Form 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x

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

 

    

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2007

OR

 

¨

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

 

    

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 1-12607

 

 

SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   31-0621189

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

900 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 1120, Atlanta, Georgia 30339

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(770) 933-7000

(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 filings requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  x

  

Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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

The number of Common Shares, without par value, outstanding as of February 13, 2008 was 7,514,784.

 

 

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2007
    June 30,
2007
 
ASSETS     

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,162     $ 814  

Receivables—net

     15,711       14,537  

Medical supplies

     2,793       2,826  

Deferred income tax asset

     5,425       4,672  

Prepaid expenses and other

     3,130       2,930  
                

Total Current Assets

     28,221       25,779  

Property, Plant and Equipment, at cost

     67,152       62,177  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     17,270       14,854  
                

Property, Plant and Equipment—net

     49,882       47,323  

Goodwill

     2,944       2,944  

Other assets

     1,335       1,797  
                

Total Assets

   $ 82,382     $ 77,843  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 9,070     $ 8,512  

Revolving advances

     7,999       4,700  

Third-party payor settlements

     3,988       3,668  

Current maturities of long-term debt

     808       875  

Accrued payroll and related taxes

     4,973       4,748  

Income taxes

     375       82  

Current liabilities of Mountainside Medical Center

     603       599  

Other accrued expenses

     3,087       3,471  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     30,903       26,655  

Long-Term Liabilities:

    

Long-term debt

     7,276       7,661  

Noncurrent liability for professional liability risks

     2,544       2,415  

Noncurrent deferred income tax liabilities

     2,886       2,927  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     2,163       2,161  
                

Total Long-term Liabilities

     14,869       15,164  

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred shares, authorized and unissued, 2,000 shares

    

Common shares, without par value:

    

Issued and outstanding, 7,515 shares at December 31, 2007 and 7,510 shares at June 30, 2007

     3,757       3,755  

Additional paid-in capital

     9,120       8,904  

Retained earnings

     24,295       23,941  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (562 )     (576 )
                

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     36,610       36,024  
                

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 82,382     $ 77,843  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net Revenues

   $ 36,969     $ 34,076     $ 75,205     $ 68,559  

Cost of Patient Service Revenues:

        

Salaries, wages and benefits

     17,589       17,382       35,414       35,093  

Provision for bad debts

     5,216       4,488       11,845       9,181  

Supplies

     3,745       4,040       7,525       7,789  

Purchased services

     2,472       2,239       5,023       4,403  

Other operating expenses

     5,425       4,510       9,856       7,863  

Rent and lease expense

     755       689       1,485       1,414  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,278       1,104       2,502       2,130  
                                

Cost of patient service revenues

     36,480       34,452       73,650       67,873  
                                

Operating Profit (Loss)

     489       (376 )     1,555       686  

Other Income (Expense):

        

Interest expense

     (436 )     (333 )     (846 )     (650 )

Interest income

     28       7       33       15  
                                

Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

     81       (702 )     742       51  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     30       (239 )     248       46  
                                

Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

     51       (463 )     494       5  

Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

     (84 )     (31 )     (134 )     51  
                                

Net Earnings (Loss)

   $ (33 )   $ (494 )   $ 360     $ 56  
                                

Earnings (Loss) Per Share:

        

Continuing Operations:

        

Basic

   $ 0.01     $ (0.06 )   $ 0.07     $ 0.00  
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.01     $ (0.06 )   $ 0.06     $ 0.00  
                                

Discontinued Operations:

        

Basic

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.00 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.01  
                                

Diluted

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.00 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.01  
                                

Net Earnings (Loss):

        

Basic

   $ (0.00 )   $ (0.07 )   $ 0.05     $ 0.01  
                                

Diluted

   $ (0.00 )     (0.07 )   $ 0.05       0.01  
                                

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:

        

Basic

     7,515       7,346       7,514       7,337  
                                

Diluted

     7,789       7,346       7,789       7,822  
                                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

   $ 2,818     $ 911  

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

    

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (5,329 )     (2,610 )
                

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (5,329 )     (2,610 )

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of common shares under stock option plans

     13       72  

Revolving advances, net

     3,299       1,900  

Payments on long-term debt

     (453 )     (467 )
                

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

     2,859       1,505  
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     348       (194 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     814       1,084  
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 1,162     $ 890  
                

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

    

Cash Paid For:

    

Interest

   $ 839     $ 644  
                

Income taxes

   $ 597     $ 777  
                

Non-cash investing and financing activities :

    

Property, plant and equipment acquired but not paid

   $ 1,028     $ 1,742  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 AND 2006

(all dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

Note 1. – Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, as such, do not include all information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the SunLink Health Systems, Inc. (“SunLink”, “we”, “our”, “ours”, “us” or the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on September 25, 2007. In the opinion of management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which are unaudited, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the periods indicated. The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other interim period.

Note 2. – Business Operations and Corporate Strategy

SunLink is a provider of healthcare services, currently through the operation of exurban and rural community hospitals in the United States. In February 2001, SunLink acquired its initial six hospitals and began healthcare operations. On October 3, 2002, SunLink acquired two additional hospitals pursuant to its acquisition of HealthMont, Inc. (“HealthMont”). On June 1, 2004, SunLink sold its Mountainside Medical Center (“Mountainside”) facility, a 35-bed hospital located in Jasper, Georgia. Through its subsidiaries, SunLink operates a total of seven community hospitals in four states. Six of the hospitals are owned and one is leased. SunLink also operates certain related businesses, consisting primarily of nursing homes located adjacent to, or in close proximity with, certain of its hospitals, and home health agencies servicing areas around its hospitals. Our existing healthcare operations comprise a single business segment: community hospitals. SunLink currently does not have operations in other healthcare or non-healthcare business segments. SunLink’s hospitals are acute care hospitals and have a total of 402 licensed beds.

SunLink’s business strategy is to focus its efforts on internal growth of its seven hospitals supplemented by growth from selected rural healthcare acquisitions, including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care businesses. During the three months ended December 31, 2007, SunLink concentrated its efforts on the operations and improvement of its existing hospitals. During the current fiscal year, SunLink has evaluated certain rural hospitals and healthcare businesses (home care and nursing homes) which were for sale and monitored other selected healthcare acquisition targets which SunLink believes might become available for sale. SunLink continues to engage in similar evaluation and monitoring activities with respect to rural hospitals and healthcare businesses (home care and nursing homes) which are or may become available for acquisition.

On November 8, 2007, SunLink announced that it received an unsolicited conditional acquisition proposal from Resurgence Health Group, LLC. which purports to offer a cash price of $7.50 per share for substantially all the outstanding shares of SunLink, subject to a number of conditions.

 

5


On January 16, 2008, SunLink announced that it has retained Stephens Inc. for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors of SunLink in connection with an evaluation of the Company’s strategic alternatives, including, among others, (i) the proposal by Resurgence Health Group, LLC to acquire SunLink for $7.50 per share in cash and (ii) whether it would be in the best interest of SunLink, its shareholders and other applicable constituencies to remain an independent public company and continue to pursue SunLink’s existing business plan.

Note 3. – Discontinued Operations

All of the businesses discussed below are reported as discontinued operations and the condensed consolidated financial statements for all prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this presentation.

Results for all of the businesses included in discontinued operations are presented in the following table:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Earnings (Loss) from discontinued operations:

        

Housewares Segment:

        

Loss from operations

   $ (109 )   $ —       $ (137 )   $ —    

Income tax (benefit)

     (43 )     —         (54 )     —    
                                

Loss from Housewares Segment after taxes

     (66 )     —         (83 )     —    
                                

Mountainside Medical Center:

        

Earnings (Loss) from operations

     (19 )     (57 )     (59 )     90  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (8 )     (41 )     (23 )     15  
                                

Earnings (Loss) from Mountainside

        

Medical Center after taxes

     (11 )     (16 )     (36 )     75  
                                

Life sciences and engineering segment:

        

Loss from operations

     (12 )     (14 )     (25 )     (28 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (5 )     1       (10 )     (4 )
                                

Loss from Life sciences and segment after taxes

     (7 )     (15 )     (15 )     (24 )
                                

Earnings (Loss) from discontinued operations

   $ (84 )   $ (31 )   $ (134 )   $ 51  
                                

Housewares Segment – Beldray Limited (“Beldray”), SunLink’s U.K. housewares manufacturing subsidiary, was sold on October 5, 2001 to two of its managers for nominal consideration. KRUG International U.K. Ltd. (“KRUG UK”), an inactive U.K. subsidiary of SunLink, entered into a guarantee (“the Beldray Guarantee”), at a time when it owned Beldray. The Beldray Guarantee covers Beldray’s obligations under a lease of a portion of Beldray’s former manufacturing location. In October 2004, KRUG UK received correspondence from the landlord of such facility stating that the rent payment of 94,000 British pounds ($181) for the fourth quarter of 2004 had not been paid by Beldray and requesting payment of such amount pursuant to the Beldray Guarantee. In January 2005, KRUG UK received further correspondence from the landlord demanding two quarterly rent payments totaling 188,000 British pounds ($362) under the Beldray Guarantee. In January 2005, the landlord filed a petition in the High Court of Justice Chancery Division to wind up KRUG UK under the provisions of the Insolvency Act of 1986 and KRUG UK was placed into involuntary liquidation by the High Court in February 2005. After that date, the court-appointed liquidator of KRUG UK has made certain inquiries to SunLink regarding the activities of KRUG UK prior to the liquidation to which SunLink responded.

