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Labcorp Announces Acquisition of Select Assets of BioReference Health's Diagnostics Business

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Labcorp (LH) to acquire select assets of BioReference Health from OPKO Health (OPK) to enhance laboratory services network and expand access to clinical laboratory services.
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The acquisition of BioReference Health's laboratory testing businesses by Labcorp represents a strategic move aimed at enhancing the company's service network. This deal is significant as it involves a transfer of assets that generate around $100 million in annual revenue. From a market research perspective, the expansion into clinical diagnostics and women's health sectors could potentially increase Labcorp's market share and provide competitive advantages. The transaction's success hinges on the seamless integration of the acquired assets and the retention of BioReference Health's existing customer base.

Labcorp's focus on improving patient access and convenience aligns with broader industry trends towards patient-centric healthcare services. The deal also reflects a strategic divestiture for OPKO Health, allowing them to concentrate on their core biopharmaceutical operations. It's important to monitor how this realignment affects both companies' market positions and whether the expected synergies materialize in the form of enhanced service offerings and operational efficiencies.

The purchase price of $237.5 million for assets generating $100 million in annual revenue suggests a multiple that is in line with industry norms, assuming those revenues are stable and profitable. Investors will be keen to understand the expected return on investment and how this acquisition fits into Labcorp's overall financial strategy. The deal should be accretive to earnings if Labcorp can leverage its existing infrastructure to achieve cost synergies.

Short-term financial implications include transaction and integration costs, which may affect Labcorp's financials. Long-term, the deal could provide growth opportunities and contribute to the bottom line if Labcorp successfully leverages the expanded testing capabilities and customer contracts. It's essential to analyze subsequent financial statements to assess the impact of the acquisition on Labcorp's profitability and cash flow.

The transaction's requirement for regulatory approvals, including under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, indicates that it will be scrutinized for potential antitrust concerns. The legal teams of Lazard and Hogan Lovells, Kilpatrick Townsend and Parker Poe for Labcorp and Piper Sandler & Co. and Greenberg Traurig for OPKO, will ensure compliance with all legal requirements.

Given the complexity of healthcare regulations and the potential for market concentration issues, the legal aspect of this transaction is not trivial. The impact of the deal on competition within the laboratory services market will be a key consideration for regulators. The successful navigation through the regulatory landscape will be pivotal for the timely closure of the deal and the realization of its strategic benefits.

Transaction to enhance Labcorp's laboratory services network 
and expand access to the company's high-quality clinical laboratory services

BURLINGTON, N.C. and MIAMI, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, and OPKO Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPK), a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company, announced today that they have entered into an agreement for Labcorp to acquire select assets of BioReference Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of OPKO Health.

Through this transaction, Labcorp will acquire BioReference Health's laboratory testing businesses focused on clinical diagnostics and reproductive and women's health across the United States outside of New York and New Jersey. This transaction includes patient service centers (PSCs) and certain customer contracts and operating assets. BioReference Health will continue to offer oncology and urology diagnostic services nationwide, as well as maintain its full operations in New York and New Jersey.

When complete, the transaction is expected to provide patients, physicians and customers with greater access to Labcorp's comprehensive, high-quality laboratory services, scientific expertise and expanded testing capabilities in key regions across the country.

"Labcorp is committed to building on the excellent customer service that physicians and health systems have come to expect from BioReference Health, while expanding access and convenience for patients across the country," said Mark Schroeder, Executive Vice President and President of Diagnostics Laboratories and Chief Operations Officer of Labcorp. "We look forward to working with the BioReference Health team to ensure a smooth transition following the close of the transaction. Combined with Labcorp's expertise and scale, we will help achieve better health outcomes for patients."

"Through this transaction we are able to significantly streamline our laboratory services business while retaining its core operations, positioning BioReference Health for sustained growth and profitability," said Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO. "This transaction is part of our previously announced effort to re-establish profitability at our clinical laboratory business while at the same time better positioning OPKO as an innovative biopharmaceutical company."

The assets that Labcorp will be acquiring currently generate approximately $100 million in annual revenue. The purchase price for the transaction is $237.5 million. The proposed acquisition meets Labcorp's strategic and financial criteria.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, including under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2024.

Lazard is serving as Labcorp's financial advisor, and Hogan Lovells, Kilpatrick Townsend and Parker Poe are serving as legal counsel.

Piper Sandler & Co. is serving as OPKO's financial advisor, and Greenberg Traurig is serving as legal counsel. 

