of unspecified economic damages, statutory penalties, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs of suit. Alliance Imaging responded to the complaint on August 26, 2005, and the parties are currently taking discovery to develop facts relevant to the named plaintiffs’ expected motion for certification of one or more classes. No date for the filing or hearing of such a motion has been set. We are currently evaluating the allegations of the complaint and are unable to predict the likely timing or outcome of this lawsuit.

From time to time, we are also involved in other litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. We believe that none of this litigation pending against us will have a material adverse effect on our business.

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

Not applicable.

ITEM 3.                DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.                OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.                EXHIBITS

(a)   Exhibits

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Alliance.(7)

3.2

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Alliance.(7)

4.1

 

Indenture dated as of April 10, 2001 by and between the Registrant and the Bank of New York with respect to $260 million aggregate principal amount of 103¤8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.(5)

4.2

 

Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 1999, as amended.(5)

4.3

 

Specimen certificate for shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of Alliance.(7)

4.4

 

Second Amendment dated as of June 10, 2002 to Credit Agreement.(8)

4.5

 

Indenture dated as of December 29, 2004 by and between the Registrant and the Bank of New York with respect to $150 million aggregate principal amount of 71¤4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and 71¤4% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.(13)

4.6

 

Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 14, 2004 by and between Registrant and the Bank of New York with respect to 103¤8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.(13)

4.7

 

Third Amendment dated as of December 29, 2004 to Credit Agreement.(13)

29




 

10.1

 

The 1999 Equity Plan for Employees of Alliance and Subsidiaries including the forms of option agreements used thereunder, as amended.(5)

10.2

 

The Alliance 1997 Stock Option Plan, including form of option agreement used thereunder, as amended.(5)

10.3

 

The Three Rivers Holding Corp. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended.(5)

10.4

 

Alliance Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended.(6)

10.5

 

2003 Incentive Plan(9)

10.6

 

Employment Agreement dated as of July 23, 1997 between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(1)

10.7

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of July 23, 1999 between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(1)

10.8

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of July 23, 1997 between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(2)

10.9

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of December 31, 1997 between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(3)

10.10

 

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of February 5, 1998 between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(3)

10.11

 

Employment Agreement dated as of January 19, 1998 between Alliance and Kenneth S. Ord.(4)

10.12

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of January 19, 1998 between Alliance and Kenneth S. Ord.(4)

10.15

 

Employment Agreement dated as of April 29, 1998 between Alliance and Russell D. Phillips, Jr.(3)

10.16

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of April 29, 1998 between Alliance and Russell D. Phillips, Jr.(3)

10.17

 

Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2003 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(9)

10.18

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of January 1, 2003 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(9)

10.19

 

Stock Subscription Agreement dated as of January 2, 2003 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(9)

10.20

 

Stock Subscription Agreement dated as of February 3, 2003 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(9)

10.21

 

Form of Stockholder’s Agreement.(5)

10.23

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 2, 1999.(5)

10.24

 

Management Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1999, between Alliance and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., LLP.(5)

10.25

 

Amendment No. 1 to Management Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2000, between Alliance and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., LLP.(5)

10.26

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement.(6)

10.27

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement, Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement and Non-Compete Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2003, between Alliance and Richard N. Zehner.(10)

10.29

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement and Stockholders’ Agreement, dated March 29, 2004 by and between Alliance, Viewer Holdings, LLC and Kenneth S. Ord.(12)

10.30

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of May 9, 2005 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(15)

30




 

10.31

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of May 9, 2005 between Alliance and Paul S. Viviano.(15)

10.32

 

Employment Agreement dated as of May 9, 2005 between Alliance and Andrew P. Hayek.(15)

10.33

 

Agreement Not to Compete dated as of May 9, 2005 between Alliance and Andrew P. Hayek.(15)

21.1

 

List of subsidiaries.(14)

31

 

Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(16)

32

 

Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(16)


(1)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-2, No. 333-33817.

(2)          Incorporated by reference herein to the indicated Exhibit in response to Item 14(a)(3), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 000-16334).

(3)          Incorporated by reference herein to the indicated Exhibit in response to Item 14(a)(3), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 000-16334).

(4)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 (File No. 000-16334).

(5)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-60682, as amended.

(6)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-64322, as amended.

(7)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-16609).

(8)          Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 001-16609).

(9)          Incorporated by reference herein to the indicated Exhibit response in Item 15(a)(3), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-16609).

(10)   Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 001-16609).

(11)   Incorporated by reference herein to the indicated Exhibit response in Item 15(a)(3), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-16609).

(12)   Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 (File No. 001-16609).

(13)   Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 9.01(c), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 29, 2004 (File No. 001-16609).

31




(14)   Incorporated by reference herein to the indicated Exhibit response in Item 15(a)(1), “Exhibits” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 001-16609).

(15)   Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed in response to Item 6, “Exhibits” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (File No. 001-16609).

(16)   Filed herewith

32




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.

ALLIANCE IMAGING, INC.

November 9, 2005

By:

/s/ PAUL S. VIVIANO

 

 

Paul S. Viviano

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

November 9, 2005

By:

/s/ HOWARD K. AIHARA

 

 

Howard K. Aihara

 

 

Interim Chief Financial Officer and Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

33