QUEST DIAGNOSTICS COMMENCES CONSENT SOLICITATION WITH
RESPECT TO ITS 10¾% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
TETERBORO, N.J., July 7, 2000
The purpose of the proposed amendments is to allow the company and certain of its
subsidiaries to enter into a receivables-backed financing transaction. Upon completion of
the financing, the company will use the proceeds from the financing to pay down debt under
its current bank credit facility, reducing its cost of funds.
The consent solicitation will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on July 20, 2000,
unless extended or terminated by the company. Except in certain circumstances, holders of
notes may not revoke their consents once consents from holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding notes are received by the company. The company
currently expects holders of approximately 42% of the aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding notes to consent to the proposed amendments. The company and the trustee under
the indenture will execute a supplemental indenture effecting the proposed amendments on
the closing date of the receivables financing transaction if (1) the requisite consents
are received and (2) other conditions as may be required by the trustee are satisfied.
In the event that the proposed amendments become effective, the company will make a
payment to each holder of notes whose properly completed and executed consent is received
prior to the expiration date and not revoked. The consent payment will be a cash payment
in an amount equal to 0.375% of the principal amount of the notes to which such consent
relates. The company will make the consent payment three business days after the later of
(1) the expiration date and (2) the closing date of the receivables financing transaction.
The closing of the receivables financing transaction may occur prior to the expiration
date but in any event is expected to occur no later than 15 days after the expiration
date. If the closing date of the receivables financing transaction does not occur on or
prior to September 30, 2000, the consent solicitation will be terminated and all consents
received will be voided.
Merrill Lynch & Co. will act as Solicitation Agent for the Consent Solicitation.
The Information Agent is Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. and the Depositary is
The Bank of New York. Persons with questions regarding the Consent Solicitation should
contact Merrill Lynch & Co., Liability Management Group, at either 888-ML4-TNDR or
212-449-4914.
Quest Diagnostics is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information
and services with annualized revenues of more than $3 billion. The testing performed on
human specimens helps doctors diagnose, treat and monitor disease; enables employers to
detect workplace drug abuse; and supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in
clinical trials of new therapeutics worldwide. Quest Informatics analyzes laboratory and
other medical data to help health care providers improve the care of patients. Additional
company information can be found on the Internet at: www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different. Certain
of these risks and uncertainties are listed in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 1999
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
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