 

6


On August 6, 2007, the liquidator of KRUG UK made an application in the Birmingham County Court in Birmingham, England, in which the liquidator is seeking a declaration by the court that a transfer of certain funds in 2001 from KRUG UK to SunLink in connection with the purchase of certain preferred stock of another subsidiary of SunLink and the making of a loan to SunLink, and certain forgiveness of debt to SunLink by KRUG UK was improper, among other things, as KRUG UK was then effectively insolvent and that the approval of such transfers by the then directors of KRUG UK resulted in a breach of their fiduciary duties. The liquidator seeks to have the court order the former directors or, in the alternative, the Company, to account for, repay or restore such funds plus interest to the liquidator of KRUG UK. On December 4, 2007, the case went to mediation and the mediation was adjourned pending the liquidator’s investigations into the circumstances surrounding items raised by both parties. In connection with the allegations in the application of breach of fiduciary duty by the directors of KRUG UK in approving such transfer of funds, SunLink has indemnification obligations to the former directors of KRUG UK. SunLink denies any liability to KRUG UK other than to it in its status as a preferred stockholder and for the unpaid balance on the promissory note. SunLink, through its United Kingdom counsel, intends to vigorously defend against the liquidator’s claims. See the “Legal Proceedings” subsection in Note 10 “Commitments and Contingencies” which follows for additional disclosure of the application.

SunLink’s non-current liability reserves for discontinued operations at December 31, 2007, included a reserve for a portion of the Beldray Guarantee, which would include certain amounts sought pursuant to the application made by the liquidator of KRUG UK. Such reserve was based upon management’s estimate, after consultation with its property consultants and legal counsel, of the cost to satisfy the Beldray Guarantee in light of KRUG UK’s limited assets and before taking into account any other claims against KRUG UK. The maximum potential obligation of KRUG UK for rent under the Beldray Guarantee is estimated to be approximately $8,400. SunLink expensed $109 in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and $137 in the six months ended December 31, 2007 on legal costs to defend against the claim. As a result of this claim and the U.K. liquidation proceedings against KRUG UK, SunLink expects KRUG UK to be wound-up in liquidation in the UK and has fully reserved for any assets of KRUG UK.

Mountainside Medical Center – On June 1, 2004, SunLink completed the sale of its Mountainside Medical Center (“Mountainside”) hospital in Jasper, Georgia, for approximately $40,000 pursuant to the terms of an asset sale agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, SunLink sold the operations of Mountainside, which included substantially all the property, plant and equipment and the supplies inventory. SunLink retained Mountainside’s working capital except for supplies inventory. The retained liabilities of Mountainside are shown in current liabilities of Mountainside Medical Center on the consolidated balance sheet. The pre-tax losses in the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 with respect to the former Mountainside operations resulted primarily from legal expenses related to a claim made by the buyer of Mountainside and a counterclaim made by SunLink. See the “Legal Proceedings” subsection in Note 10 “Commitments and Contingencies” which follows for additional disclosure of the claims.

 

7


Life Sciences and Engineering Segment – SunLink retained a defined benefit retirement plan which covered substantially all of the employees of this segment when it was sold in fiscal 1998. Effective February 28, 1997, the plan was amended to freeze participant benefits and close the plan to new participants. Included in discontinued operations for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were the following:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Service cost

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Interest cost

     18       19       36       38  

Expected return on assets

     (14 )     (12 )     (27 )     (24 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     8       7       16       14  
                                

Net pension expense

   $ 12     $ 14     $ 25     $ 28  
                                

SunLink did not contribute to the plan in the six months ended December 31, 2007. We expect to make no contribution to the plan through the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

Industrial Segment – In fiscal 1989, SunLink discontinued the operations of its industrial segment and subsequently disposed of substantially all related net assets. However, obligations may remain relating to product liability claims for products sold prior to the disposal.

Discontinued Operations Reserves Over the past 18 years SunLink has discontinued operations carried on by its former Mountainside Medical Center and its former industrial, U.K. leisure marine, life sciences and engineering, and European child safety segments, as well as the U.K. housewares segment. SunLink’s reserves relating to discontinued operations of these segments represent management’s best estimate of SunLink’s possible liability for property, product liability and other claims for which SunLink may incur liability. These estimates are based on management’s judgments, using currently available information, as well as, in certain instances, consultation with its insurance carriers, third party advisors and legal counsel. While estimates have been based on the evaluation of available information, it is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of many contingencies relating to discontinued operations. SunLink intends to continue to adjust its estimates of the reserves as additional information is developed and evaluated. However, management believes that the final resolution of these contingencies will not have a material adverse impact on the financial position, cash flows or results of operations of SunLink.

Note 4. – Stock-Based Compensation

SunLink adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, effective July 1, 2005. SFAS No. 123 (R) establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. It also addresses transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or services that are based on the fair value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. This Statement focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions such as share options. The effect of adoption of this standard by the Company for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was an increase of $103 and $86, respectively, in salaries, wages and benefit expense for share options issued to employees and directors of the Company and for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was an increase of $206 and $225 respectively, in salaries, wages and benefit expense for share options issued to employees and directors of the Company. The fair value of the share options granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

8


Note 5. – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments —an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140,” which simplifies accounting for certain hybrid financial instruments by permitting fair value remeasurement for any hybrid instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation and eliminates a restriction on the passive derivative instruments that a qualifying special-purpose entity may hold. SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired, issued or subject to a remeasurement (new basis) event occurring after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 at the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. There was no effect on the consolidated statement of earnings from the adoption of this statement.

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,” which establishes, among other things, the accounting for all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities by requiring that all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities be initially measured at fair value, if practicable, and permits the entity to choose either the amortization method or fair value method for subsequent measurement. SFAS No. 156 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company adopted SFAS No. 156 at the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. There was no effect on the consolidated statement of earnings from the adoption of this statement.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”, which establishes that the financial statement effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are to be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. This Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

The Company adopted the provisions of “FIN 48” on July 1, 2007. It requires that a change in judgment related to prior years’ tax positions be recognized in the quarter of such change. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $58 which was accounted for as the creation of a deferred tax asset as of July 1, 2007. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

Balance at July 1, 2007

   $ 58

Additions based on tax positions related to current year

     4

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Settlements

     —  
      

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 62
      

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is not subject to any current U.S. federal, state or local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for any tax years. We therefore believe that there is no tax jurisdiction in which the outcome of unresolved issues or claims is likely to be material to our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties.

 

9


At July 1, 2007, our unrecognized tax benefits, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements as shown above, amounted to $58. This amount increased during the six months ended December 31, 2007 to $62. If recognized, all of our unrecognized tax benefits would not reduce our income tax expense or effective tax rate except as such recognition related to the removal of the liability associated with interest classified as income tax expense. During 2008, certain factors could potentially reduce our unrecognized tax benefits, either because of the expiration of open statutes of limitation or modifications to our intercompany accounting policies and procedures. Of these tax positions, none relate to positions that would affect our total tax provision or effective tax rate (except as such recognition related to the removal of the liability associated with interest classified as income tax expense).

We classify interest on tax deficiencies as tax expense and also classify income tax penalties as tax expense. At July 1, 2007, before any tax benefits, our accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits amounted to $6 and we had recorded no related accrued penalties. The amount of accrued interest increased by $2 during the six months ended December 31, 2007 to $8.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 157 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 159 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations”, which is intended to improve, simplify, and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations and the reporting of noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements. Under SFAS No. 141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141R includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company will comply with the new SFAS No. 141R requirements for any future business combination transactions.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – An Amendment of ARB No. 51”, which establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is intended to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial information provided to investors by requiring all entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way as equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 160 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

10


Note 6. – Receivables- net

Summary information for receivables is as follows:

 

     December 31,
2007
    June 30,
2007
 

Patient accounts receivable (net of contractual allowances)

   $ 27,706     $ 24,734  

Less allowance for doubtful accounts

     (11,995 )     (10,197 )
                

Receivables—net

   $ 15,711     $ 14,537  
                

Net revenues included an increase of $249 and a reduction of $252 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for the settlements and filings of prior year Medicare and Medicaid cost reports. Net revenues included an increase of $324 and a reduction of $207 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for the settlements and filings of prior year Medicare and Medicaid cost reports.

