Express Scripts Canada Announces Strategic Supply-Chain Relationship with SCI Logistics Ltd.

  • SCI Will Build, Facilitate Logistics of Express Scripts Canada Pharmacies Across Canada to Enable Home Delivery Of Maintenance Prescription Medications

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 30, 2011 /CNW/ - Express Scripts Canada, one of the largest providers of health benefits management services in Canada, today announced that it has entered into a supply-chain agreement with SCI Logistics Ltd., to provide integral services related to the development and delivery of Express Scripts Canada's recently announced pharmacy benefit management service (PBM) and home delivery pharmacies.

The expanded PBM service is the latest in a line of solutions that will enable Express Scripts Canada to better meet current and emerging needs of plan sponsors and significantly reduce the cost of providing a prescription drug benefit to employees.

"With SCI Logistics providing for the delivery of prescription medications and assisting with the construction and logistical operations of our home delivery pharmacies, we have placed another important building block in the foundation of our PBM business model," said Michael Biskey, president of Express Scripts Canada. "To provide plan sponsors - many of which have a presence in multiple provinces and territories - with our PBM service, we will work with a partner capable of delivering prescription medications in a timely manner to all parts of the country."

"SCI Logistics will manage delivery service providers, including Canada Post and Purolator Courier, to offer the capability to deliver packages to all 10 provinces and three territories, including remote areas, in a safe, reliable, timely manner. This capability, combined with historically strong track records for safety and reliability, make Canada Post and Purolator logical choices as our preferred partners for the delivery of maintenance prescription drugs."

John Ferguson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SCI Group, said that SCI Logistics has a proven track record of delivering end-to-end supply-chain solutions to help companies ensure seamless delivery of their important goods to Canadians.

"We're pleased to work with Express Scripts Canada to both build and maintain the order-management and inventory-management processes required to provide safe, secure and timely delivery of maintenance prescription medications," said Mr. Ferguson. "The SCI team's unique combination of expertise in e-commerce fulfillment, combined with its expertise and experience in health-care logistics, will help deliver success for Express Scripts Canada."

Expanded Pharmacy Benefit Management Service

Express Scripts Canada's expanded PBM service, which can be added by companies and organizations without changing insurance carriers, leverages research and proven best practices in behavioral sciences to actively engage members of health benefits plans to more effectively manage benefit costs and their health. Plan members will interact with a team of highly qualified professionals about their maintenance medication alternatives so that they can make informed choices with the support of their physician. The result will be informed decisions that offer the best possible health outcome while reducing costs for both the member and their plan sponsor.

Working in conjunction with the expanded PBM service, each Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy facilitates the dispensing and delivery of prescription drugs to treat ongoing medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. A supply of up to 90 days of these prescription medications will be delivered, via free standard shipping, to patients' homes, or to the address they designate.

Delivery of Prescription Medications through Xpresspost, Purolator Courier

To facilitate the delivery of prescription medication packages from the Express Scripts Canada pharmacies to plan members throughout Canada, SCI Logistics will leverage the vast resources in the service networks of their delivery partners, Canada Post and Purolator Courier. Combined, Canada Post, with its Xpresspost service, and Purolator, are experienced in delivering prescription medication and health-care products, and have the capability to deliver to any address in Canada as Express Scripts Canada expands its service.

Pharmacy Update

The Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy in Ontario, which is located in Mississauga, will open on December 1, 2011. The 8,500 square-foot facility, which received its operating license from the Ontario College of Pharmacists in late October, includes state-of-the-art pharmacy management technology to manage patient records and to enter, fill, dispense and track prescriptions for registered plan members, along with climate-controlled storage space for temperature-sensitive medications.

The facility also houses an adjoining Product Development & Customer Experience Centre, where plan sponsors and other interested parties can learn more about Express Scripts Canada's expanded PBM service and the Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy.

For more information about Express Scripts Canada's PBM service and the Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy, go to www.express-scripts.ca.

About SCI Group Inc.

SCI is a leading Canadian third-party logistics provider, offering value-added warehousing, distribution, contract logistics and transportation services to a wide range of industries, including telecommunication, retail/etail, health-care, industrial and technology. SCI's innovative supply- chain solutions, national network of advanced facilities and skilled team help optimize supply chains from sourcing to final delivery. For more information about SCI, visit the company's Web site at www.scigroup.ca.

About Express Scripts Canada

Express Scripts Canada, a registered business name of both ESI Canada and Express Scripts Canada Services, each an Ontario partnership indirectly controlled by Express Scripts, Inc., is one of Canada's leading providers of health benefits management services. From its corporate headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, just outside Toronto, Express Scripts Canada provides a full range of integrated pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services to insurers, third-party administrators, plan sponsors and the public sector, including health-claims adjudication and processing services, Home Delivery Pharmacy Services, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug-data analysis services, to better facilitate the best possible health outcomes at the lowest possible cost. For more information about Express Scripts Canada, visit its Web site at www.express-scripts.ca.