About Labcorp

Labcorp (NYSE: LH) is a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients make clear and confident decisions. We provide insights and advance science to improve health and improve lives through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory capabilities. The company's more than 67,000 employees serve clients in approximately 100 countries, provided support for 84% of the new drugs and therapeutic products approved in 2023 by the FDA and performed more than 600 million tests for patients around the world. Learn more about us at www.labcorp.com.

About BioReference Health

BioReference® Health LLC, an OPKO Health, Inc. Company, empowers confident healthcare decisions by prioritizing service, creating innovative solutions, and offering scientific expertise in oncology, urology, and women's health. Headquartered in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, BioReference Health operates 10 laboratory facilities around the country, is in-network with the largest health plans in the United States and processes more than 12 million tests, annually. BioReference Health provides credible and tailored solutions for a variety of customers and patients, including medical practices small and large, hospitals and health systems, correctional institutions, government agencies, educational systems, and sport leagues. In addition to an extensive test menu with 99 percent of tests performed in-house, BioReference Health's differentiated offerings include large-scale health screening programs, on-demand mobile phlebotomy, and transformative business solutions that optimize laboratory management. For more information visit https://www.bioreference.com.

About OPKO

OPKO Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPK) is a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its discovery, development, and commercialization expertise and novel and proprietary technologies. For more information, visit www.opko.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements with respect to (a) the anticipated impact of the transaction including expanding access and convenience for patients to laboratory testing services; (b) expected timing to closing, (c) other anticipated potential benefits of the acquisition when combined with Labcorp, including potential future revenue generation of the acquired business and (d) anticipated benefits to BioReference Health and OPKO.

Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond each of the party's control, including without limitation: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; (ii) expected timing to closing; (iii) the failure to satisfy closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreements; (v) potential difficulties with employee retention and employee relations; (vi) the trading price of each of Labcorp and OPKO's stock, competitive actions and other unforeseen changes and general uncertainties in the marketplace;  (vii) changes in government regulations; (viii) customer purchasing decisions, including changes in payer regulations or policies; (ix) other adverse actions of governmental and third-party payers; (x) changes in testing guidelines or recommendations; (xi) federal, state, and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; (xii) the impact of global geopolitical events; (xiii) the effect of public opinion on each party's reputation; (xiv) adverse results in material litigation matters, if applicable; (xv) the impact of changes in tax laws and regulations; (xvi) failure to maintain or develop customer relationships; (xvii) failure in information technology, systems or data security; (xviii) personnel costs; (xix) inflation, and (xx) increased competition. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect each of Labcorp and OPKO's ability to implement their respective business strategies, and actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Each of Labcorp and OPKO has no obligation to provide any updates to these forward-looking statements even if its expectations change. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Further information on potential factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect operating and financial results is included in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, including in each case under the heading RISK FACTORS, and in the other filings with the SEC for each of Labcorp and OPKO. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with a review of each of Labcorp and OPKO's filings with the SEC including the information in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent Forms 10-Q, under the heading MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

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SOURCE Labcorp

Labcorp aims to enhance its laboratory services network and expand access to clinical laboratory services.

Labcorp will acquire BioReference Health's laboratory testing businesses focused on clinical diagnostics and reproductive and women's health across the United States outside of New York and New Jersey.

BioReference Health will continue to offer oncology and urology diagnostic services nationwide, as well as maintain its full operations in New York and New Jersey.

The assets Labcorp will be acquiring generate approximately $100 million in annual revenue.

The purchase price for the transaction is $237.5 million.

The transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
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About OPK

opko health is a diversified healthcare company that seeks to establish industry leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets. our diagnostics business includes bioreference laboratories, the nation's third largest clinical laboratory with a core genetic testing business and a 400 person sales and marketing team to drive growth and leverage new products, including the 4kscore® prostate cancer test and the claros® 1 in office immunoassay platform. our pharmaceutical business features rayaldee, an fda approved treatment for shpt in stage 3-­4 ckd patients with vitamin d insufficiency (launched in november 2016), varubitm for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (oral formulation launched by partner tesaro and iv formulation pending fda approval), opk88004, a once or twice weekly oxyntomodulin for type 2 diabetes and obesity, in phase 2 clinical trials, among the new class of glp-­1 glucagon receptor dual agonists, and opk88003, a selective androgen receptor modulator for benig