Note 7. – Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2007
    June 30,
2007
 

SunLink Term Loan A

   $ 7,889     $ 8,222  

Capital lease obligations

     195       314  
                
     8,084       8,536  

Less current maturities

     (808 )     (875 )
                
   $ 7,276     $ 7,661  
                

SunLink Credit Facility – On October 15, 2004, SunLink entered into a $30,000 five-year senior secured credit facility comprised of a revolving line of credit of up to $15,000 with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 2.91% (8.15% at December 31, 2007), a $10,000 term loan (“SunLink Term Loan A”) with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 3.91% (9.15% at December 31, 2007) and a $5,000 term loan facility (“SunLink Term Loan B”) with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 3.91%. The revolving line of credit and the SunLink Term Loan A were immediately available to the Company as of October 15, 2004. The SunLink Term Loan A was fully drawn on October 15, 2004. The SunLink Term Loan B closed on November 15, 2004. The $10,000 SunLink Term Loan A and draws under the $5,000 SunLink Term Loan B are repayable based on a 15-year amortization from the date of draw with final balloon payments due at the end of the five-year maturity of the credit facility. The total availability under all components of the credit facility is keyed to the level of SunLink’s earnings, which would have provided for current total borrowing capacity at December 31, 2007 of approximately $27,889. Debt outstanding under the facility as of December 31, 2007 was the SunLink Term Loan A of $7,889 and $7,999 of the revolving line of credit. SunLink may use the remaining funds available from the revolving line of credit for hospital capital projects, equipment purchases and for working capital needs. Borrowing under the $5,000 SunLink Term Loan B may be used, subject to satisfaction of certain covenants, to satisfy certain specified claims and obligations, to fund acquisitions or to reacquire the Company’s securities. The credit facility is secured by a first priority security interest in all assets and properties, real and personal, of the Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries, including a pledge of all of the equity interests in such subsidiaries.

 

11


Note 8. – Income Taxes

Income tax expense of $30 ($27 federal tax expense and $3 state tax expense) and income tax benefits of $239 ($240 federal tax benefit and $1 state tax expense) was recorded for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $27 federal tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2007 included $75 deferred income tax benefit. The $240 federal tax benefit for the three months ended December 31, 2006 included $184 deferred income tax benefit. Income tax expense of $248 ($222 federal tax expense and $26 state tax expense) and $46 ($30 federal tax expense and $16 state tax expense) was recorded for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $222 federal tax expense for the six months ended December 31, 2007 included $732 deferred income tax benefit. We had an estimated net operating loss carry-forward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $6,900 at December 31, 2007. Use of this net operating loss carry-forward is subject to the limitations of the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382. As a result, not all of the net operating loss carry-forward is available to offset federal taxable income in the current year. At December 31, 2007, we have provided a partial valuation allowance against the domestic deferred tax asset so that the net domestic tax asset was $2,539. Based upon management’s assessment that it was more likely than not that a portion of its domestic deferred tax asset (primarily its domestic net operating losses subject to limitation) would not be recovered, the Company established a valuation allowance for the portion of the domestic tax asset which may not be utilized. The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the entire amount of the foreign tax asset as it is more likely than not that none of the foreign deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income or implementation of tax planning strategies.

 

12


Note 9. – Comprehensive Earnings

Comprehensive earnings for SunLink include foreign currency translation adjustments and change in minimum pension liability. The foreign currency translation adjustment results primarily from the effect of changes in the exchange rates of the UK pound on the Company’s reserve for the Beldray Guarantee (See Note 3. “Discontinued Operations”).

Total comprehensive earnings for the following periods were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006
 

Net earnings (loss):

   $ (33 )   $ (494 )   $ 360    $ 56  

Other comprehensive income net of tax:

         

Change in equity due to :

         

Foreign currency Translation adjustments

     42       (63 )     14      (60 )
                               

Comprehensive earnings (loss)

   $ 9     $ (557 )   $ 374    $ (4 )
                               

Note 10. – Commitments and Contingencies

On July 13, 2006, Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. (“PHI”) and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Inc. (“PMH”) (collectively the “Plaintiffs” or “Piedmont”) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, alleging breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of April 9, 2004 by and among PMH, Piedmont Medical Center, Inc. (n/k/a PMI), Southern Health Corporation of Jasper, Inc. (“SHCJ”), SunLink Healthcare LLC (formerly SunLink Healthcare Corp.) and SunLink (collectively “Defendants” or “SunLink”) pursuant to which the Mountainside Medical Center was sold to PMH in June 2004. Specifically, Piedmont seeks to have SunLink reimburse Piedmont for certain costs associated with an alleged indigent and charity care shortfall of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (formerly Mountainside Medical Center) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 demanded by the Georgia Department of Community Health (“DCH”). In addition, Piedmont seeks reimbursement for funds allegedly recouped from Piedmont by DCH in respect of Medicaid Cost Report settlements and adjustments for the reporting periods ended June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003 and May 31, 2004. Piedmont also seeks a declaratory judgment to the effect that Piedmont may retain certain payments it has received from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals. Piedmont also seeks recovery of costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia Law.

On August 11, 2006, SunLink filed an answer to the complaint asserting factual and legal defenses, along with a counterclaim. In the counterclaim, SunLink alleges that Piedmont breached the Agreement by failing to reimburse SHCJ for funds paid to Piedmont from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals, which payments Defendants contend qualify as “excluded assets” not sold to Piedmont under the Agreement.

 

13


SunLink further alleged that PHI breached its obligations to guarantee PMH’s payment and performance of its obligations under the Agreement. SunLink seeks a declaratory judgment regarding the parties’ rights in respect of the payment made under the Indigent Care Trust Fund. Finally, SunLink seeks to recover their costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia law.

SunLink denies that it has any liability to the Plaintiffs and intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted against SunLink in connection with the complaint. While the ultimate outcome and materiality of the litigation cannot be determined, in management’s opinion the litigation will not have a material adverse effect on SunLink’s financial condition or results of operations.

As discussed in Note 3. – “Discontinued Operations”, SunLink sold its former U.K. housewares manufacturing subsidiary, Beldray Limited (“Beldray”), to two of its managers in October 2001. Beldray has since entered into administrative receivership and is under the administration of its primary lender. SunLink believes Beldray ceased to operate in October 2004.

On August 6, 2007, the liquidator of KRUG UK made an application in the Birmingham County Court in Birmingham, England, in which the liquidator is seeking a declaration by the court that a transfer of certain funds in 2001 from KRUG UK to SunLink in connection with the purchase of certain preferred stock of another subsidiary of SunLink and the making of a loan to SunLink, and certain forgiveness of debt to SunLink by KRUG UK was improper as, among other things, KRUG UK was then effectively insolvent and that the approval of such transfers by the then directors of KRUG UK resulted in a breach of their fiduciary duties. The liquidator seeks to have the court order the former directors or, in the alternative, the Company, to account for, repay or restore such funds plus interest to the liquidator of KRUG UK. On December 4, 2007, the case went to mediation and the mediation was adjourned pending the liquidator’s investigations into the circumstances surrounding items raised by both parties. In connection with the allegations in the application of breach of fiduciary duty by the directors of KRUG UK in approving such transfer of funds, SunLink has indemnification obligations to the former directors of KRUG UK. SunLink denies any liability to KRUG UK other than to it in its status as a preferred stockholder and for the unpaid balance on the promissory note. SunLink, through its United Kingdom counsel, intends to vigorously defend against the liquidator’s claims.

SunLink’s non-current liability reserves for discontinued operations at December 31, 2007, included a reserve for a portion of the Beldray Guarantee, which would be sought pursuant to the application made by the liquidator of KRUG UK. Such reserve was based upon management’s estimate, after consultation with its property consultants and legal counsel, of the cost to satisfy the Beldray Guarantee in light of KRUG UK’s limited assets and before taking into account any other claims against KRUG UK. The maximum potential obligation of KRUG UK for rent under the Beldray Guarantee is estimated to be approximately $8,400. SunLink expensed $109 in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and $137 in the six months ended December 31, 2007 on legal costs to defend against the claim. As a result of this claim and the U.K. liquidation proceedings against KRUG UK, SunLink expects KRUG UK to be wound-up in liquidation in the UK and has fully reserved for any assets of KRUG UK.

