Filed by: Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated
This communication is filed pursuant to Rules 165 and 425
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Subject Company: Unilab Corporation
Commission File No.: 001-11839
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements, which may include, but are not limited to,
statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and
businesses of Quest Diagnostics and Unilab and the benefits expected to result
from the contemplated transaction, are based on management's current
expectations and estimates and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences may include, but are
not limited to, the risk that the conditions relating to the required minimum
tender of Unilab shares or regulatory clearance might not be satisfied in a
timely manner or at all, risks relating to the integration of the technologies
and businesses of Quest Diagnostics and Unilab, unanticipated expenditures,
changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners,
conditions of the economy and other factors described in the most recent reports
on Form 10-Q, most recent reports on Form 10-K, and other periodic reports filed
by Quest Diagnostics and Unilab with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On May 15, 2002, Quest Diagnostics filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4,
as amended, and a Schedule TO, as amended, and Unilab filed a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, as amended, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the transaction. A
Prospectus, which is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4, the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, and related exchange
offer materials, including a letter of election and transmittal, have been
mailed to stockholders of Unilab. In addition, Quest Diagnostics has previously
filed a Statement on Schedule 13D, as amended, relating to its agreement with
Kelso Investment Associates VI, L.P. and KEP VI, LLC. Investors and stockholders
of Unilab are urged to read all of these documents carefully. These documents
contain important information about the transaction and should be read before
any decision is made with respect to the exchange offer. Investors and
stockholders are able to obtain free copies of these documents through the
website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
Free copies of these documents may also be obtained from Quest Diagnostics by
directing a request to Quest Diagnostics Incorporated at One Malcolm Avenue,
Teterboro, New Jersey, 07608, or from Unilab by directing a request to Unilab
Corporation at 18448 Oxnard Street, Tarzana, California, 91356.
In addition to the Registration Statement on Form S-4, Schedule TO, Prospectus,
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and related exchange
offer materials, both Quest Diagnostics and Unilab file annual, quarterly and
special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any reports, Statements or other
information filed by Quest Diagnostics or Unilab at the SEC public reference
room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549, or at any of the
Securities and Exchange Commission's other public reference rooms in New York,
New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Securities and Exchange
Commission at 800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference
rooms. Quest Diagnostics' and Unilab's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval
services and at the website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission
at www.sec.gov.
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Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
One Malcolm Avenue
Teterboro, New Jersey 07608
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] News From Quest Diagnostics
[QUEST LOGO] ---------------------------
Contacts:
Quest Diagnostics
Laure Park (Investors): 201-393-5030
Gary Samuels (Media): 201-393-5700
Unilab
Brian Urban: 818-758-6611
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
---------------------
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS AND UNILAB AMEND MERGER AGREEMENT
--FTC is Reviewing Proposal by Quest Diagnostics and Third Party Buyer
Regarding Sale of Assets in Northern California--
TETERBORO, N.J., and TARZANA, Calif., JANUARY 6, 2003 - Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) and Unilab Corporation (NASD: ULAB) announced that they
have executed the amendment of their previously announced Merger Agreement under
which Quest Diagnostics would acquire Unilab. In addition, Quest Diagnostics
announced that it and an undisclosed third party purchaser have submitted a
proposal to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) related to the proposed
divestiture of certain assets of the combined company in Northern California
following the completion of the merger with Unilab. The divestiture is subject
to FTC review and approval.
As previously announced, the changes to the Merger Agreement reduce the value of
the overall transaction by approximately $60 million, based on the closing price
of Quest Diagnostics common stock on November 29, 2002. Under the amended terms
of the Merger Agreement, Unilab shareholders have the right to elect either
0.3424 of a share of Quest Diagnostics common stock or $19.10 in cash for each
Unilab share tendered. In the exchange offer and the merger, Quest Diagnostics
will not issue more than 8.5 million shares (including shares reserved for
options outstanding at the consummation of the merger) or pay more than $297
million in cash. Based on these amounts, up to but not more than approximately
42% of the outstanding Unilab shares may be exchanged for cash and up to but not
more than approximately 66% of the outstanding Unilab shares may be converted
into Quest Diagnostics shares. In addition, the termination date of the Merger
Agreement was extended from November 30, 2002 to January 31, 2003.