About Express Scripts, Inc.

Express Scripts, Inc., one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, is leading the way toward creating better health and value for patients through Consumerology®, the advanced application of the behavioral sciences to health care. This approach is helping millions of members realize greater health-care outcomes and lowering cost by assisting in influencing their behavior.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts, Inc. provides integrated PBM services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery services, specialty benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug data analysis services. The Company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services. More information can be found at http://www.express-scripts.com.

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This material may include forward-looking statements, both with respect to us and our industry, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "will," "may," "would" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature may be used to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

STANDARD OPERATING FACTORS

  • Our ability to remain profitable in a very competitive marketplace is dependent upon our ability to attract and retain clients while maintaining our margins, to differentiate our products and services from others in the marketplace, and to develop and cross sell new products and services to our existing clients;
  • Our failure to anticipate and appropriately adapt to changes in the rapidly changing health care industry;
  • Changes in applicable laws or regulations, or their interpretation or enforcement, or the enactment of new laws or regulations, which apply to our business practices (past, present or future) or require us to spend significant resources in order to comply;
  • Changes to the healthcare industry designed to manage healthcare costs or alter healthcare financing practices;
  • Changes relating to our participation in Medicare Part D, the loss of Medicare Part D eligible members, or our failure to otherwise execute on our strategies related to Medicare Part D;
  • A failure in the security or stability of our technology infrastructure, or the infrastructure of one or more of our key vendors, or a significant failure or disruption in service within our operations or the operations of such vendors;
  • Our failure to effectively execute on strategic transactions, or to integrate or achieve anticipated benefits from any acquired businesses;
  • The termination, or an unfavorable modification, of our relationship with one or more key pharmacy providers, or significant changes within the pharmacy provider marketplace;
  • The termination, or an unfavorable modification, of our relationship with one or more key pharmaceutical manufacturers, or the significant reduction in payments made or discounts provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers;
  • Changes in industry pricing benchmarks;
  • Results in pending and future litigation or other proceedings which would subject us to significant monetary damages or penalties and/or require us to change our business practices, or the costs incurred in connection with such proceedings;
  • Our failure to execute on, or other issues arising under, certain key client contracts;
  • The impact of our debt service obligations on the availability of funds for other business purposes, and the terms and our required compliance with covenants relating to our indebtedness; our failure to attract and retain talented employees, or to manage succession and retention for our Chief Executive Officer or other key executives;

TRANSACTION-RELATED FACTORS

  • Uncertainty as to whether Express Scripts, Inc. (Express Scripts) will be able to consummate the mergers with Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Medco) on the terms set forth in the merger agreement;
  • The ability to obtain governmental approvals of the mergers;
  • Uncertainty as to the market value of Express Scripts merger consideration to be paid and the stock component of the Medco merger consideration;
  • Failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the mergers, including as a result of a delay in completing the mergers or a delay or difficulty in integrating the businesses of Express Scripts and Medco;
  • Uncertainty as to the long-term value of Express Scripts Holding Company (currently known as Aristotle Holding, Inc.) common shares;
  • Limitations on the ability of Express Scripts and Express Scripts Holding Company to incur new debt in connection with the transaction;
  • The expected amount and timing of cost savings and operating synergies; and
  • Failure to receive the approval of the stockholders of either Express Scripts or Medco for the mergers.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Express Scripts' most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and the risk factors included in Medco's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents of Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding and Medco on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding with the SEC, which was declared effective on November 15, 2011. Stockholders are urged to read the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus of Medco and Express Scripts contained therein (including all amendments or supplements to it) because they contain important information. Any forward-looking statements made in this material are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any stockholder of Express Scripts, Medco or Aristotle Holding. In connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Medco, Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding, Plato Merger Sub, Inc. and Aristotle Merger Sub, Inc. (the "Merger"), Medco, Express Scripts and Aristotle Holding have filed relevant materials with the SEC and intend to file additional materials. On November 15, 2011, the SEC declared effective the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding. On November 18, 2011, Express Scripts, Medco and Aristotle Holding commenced mailing of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS FILED BY EXPRESS SCRIPTS, MEDCO AND ARISTOTLE HOLDING WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDCO, EXPRESS SCRIPTS, ARISTOTLE HOLDING AND THE MERGER. The joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding or Medco with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site atwww.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by directing a written request to:

Mackenzie Partners, Inc.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding and Medco and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the security holders of either Express Scripts and Medco in connection with the Merger. Information about Express Scripts' directors and executive officers is available in Express Scripts' definitive proxy statement, dated March 21, 2011, for its 2011 annual general meeting of stockholders. Information about Medco's directors and executive officers is available in Medco's definitive proxy statement, dated April 8, 2011, for its 2011 annual general meeting of stockholders. Other information regarding the participants and description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding and the amendments and supplements thereto.