Additional contingent obligations, other than with respect to our existing operations, include potential product liability claims for products manufactured and sold before the disposal of our discontinued industrial segment in fiscal year 1989 and for guarantees of certain obligations of former subsidiaries. We have provided an accrual at December 31, 2007 related to the Beldray Lease Guarantee, as discussed above. Based upon an evaluation of information currently available and consultation with legal counsel, management has not reserved any amounts for contingencies related to these liquidations.

 

14


SunLink is a party to claims and litigation incidental to its business, for which it is not currently possible to determine the ultimate liability, if any. Based on an evaluation of information currently available and consultation with legal counsel, management believes that resolution of such claims and litigation is not likely to have a material effect on the financial position, cash flows, or results of operations of the Company. The Company expenses legal costs as they are incurred.

Other

As of December 31, 2007, SunLink had approximately $1,028 in accounts payable for capital expenditures accepted prior to the quarter end. The Company is completing a major renovation project at our Dahlonega, Georgia, facility which has an estimated cost of approximately $7,900, of which approximately $7,150 of cost has been paid or accrued to date and of which approximately $750 in additional costs will be paid or accrued by the end of the current fiscal year. In August 2007, the Company received final approval of a Certificate of Need application with the State of Georgia to build a replacement hospital in Ellijay, Georgia. To date, SunLink has made no commitments related to the replacement hospital. However, SunLink exercised its option to purchase land, the seller failed to close and SunLink and the seller of the land are currently in litigation and the outcome is uncertain. Cost for such property is approximately $3,300. Except for the Dahlonega, Georgia major renovation and the Ellijay, Georgia land purchase, there are no other material future commitments for capital expenditures.

SunLink’s strategy is to focus its efforts on internal growth of its seven hospitals supplemented by growth from selected acquisitions. Subject to the availability of debt and/or equity capital, SunLink’s internal growth may include replacement or expansion of its existing hospitals involving substantial capital expenditures, as well as the expenditure of significant amounts of capital for selected hospital acquisitions.

Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingencies

Contractual obligations, commitments and contingencies related to long-term debt, non-cancelable operating leases, physician guarantees and interest on outstanding debt from continuing operations at December 31, 2007 were as follows:

 

     Long-Term
Debt
   Operating
Leases
   Physician
Guarantees
   Interest on
Outstanding Debt

Payments due in:

           

1 year

   $ 808    $ 2,342    $ 147    $ 731

2 years

     7,276      1,925      —        506

3 years

     —        1,328      —        —  

4 years

     —        669      —        —  

5 years

     —        338      —        —  

More than 5 years

     —        1,520      —        —  
                           
   $ 8,084    $ 8,122    $ 147    $ 1,237
                           

 

15


At December 31 2007, SunLink had a contract with one physician which contained guaranteed minimum gross receipts. A physician with whom a guarantee agreement is made generally agrees to maintain his/her practice within the hospital geographic area for a specific period (normally three years) or be liable to repay all or a portion of the guarantee received. The physician’s liability for any guarantee repayment due to non-compliance with guarantee provisions generally is collateralized by the physician’s patient accounts receivable and/or a promissory note from the physician. Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007 is a liability of $53 for one physician guarantee accounted for under the provisions of FSP FIN 45-3. SunLink expensed $169 and $302 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and expensed $316 and $647 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The table above shows noncancelable commitments under physician guarantee contracts as of December 31, 2007.

Note 11. – Related Party Transactions

A director of the Company and our company secretary (who was a director of SunLink until November 2003 and is now a director emeritus) are members of two different law firms, each of which provides services to SunLink. The Company has paid to these firms an aggregate of $242 and $111 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $439 and $240 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively for such services.

 

16


ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share and admissions data)

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report and the documents that are incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan” or “continue.” These forward-looking statements are based on current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors which could significantly affect current plans and expectations and our future financial condition and results. These factors, which could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those anticipated, include, but are not limited to:

General Business Conditions

 

 

 

general economic and business conditions in the U.S., both nationwide and in the states in which we operate hospitals;

 

 

 

the competitive nature of the U.S. community hospital business;

 

 

 

demographic changes in areas where we operate hospitals;

 

 

 

the availability of cash or borrowings to fund working capital, renovations, replacement, expansion and capital improvements at existing hospital facilities and for acquisitions and replacement hospital facilities;

 

 

 

changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.; and,

 

 

 

fluctuations in the market value of equity securities including SunLink common shares;

Operational Factors

 

 

 

the availability of, and our ability to attract and retain, sufficient qualified staff physicians, management, nurses and staff personnel for our hospital operations;

 

 

 

timeliness and amount of reimbursement payments received under government programs;

 

 

 

restrictions imposed by debt agreements;

 

 

 

the cost and availability of insurance coverage including professional liability (e.g., medical malpractice) and general liability insurance;

 

 

 

the efforts of insurers, healthcare providers, and others to contain healthcare costs;

 

 

 

the impact on hospital services of the treatment of patients in lower acuity healthcare settings, whether with drug therapy or via alternative healthcare services, such as surgery centers or urgent care centers;

 

 

 

changes in medical and other technology;

 

 

 

risks of changes in estimates of self insurance claims and reserves;

 

 

 

increases in prices of materials and services utilized in our hospital operations;

 

 

 

increases in wages as a result of inflation or competition for management, physician, nursing and staff positions;

 

 

 

increases in the amount and risk of collectibility of accounts receivable, including deductibles and co-pay amounts; and,

 

 

 

the functionality or costs with respect to our management information system for our hospitals, including both software and hardware;

 

17


Liabilities, Claims, Obligations and Other Matters

 

 

 

claims under leases, guarantees and other obligations relating to discontinued operations, including sold facilities, retained or acquired subsidiaries and former subsidiaries;

 

 

 

potential adverse consequences of known and unknown government investigations;

 

 

 

claims for product and environmental liabilities from continuing and discontinued operations; and,

 

 

 

professional, general and other claims which may be asserted against us;

Regulation and Governmental Activity

 

 

 

existing and proposed governmental budgetary constraints;

 

 

 

the regulatory environment for our businesses, including state certificate of need laws and regulations, rules and judicial cases relating thereto;

 

 

 

anticipated adverse changes in the levels and terms of government (including Medicare, Medicaid and other programs) and private reimbursement for SunLink’s healthcare services including the payment arrangements and terms of managed care agreements;

 

 

 

changes in or failure to comply with Federal, state or local laws and regulations affecting the healthcare industry; and,

 

 

 

the possible enactment of Federal healthcare reform laws or reform laws in states where we operate hospital facilities (including Medicaid waivers and other reforms);

Acquisition Related Matters

 

 

 

the availability and terms of capital to fund additional acquisitions or replacement facilities;

 

 

 

our ability to integrate acquired healthcare businesses and implement our business strategy; and,

 

 

 

competition in the market for acquisitions of hospitals and healthcare businesses.

As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of SunLink. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Form 10-Q. We have not undertaken any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Corporate Business Strategy

Our business strategy focuses on the acquisition and operation of healthcare businesses, historically since 2001 in the United States. On February 1, 2001, SunLink purchased five community hospitals, leasehold rights for a sixth existing hospital and the related businesses of all six hospitals for approximately $26,500. In October 2003, we acquired two additional hospitals through our acquisition of HealthMont, Inc. In June 2004, we sold our Mountainside Medical Center, a 35-bed hospital located in Jasper, GA for approximately $40,000. Through our subsidiaries, we currently operate a total of seven community hospitals and related businesses, primarily nursing homes and home health agencies in four states. Currently six of the hospitals are owned and one is leased.

 

18


Our primary operational strategy is to improve the profitability of our hospitals by reducing out-migration of patients, recruiting physicians, expanding services and implementing and maintaining effective cost controls. Our efforts are focused on internal growth. However, we actively seek to supplement internal growth through selected healthcare acquisitions. Our primary acquisition strategy is to selectively acquire community hospitals with net revenues of approximately $10,000 or more which are (1) the sole or primary hospital in market areas with a population of greater than 15,000 or (2) a principal healthcare provider with substantial market share in communities with a population of 50,000 to 150,000 and to acquire nursing homes and home care businesses which are rural or complementary to our existing business. We believe all of our seven existing hospitals meet at least one of the two market area criteria. The Company considers recent prices paid by others for certain hospital acquisitions to be higher than we would pay but believes there may be opportunities for acquisitions of hospitals and other rural healthcare businesses in the future due to, among other things, negative trends in certain government reimbursement programs and other factors. From time to time we may consider hospitals for disposition if we determine their operating results or potential growth no longer meet our strategic objectives. Likewise, from time to time we may consider the acquisition of complementary healthcare businesses which are or may become available for acquisition.