The changes to the Merger Agreement will be described in the parties' respective
SEC filings that will be distributed to Unilab stockholders.
The proposed divestiture of assets in Northern California is intended to address
issues raised by the FTC in its review of the Unilab transaction. The assets to
be sold to a prospective third party include the assignment of capitated
contracts with independent physician associations (IPAs), as well as the leases
for certain patient service centers and rapid response laboratories located
throughout Northern California. The divestiture is contingent on the completion
of the Unilab transaction.
Quest Diagnostics and Unilab hope to complete the exchange offer by January 31,
2003. However, there can be no assurance that the conditions to the transaction,
including receipt of FTC approval, will be satisfied by that time.
For additional information on the cash election exchange offer, Unilab
shareholders may contact Georgeson Shareholder Communications at 212-440-9800.
In addition, Merrill Lynch is the Dealer Manager for the exchange offer and may
be contacted toll free at 866-276-1462.
About Unilab
Unilab Corporation is the largest provider of clinical laboratory testing
services in California through its primary testing facilities in Los Angeles,
San Jose and Sacramento and over 400 patient service centers and rapid response
laboratories located throughout the state. Additional information is available
on the Company's website at: WWW.UNILAB.COM.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
testing, information and services, providing insights that enable physicians,
hospitals, managed care organizations and other healthcare professionals to make
decisions to improve health. The company offers the broadest access to
diagnostic laboratory services through its national network of laboratories and
patient service centers. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric
testing, including gene-based medical testing, and empowers healthcare
organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that
improve practice management. Additional company information can be found on the
Internet at: WWW.QUESTDIAGNOSTICS.COM.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements, which may include, but are not limited to,
statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and
businesses of Quest Diagnostics and Unilab and the benefits expected to result
from the contemplated transaction, are based on management's current
expectations and estimates and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual
results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences may include, but are
not limited to, the risk that the conditions relating to the required minimum
tender of Unilab shares or regulatory clearance might not be satisfied in a
timely manner or at all, risks relating to the integration of the technologies
and businesses of Quest Diagnostics and Unilab, unanticipated expenditures,
changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners,
conditions of the economy and other factors described in the most recent reports
on Form 10-Q, most recent reports on Form 10-K, and other periodic reports filed
by Quest Diagnostics and Unilab with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On May 15, 2002, Quest Diagnostics filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4,
as amended, and a Schedule TO, as amended, and Unilab filed a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, as amended, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the transaction. A
Prospectus, which is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4, the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, and related exchange
offer materials, including a letter of election and transmittal, has been mailed
to stockholders of Unilab. In addition, Quest Diagnostics has previously filed a
Statement on Schedule 13D, as amended, relating to its agreement with Kelso
Investment Associates VI, L.P. and KEP VI, LLC. Investors and stockholders of
Unilab are urged to read all of these documents carefully. These documents
contain important information about the transaction and should be read before
any decision is made with respect to the exchange offer. Investors and
stockholders are able to obtain free copies of these documents through the
website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
Free copies of these documents may also be obtained from Quest Diagnostics by
directing a request to Quest Diagnostics Incorporated at One Malcolm Avenue,
Teterboro, New Jersey, 07608, or from Unilab by directing a request to Unilab
Corporation at 18448 Oxnard Street, Tarzana, California, 91356.
In addition to the Registration Statement on Form S-4, Schedule TO, Prospectus,
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and related exchange
offer materials, both Quest Diagnostics and Unilab file annual, quarterly and
special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any reports, Statements or other
information filed by Quest Diagnostics or Unilab at the SEC public reference
room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549, or at any of the
Securities and Exchange Commission's other public reference rooms in New York,
New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Securities and Exchange
Commission at 800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference
rooms. Quest Diagnostics' and Unilab's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval
services and at the website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission
at www.sec.gov.
# # #