On November 8, 2007, SunLink announced that it received an unsolicited conditional acquisition proposal from Resurgence Health Group, LLC which purports to offer a cash price of $7.50 per share for substantially all the outstanding shares of SunLink, subject to a number of conditions. On January 16, 2008, SunLink announced that it has retained Stephens Inc. for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors of SunLink in connection with an evaluation of the Company’s strategic alternatives, including, among others, (i) the proposal by Resurgence Health Group, LLC to acquire SunLink for $7.50 per share in cash and (ii) whether it would be in the best interest of SunLink, its shareholders and other applicable constituencies to remain an independent public company and continue to pursue SunLink’s existing business plan.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if:

 

 

 

it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and

 

 

 

changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been made could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Our critical accounting estimates are more fully described in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and continue to include the following areas:

 

 

 

Receivables – net and provision for doubtful accounts;

 

 

 

Revenue recognition / Net Patient Service Revenues;

 

 

 

Goodwill and accounting for business combinations;

 

 

 

Professional and general liability claims; and

 

 

 

Accounting for income taxes.

 

19


Financial Summary

The results of continuing operations shown in the financial summary below are for our sole business segment, U.S. community hospitals, which is composed of five SunLink facilities acquired February 1, 2001 (“SHL Facilities”) and two HealthMont facilities acquired October 3, 2003 (“HealthMont Facilities”).

 

     THREE MONTHS ENDED
December 31,
    SIX MONTHS ENDED
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     % Change     2007      2006      % Change  

Net revenues

   $ 36,969     $ 34,076     8.5 %   $ 75,205      $ 68,559      9.7 %

Cost of patient service revenues

     (36,480 )     (34,452 )   5.9 %     (73,650 )      (67,873 )    8.5 %
                                              

Operating profit (loss)

     489       (376 )   N/A       1,555        686      126.7 %

Interest expense

     (436 )     (333 )   30.9 %     (846 )      (650 )    30.2 %

Interest income

     28       7     300 %     33        15      120.0 %
                                              

Earnings (Loss) from Continuing
Operations before Income Taxes

   $ 81     $ (702 )   N/A     $ 742      $ 51      1,354.9 %
                                              

Admissions

     2,142       2,435     (12.0 %)     4,314        4,809      (10.3 %)
                                              

Equivalent Admissions

     6,114       6,487     (5.7 %)     12,782        13,155      (2.8 %)
                                              

Surgeries

     1,131       1,161     (2.6 %)     2,276        2,388      (4.7 %)
                                              

Revenue per Equivalent Admission

   $ 6,047     $ 5,253     15.1 %   $ 5,884      $ 5,212      12.9 %
                                              

Equivalent admissions – Equivalent admissions is used by management (and certain investors) as a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. Equivalent admissions are computed by multiplying admissions (inpatient volume) by the sum of gross inpatient revenues and gross outpatient revenues and dividing the result by gross inpatient revenues. The equivalent admissions computation is intended to relate outpatient revenues to the volume measure (admissions) used to measure inpatient volume to result in a general approximation of combined inpatient and outpatient volume (equivalent admissions).

Results of Operations

Net revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 were $36,969 with a total of 6,114 equivalent admissions and revenue per equivalent admission of $6,047 compared to net revenues of $34,076, a total of 6,487 equivalent admissions and revenue per equivalent admission of $5,253 for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The 8.5% increase in net revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 was primarily due to increased self pay and commercial and other revenues, increases in fees charged for services at most facilities, and a 15.1% increase in net revenues per equivalent admission. Self-pay revenues increased due to fewer patients having insurance and increased deductibles and co-insurance for insured patients. Self-pay revenues increased 12.1% in the current year’s quarter. Net outpatient service revenues increased by $2,675, a 17.2% increase from last year to $18,189 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and increased to 49.2% of net revenues from 45.5% last year. Net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, included net revenues of $363 and $406, respectively, from state indigent care programs. Net revenues included an increase of $249 and a reduction of $252 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for the settlements and filings of prior year Medicare and Medicaid cost reports.

 

20


Net revenues for the six months ended December 31, 2007 were $75,205 with a total of 12,782 equivalent admissions and revenue per equivalent admission of $5,884 compared to net revenues of $68,559, a total of 13,155 equivalent admissions and revenue per equivalent admission of $5,212 for the six months ended December 31, 2006. The 9.7% increase in net revenues for the six months ended December 31, 2007 was primarily due to increased self pay revenues, increases in fees charged for services at most facilities, and a 12.9% increase in net revenues per equivalent admission. Self-pay revenues increased due to fewer patients having insurance and increased deductibles and co-insurance for insured patients. Net outpatient service revenues increased by $5,513, a 16.9% increase from last year to $38,111 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and increased to 50.7% of net revenues from 47.6% last year. Net revenue for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, included net revenues of $624 and $813, respectively, from state indigent care programs. Net revenues included an increase of $324 and a reduction of $207 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for the settlements and filings of prior year Medicare and Medicaid cost reports.

The following table sets forth the percentage of net patient revenues from major payor sources for the Company’s hospitals during the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007      2006     2007     2006  

Source

         

Medicare

   40.4 %    41.5 %   39.8 %   39.4 %

Medicaid

   14.9 %    16.6 %   14.4 %   15.4 %

Self pay

   12.4 %    12.0 %   14.1 %   12.5 %

Commercial Insurance & Other

   32.3 %    29.9 %   31.7 %   32.7 %
                         
   100.0 %    100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                         

During the three and six months ended December 31, 2007, we have experienced a decrease in Medicaid as a percentage of net revenues and an increase in self pay net revenues as compared to the same period last year. During the three months ended December 31, 2007, we have experienced an increase in commercial and other revenue as a percentage of net revenues compared to the same period last year. In absolute dollars, Medicare net revenues increased in the three months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the prior year, but the increases were at lower rates than the overall 8.5% increase in net revenues.

Self-pay net revenues increased approximately 12.1% in the quarter ended December 31, 2007 and 23.7% for the six months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the prior year’s comparable periods. The increase in self-pay revenues is partially due to due to fewer patients having insurance and increased deductibles and co-insurance for insured patients.

Recruitment of new doctors and spending for capital improvements have contributed to the increase in net revenues. We added seven net new doctors during the year ended June 30, 2007 and seven net new doctors during the six months ended December 31, 2007. During the six months ended December 31, 2007, SunLink expensed $316 on physician guarantees and recruiting expenses compared to $647 for the same period last year. We also have expended approximately $14,366 for capital expenditures to upgrade services and facilities since July 1, 2006. We believe the recent and ongoing upgrades to our services and facilities and the new doctors contributed to the increase in net revenues for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the same periods of the prior year. We continue to seek increased patient volume by attracting additional physicians to our hospitals, further upgrading the services offered by the hospitals and improving the hospitals’ physical facilities.

 

21


Cost of patient service revenues, including depreciation, was $36,480 and $34,452 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $73,650 and $67,873 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

     Cost of Patient Service Revenues
As % of Net Revenues
 
     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007      2006     2007     2006  

Salaries, wages and benefits

   47.6 %    51.0 %   47.1 %   51.2 %

Provision for bad debts

   14.1 %    13.2 %   15.8 %   13.4 %

Supplies

   10.1 %    11.9 %   10.0 %   11.4 %

Purchased services

   6.7 %    6.6 %   6.7 %   6.4 %

Other operating expenses

   14.7 %    13.2 %   13.1 %   11.5 %

Rent and lease expense

   2.0 %    2.0 %   2.0 %   2.1 %

Salaries, wages and benefits expense decreased as a percentage of net revenues for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 due to a significant increase in net revenues and decreased contract labor costs.

Provision for bad debts increased as a percentage of net revenue in the current year due to increases in charges for services rendered that could not be collected, fewer people being eligible for Medicaid due to more stringent Medicaid requirements, increased coinsurance and deductible amounts that insured persons have to pay, overall decreased collections as a percentage of revenues and higher self-pay net revenues for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to the prior year’s comparable periods. The increase in self pay revenues also resulted in a higher provision for bad debts due to the lower collection percentages for self-pay revenues.

Supplies expense decreased as a percentage of net revenue in the current year due to decreased admissions and surgeries. Purchased services increased as a percentage of net revenues in the current year due to increased usage and cost of outside services such as radiology, nuclear medicine, anesthesiology and MRI. Other operating expenses for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 increased compared to the prior year’s comparable periods due to higher insurance costs and higher actuarially-determined liability for professional and workers compensation risks. Expenses for professional liability claims in the prior year’s six months benefited from an approximately $1,037 reduction of expense based on the actuarially-determined liability for professional liability risks compared to an approximately $186 increase in expense for the six months ended December 31, 2007.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $174 and $372 for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the comparable prior year period. The increase in the current year was due primarily to the approximately $14,367 of capital expenditures in the past 18 months.

Operating profit for the three months ended December 31, 2007 was $489 compared to an operating loss of $376 for the three months ended December 31, 2006. The operating profit in the current year was primarily attributable to higher net revenues with salaries, wages and benefits costs remaining relatively constant. Operating profit for the six months ended December 31, 2007 was $1,555 compared to operating profit of $686 last year. The increase in operating profit in the current year was primarily attributable to higher net revenues and salaries, wages and benefits costs decreasing as a percentage of net revenue.

 

22


Interest expense was $436 and $333 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and was $846 and $650 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The higher interest expense in the current year was due to higher outstanding debt amounts.

Income tax expense of $30 ($27 federal tax expense and $3 state tax expense) and income tax benefits of $239 ($240 federal tax benefit and $1 state tax expense) was recorded for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $27 federal tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2007 included $75 deferred income tax benefit. The $240 federal tax benefit for the three months ended December 31, 2006 included $184 deferred income tax benefit. Income tax expense of $248 ($222 federal tax expense and $26 state tax expense) and $46 ($30 federal tax expense and $16 state tax expense) was recorded for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $222 federal tax expense for the six months ended December 31, 2007 included $732 deferred income tax benefit. We had an estimated net operating loss carry-forward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $6,900 at December 31, 2007. Use of this net operating loss carry-forward is subject to the limitations of the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382. As a result, not all of the net operating loss carry-forward is available to offset federal taxable income in the current year. At December 31, 2007, we provided a partial valuation allowance against the domestic deferred tax asset so that the net domestic tax asset was $2,539. Based upon management’s assessment that it was more likely than not that a portion of its domestic deferred tax asset (primarily its domestic net operating losses subject to limitation) would not be recovered, the Company established a valuation allowance for the portion of the domestic tax asset which may not be utilized. The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the entire amount of the foreign tax asset as it is more likely than not that none of the foreign deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income or implementation of tax planning strategies.

Earnings from continuing operations was $51 ($0.01 per share) for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 compared to loss from continuing operations of $463 ($0.06 per fully diluted share) for the comparable quarter last year. Earnings from continuing operations was $494 ($0.07 per fully diluted share) for the six months ended December 31, 2007 compared to earnings from continuing operations of $5 ($0.00 per fully diluted share) for the comparable period last year.

The loss from discontinued operations after taxes of $134 ($0.02 per fully diluted share) in the six months ended December 31, 2007 primarily resulted from legal costs related to our discontinued operations. Loss from discontinued operations after taxes were $84 ($0.01 per fully diluted share) for the quarter ended December 30, 2007.

Net loss was $33 (0.00 per share) in the quarter ended December 31, 2007 compared to net loss of $494 ($0.07 per fully diluted share) in the quarter ended December 31, 2006. Net earnings for the six months ended December 31, 2007 was $360 ($0.05 per fully diluted share) compared to $56 ($0.01 per fully diluted share) for the six months ended December 31, 2006.

Adjusted earnings before income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) represent the sum of income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We understand that certain industry analysts and investors generally consider EBITDA to be one measure of the liquidity of a company, and it is presented to assist analysts and investors in analyzing the ability of a company to generate cash, service debt and meet capital requirements. We believe increased EBITDA, and more particularly in the case of the Company, Adjusted EBITDA, is an indicator of improved ability to service existing debt and to satisfy capital requirements. Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA, is a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and should not be considered an alternative to net income as a measure of operating performance or to cash liquidity. Because EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other corporations. Similarly, other presentations of adjusted EBITDA may not adjust for similar items or compute corporate overhead in the same manner. Net cash provided by (used in) operations for the three and six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, is shown below. SHL and HealthMont Facilities Adjusted EBITDA is the EBITDA for those facilities without any allocation of corporate overhead.

 

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     Three Months ended
December 31,
    Six Months ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

SHL Facilities Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 1,904     $ 1,851     $ 4,308     $ 4,125  

HealthMont Facilities Adjusted EBITDA

     1,010       51       2,051       891  

Corporate overhead costs

     (1,147 )     (1,174 )     (2,302 )     (2,220 )

Taxes and interest expense

     (438 )     (87 )     (1,061 )     (681 )

Other non-cash expenses and net changes in
operating assets and liabilities

     143       1,447       (176 )     (1,204 )
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) operations

   $ 1,472     $ 2,088     $ 2,820     $ 911  
                                

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We generated $2,818 of cash from operating activities during the six months ended December 31, 2007 compared to $911 of cash generated during the comparable period last year. The cash generated from operations in the current year resulted from increased other liabilities and $2,502 of depreciation and amortization during the first six months offset by decreased accounts payable, increased patient receivables and income tax payments of $597.

On October 15, 2004, SunLink entered into a $30,000 five-year senior secured credit facility comprised of a revolving line of credit of up to $15,000 with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 2.91% (8.15% at December 31, 2007), a $10,000 term loan (“SunLink Term Loan A”) with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 3.91% (9.15% at December 31, 2007) and a $5,000 term loan facility (“SunLink Term Loan B”) with an interest rate at LIBOR plus 3.91%. The revolving line of credit and the SunLink Term Loan A were immediately available to the Company as of October 15, 2004. The SunLink Term Loan A was fully drawn on October 15, 2004. The SunLink Term Loan B closed on November 15, 2004. The $10,000 SunLink Term Loan A and draws under the $5,000 SunLink Term Loan B are repayable based on a 15-year amortization from the date of draw with final balloon payments due at the end of the five-year maturity of the credit facility. The total availability under all components of the credit facility is keyed to the level of SunLink’s earnings, which would have provided for current total borrowing capacity at December 31, 2007 of approximately $27,889. Debt outstanding under the facility as of December 31, 2007 was the SunLink Term Loan A of $7,889 and $7,999 of the revolving line of credit. SunLink may use the remaining funds available from the revolving line of credit for hospital capital projects, equipment purchases and for working capital needs. Borrowing under the $5,000 SunLink Term Loan B may be used, subject to satisfaction of certain covenants, to satisfy certain specified claims and obligations, to fund acquisitions or to reacquire the Company’s securities. The credit facility is secured by a first priority security interest in all assets and properties, real and personal, of the Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries, including a pledge of all of the equity interests in such subsidiaries.

 

24


If SunLink or its applicable subsidiaries experience a material adverse change in their business, assets, financial condition, management or operations, or if the value of the collateral securing the SunLink Credit Facility decreases, we may be unable to draw on such credit facility.

We believe attractive and up-to-date physical facilities assist in recruiting quality staff and physicians, as well as attracting patients. We expended $5,329 for capital improvements at our hospitals during the six months ended December 31, 2007 and also had $1,028 of property, plant and equipment received at December 31, 2007 but not yet paid for at that date. Subject to the availability of internally generated funds and other financing, we currently expect to expend approximately $2,600 during the remaining six months of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 for capital expenditures. The $2,600 includes $1,650 for the Dahlonega, Georgia major renovation.

SunLink’s strategy is to focus its efforts on internal growth of its seven hospitals supplemented by growth from selected healthcare acquisitions, including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care businesses. Subject to the availability of debt and/or equity capital, SunLink’s internal growth may include replacement or expansion of its existing hospitals involving substantial capital expenditures as well as the expenditure of significant amounts of capital for selected healthcare acquisitions.

We believe we have adequate financing and liquidity to support our current level of operations through the next twelve months; however, our liquidity could be affected by the matters described in Part II, Item 1 of this quarterly report. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from continuing operations and availability under the SunLink Credit Facility. The total availability of credit under all components of the SunLink Credit Facility is keyed to the level of SunLink’s earnings, which, based upon the Company’s estimates, would provide for current borrowing capacity, before any draws, of approximately $27,889 at December 31, 2007, of which $7,889 was outstanding under a term loan and $7,999 outstanding under a revolving line of credit. The current remaining availability of approximately $12,001 could be adversely affected by, among other things, lower earnings due to lower demand for our services by patients, change in patient mix and changes in terms and levels of government and private reimbursement for services. Cash generated from operations could be adversely affected by, among other things, lower patient demand for our services, higher operating costs (including, but not limited to, salaries, wages and benefits, provisions for bad debts, general liability and other insurance costs, cost of pharmaceutical drugs and other operating expenses) or by changes in terms and levels of government and private reimbursement for services, and the regulatory environment of the community hospital segment.

 

25


Contractual obligations, commitments and contingencies related to long-term debt, non-cancelable operating leases, physician guarantees and interest on outstanding debt from continuing operations at December 31, 2007 were as follows:

 

     Long-Term
Debt
   Operating
Leases
   Physician
Guarantees
   Interest on
Outstanding Debt

Payments due in:

           

1 year

   $ 808    $ 2,342    $ 147    $ 731

2 years

     7,276      1,925      —        506

3 years

     —        1,328      —        —  

4 years

     —        669      —        —  

5 years

     —        338      —        —  

More than 5 years

     —        1,520      —        —  
                           
   $ 8,084    $ 8,122    $ 147    $ 1,237
                           

At December 31 2007, SunLink had a contract with one physician which contained guaranteed minimum gross receipts. A physician with whom a guarantee agreement is made generally agrees to maintain his/her practice within the hospital geographic area for a specific period (normally three years) or be liable to repay all or a portion of the guarantee received. The physician’s liability for any guarantee repayment due to non-compliance with guarantee provisions generally is collateralized by the physician’s patient accounts receivable and/or a promissory note from the physician. Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007 is a liability of $53 for one physician guarantee accounted for under the provisions of FSP FIN 45-3. SunLink expensed $169 and $302 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and expensed $316 and $647 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively relating to physician guarantees. The table above shows noncancelable commitments under physician guarantee contracts as of December 31, 2007.

At December 31, 2007, we had outstanding long-term debt of $8,084 of which $7,889 was incurred in connection with the SunLink Credit Facility and $195 was related to capital leases. Also outstanding at December 31, 2007 was a revolving line of credit loan of $7,999.

Legal Proceedings and Claims

SunLink sold its former U.K. housewares manufacturing subsidiary, Beldray Limited (“Beldray”), to two of its managers in October 2001. Beldray has since entered into administrative receivership and is under the administration of its primary lender. SunLink believes Beldray ceased to operate in October 2004.

As previously disclosed by us, KRUG International U.K. Ltd. (“KRUG UK”), an inactive U.K. subsidiary of SunLink, entered into a guarantee (“the Beldray Lease Guarantee”) at a time when it owned Beldray Limited, a U.K. manufacturing business. The Beldray Lease Guarantee covers Beldray’s obligations under a lease for a portion of Beldray’s manufacturing location. In October 2004, KRUG UK received correspondence from the landlord of such facility stating that the rent payment of 94,000 British pounds ($181) for the fourth quarter of 2004 had not been paid by Beldray and requesting payment of such amount pursuant to the Beldray Lease Guarantee. In January 2005, KRUG UK received further correspondence from the landlord demanding two quarterly rent payments totaling 188,000 British pounds ($362) under the Beldray Lease Guarantee. On January 7, 2005, the landlord filed a petition in the High Court of Justice Chancery Division to wind up KRUG UK under the provisions of the Insolvency Act of 1986 and KRUG UK was placed into involuntary liquidation by the High Court in February 2005. After that date, the court-appointed liquidator of KRUG UK made certain inquiries of SunLink regarding the activities of KRUG UK prior to the liquidation to which SunLink has responded.

 

26


On August 6, 2007, the liquidator of KRUG UK made an application in the Birmingham County Court in Birmingham, England, in which the liquidator is seeking a declaration by the court that a transfer of certain funds in 2001 from KRUG UK to SunLink in connection with the purchase of certain preferred stock of another subsidiary of SunLink and the making of a loan to SunLink, and certain forgiveness of debt to SunLink by KRUG UK was improper, among other things, as KRUG UK was then effectively insolvent and that the approval of such transfers by the then directors of KRUG UK resulted in a breach of their fiduciary duties. The liquidator seeks to have the court order the former directors or, in the alternative, the Company, to account for, repay or restore such funds plus interest to the liquidator of KRUG UK. On December 4, 2007, the case went to mediation and the mediation was adjourned pending the liquidator’s investigations into the circumstances surrounding items raised by both parties. In connection with the allegations in the application of breach of fiduciary duty by the directors of KRUG UK in approving such transfer of funds, SunLink has indemnification obligations to the former directors of KRUG UK. SunLink denies any liability to KRUG UK other than to it in its status as a preferred stockholder and for the unpaid balance on the promissory note. SunLink, through its United Kingdom counsel, intends to vigorously defend against the liquidator’s claims. See the “Legal Proceedings” subsection in Note 10 “Commitments and Contingencies” which follows for additional disclosure of the application.

SunLink’s non-current liability reserves for discontinued operations at December 31, 2007, included a reserve for a portion of the Beldray Guarantee, which would include certain amounts sought pursuant to the application made by the liquidator of KRUG UK. Such reserve was based upon management’s estimate, after consultation with its property consultants and legal counsel, of the cost to satisfy the Beldray Guarantee in light of KRUG UK’s limited assets and before taking into account any other claims against KRUG UK. The maximum potential obligation of KRUG UK for rent under the Beldray Guarantee is estimated to be approximately $8,400. SunLink expensed $109 in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and $137 in the six months ended December 31, 2007 on legal costs to defend against the claim. As a result of this claim and the U.K. liquidation proceedings against KRUG UK, SunLink expects KRUG UK to be wound-up in liquidation in the UK and has fully reserved for any assets of KRUG UK.

Additional contingent obligations, other than with respect to our existing operations, include potential product liability claims for products manufactured and sold before the disposal of our discontinued industrial segment in fiscal year 1989 and for guarantees of certain obligations of former subsidiaries. We have provided an accrual at December 31, 2007 related to the Beldray Lease Guarantee, as discussed above.

On July 13, 2006, Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. (“PHI”) and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Inc. (“PMH”) (collectively the “Plaintiffs” or “Piedmont”) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, alleging breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of April 9, 2004 by and among PMH, Piedmont Medical Center, Inc.

 

27


(n/k/a PMI), Southern Health Corporation of Jasper, Inc. (“SHCJ”), SunLink Healthcare LLC (formerly SunLink Healthcare Corp.) and SunLink (collectively “Defendants” or “SunLink”) pursuant to which the Mountainside Medical Center was sold to PMH in June 2004. Specifically, Piedmont seeks to have SunLink reimburse Piedmont for certain costs associated with an alleged indigent and charity care shortfall of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (formerly Mountainside Medical Center) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 demanded by the Georgia Department of Community Health (“DCH”). In addition, Piedmont seeks reimbursement for funds allegedly recouped from Piedmont by DCH in respect of Medicaid Cost Report settlements and adjustments for the reporting periods ended June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003 and May 31, 2004. Piedmont also seeks a declaratory judgment to the effect that Piedmont may retain certain payments it has received from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals. Piedmont also seeks recovery of costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia Law.

On August 11, 2006, SunLink filed an answer to the complaint asserting factual and legal defenses, along with a counterclaim. In the counterclaim, SunLink alleges that Piedmont breached the Agreement by failing to reimburse SHCJ for funds paid to Piedmont from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals, which payments Defendants contend qualify as “excluded assets” not sold to Piedmont under the Agreement. SunLink further alleged that PHI breached its obligations to guarantee PMH’s payment and performance of its obligations under the Agreement. SunLink seeks a declaratory judgment regarding the parties’ rights in respect of the payment made under the Indigent Care Trust Fund. Finally, SunLink seeks to recover their costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia law.

SunLink denies that it has any liability to the Plaintiffs and intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted against SunLink in connection with the complaint. While the ultimate outcome and materiality of the litigation cannot be determined, in management’s opinion the litigation will not have a material adverse effect on SunLink’s financial condition or results of operations.

SunLink is a party to claims and litigation incidental to its business, for which it is not currently possible to determine the ultimate liability, if any. Based on an evaluation of information currently available and consultation with legal counsel, management believes that resolution of such claims and litigation is not likely to have a material effect on the financial position, cash flows, or results of operations of the Company. The Company expenses legal costs as they are incurred.

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404

We have finished the planning phase of our efforts to comply with the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes Oxley”) and are currently in the process of documenting and testing our internal control systems in order to permit our management to be in a position to report on, as of June 30, 2008, and our independent auditors to attest to, as of June 30, 2009, our internal controls over financial reporting as required by Sarbanes-Oxley. After reviewing several proposals from outside consulting firms to help us implement Sarbanes-Oxley during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, management has decided to use in-house personnel to implement Sarbanes-Oxley compliant internal controls. While we currently are planning for timely completion of such documentation, testing and evaluation, there can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfactorily implement the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley with adequate compliance by June 30, 2008. Should we be unable to do so, we could be subjected to investigation by regulatory authorities, incur litigation costs and/or suffer loss of our AMEX listing. Any such actions could adversely affect our financial results and/or the market price of our common shares.

 

28


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments —an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140,” which simplifies accounting for certain hybrid financial instruments by permitting fair value remeasurement for any hybrid instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation and eliminates a restriction on the passive derivative instruments that a qualifying special-purpose entity may hold. SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired, issued or subject to a remeasurement (new basis) event occurring after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 at the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. There was no effect on the consolidated statement of earnings from the adoption of this statement.

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,” which establishes, among other things, the accounting for all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities by requiring that all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities be initially measured at fair value, if practicable, and permits the entity to choose either the amortization method or fair value method for subsequent measurement. SFAS No. 156 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company adopted SFAS No. 156 at the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. There was no effect on the consolidated statement of earnings from the adoption of this statement.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”, which establishes that the financial statement effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are to be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. This Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

 

29


The Company adopted the provisions of “FIN 48” on July 1, 2007. It requires that a change in judgment related to prior years’ tax positions be recognized in the quarter of such change. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $58 which was accounted for as the creation of a deferred tax asset as of July 1, 2007. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

Balance at July 1, 2007

   $ 58

Additions based on tax positions related to current year

     4

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —  

Settlements

     —  
      

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 62
      

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is not subject to any current U.S. federal, state or local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for any tax years. We therefore believe that there is no tax jurisdiction in which the outcome of unresolved issues or claims is likely to be material to our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties.

At July 1, 2007, our unrecognized tax benefits, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements as shown above, amounted to $58. This amount increased during the six months ended December 31, 2007 to $62. If recognized, all of our unrecognized tax benefits would not reduce our income tax expense or effective tax rate except as such recognition related to the removal of the liability associated with interest classified as income tax expense. During 2008, certain factors could potentially reduce our unrecognized tax benefits, either because of the expiration of open statutes of limitation or modifications to our intercompany accounting policies and procedures. Of these tax positions, none relate to positions that would affect our total tax provision or effective tax rate (except as such recognition related to the removal of the liability associated with interest classified as income tax expense).

We classify interest on tax deficiencies as tax expense and also classify income tax penalties as tax expense. At July 1, 2007, before any tax benefits, our accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits amounted to $6 and we had recorded no related accrued penalties. The amount of accrued interest increased by $2 during the six months ended December 31, 2007 to $8.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 157 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

30


In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 159 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations”, which is intended to improve, simplify, and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations and the reporting of noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements. Under SFAS No. 141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141R includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company will comply with the new SFAS No. 141R requirements for any future business combination transactions.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – An Amendment of ARB No. 51”, which establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is intended to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial information provided to investors by requiring all entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way as equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting SFAS No. 160 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Related Party Transactions

A director of the Company and our company secretary (who was a director of SunLink until November 2003 and is now a director emeritus) are members of two different law firms, each of which provides services to SunLink. The Company has paid to these firms an aggregate of $242 and $111 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $439 and $240 for the six months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively for such services.

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to interest rate changes, primarily as a result of borrowing under our credit facility. At December 31, 2007, borrowings under the facility of $15,888 have been drawn at an interest rate based upon LIBOR. A one percent change in the LIBOR rate would result in a change in interest expense of $158 on an annual basis. No action has been taken to mitigate our exposure to interest rate market risk and we are not a party to any interest rate market risk management activities.

 

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ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Management of the Company, with the participation and under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on this evaluation the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this periodic SEC filing to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. There has been no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control.

The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Items required under Part II not specifically shown below are not applicable.

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On August 6, 2007, the liquidator of KRUG UK made an application in the Birmingham County Court in Birmingham, England, in which the liquidator is seeking a declaration by the court that a transfer of certain funds in 2001 from KRUG UK to SunLink in connection with the purchase of certain preferred stock of another subsidiary of SunLink and the making of a loan to SunLink, and certain forgiveness of debt to SunLink by KRUG UK was improper, among other things, as KRUG UK was then effectively insolvent and that the approval of such transfers by the then directors of KRUG UK resulted in a breach of their fiduciary duties. The liquidator seeks to have the court order the former directors or, in the alternative, the Company, to account for, repay or restore such funds plus interest to the liquidator of KRUG UK. On December 4, 2007, the case went to mediation and the mediation was adjourned pending the liquidator’s investigations into the circumstances surrounding items raised by both parties. In connection with the allegations in the application of breach of fiduciary duty by the directors of KRUG UK in approving such transfer of funds, SunLink has indemnification obligations to the former directors of KRUG UK. SunLink denies any liability to KRUG UK other than to it in its status as a preferred stockholder and for the unpaid balance on the promissory note. SunLink, through its United Kingdom counsel, intends to vigorously defend against the liquidator’s claims.

 

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On July 13, 2006, Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. (“PHI”) and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Inc. (“PMH”) (collectively the “Plaintiffs” or “Piedmont”) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, alleging breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of April 9, 2004 by and among PMH, Piedmont Medical Center, Inc. (n/k/a PMI), Southern Health Corporation of Jasper, Inc. (“SHCJ”), SunLink Healthcare LLC (formerly SunLink Healthcare Corp.) and SunLink (collectively “Defendants” or “SunLink”) pursuant to which the Mountainside Medical Center was sold to PMH in June 2004. Specifically, Piedmont seeks to have SunLink reimburse Piedmont for certain costs associated with an alleged indigent and charity care shortfall of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (formerly Mountainside Medical Center) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 demanded by the Georgia Department of Community Health (“DCH”). In addition, Piedmont seeks reimbursement for funds allegedly recouped from Piedmont by DCH in respect of Medicaid Cost Report settlements and adjustments for the reporting periods ended June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003 and May 31, 2004. Piedmont also seeks a declaratory judgment to the effect that Piedmont may retain certain payments it has received from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals. Piedmont also seeks recovery of costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia Law.

On August 11, 2006, SunLink filed an answer to the complaint asserting factual and legal defenses, along with a counterclaim. In the counterclaim, SunLink alleges that Piedmont breached the Agreement by failing to reimburse SHCJ for funds paid to Piedmont from the DCH’s Indigent Care Trust Fund for Disproportionate Share Hospitals, which payments Defendants contend qualify as “excluded assets” not sold to Piedmont under the Agreement. SunLink further alleged that PHI breached its obligations to guarantee PMH’s payment and performance of its obligations under the Agreement. SunLink seeks a declaratory judgment regarding the parties’ rights in respect of the payment made under the Indigent Care Trust Fund. Finally, SunLink seeks to recover their costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Agreement and under Georgia law.

SunLink denies that it has any liability to the Plaintiffs and intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted against SunLink in connection with the complaint. While the ultimate outcome and materiality of the litigation cannot be determined, in management’s opinion the litigation will not have a material adverse effect on SunLink’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

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ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Risk Factors Relating to an Investment in SunLink

Information regarding risk factors appears in “MD&A – Forward-Looking Statements,” in Part I – Item 2 and Part II Item 1 and of this Form 10-Q and in “MD&A -Risks Factors Relating to an Investment in SunLink” in Part I – Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2007. While we believe there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in such Annual Report, except as discussed in “MD&A – Corporate Business Strategy” and “MD&A – Discontinued Operations” in Item 2 of this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider, in addition to the other information set forth in this report, the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Such risk factors are expressly incorporated herein by reference. The risks described in our Annual Report are not the only risks facing our Company. In addition to risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements contained in this Report on Form 10-Q, additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. Whenever we refer to “SunLink,” “we,” “our,” or “us” in this Item 1A, we mean SunLink Health Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise.

 

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

On November 12, 2007, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At the meeting, four directors, Robert M. Thornton, Jr., Steven J. Baileys, D.D.S., Michael Hall and Gene E. Burleson were elected to two year terms expiring at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2009. 5,103,982 votes were voted in favor of electing Mr. Thornton and 556,085 votes were withheld. 5,592,068 votes were voted in favor of electing Mr. Baileys and 67,999 votes were withheld. 5,592,103 votes were voted in favor of electing Mr. Hall and 67,964 votes were withheld. 5,104,147 votes were voted in favor of electing Mr. Burleson and 555,920 votes were withheld. Karen B. Brenner, C. Michael Ford, Christopher H.B. Mills, and Howard E. Turner remained in office. Their terms expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2008.

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

Exhibits:

 

31.1

  

Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

31.2

  

Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

32.1

  

Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

  

Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, SunLink Health Systems, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

SunLink Health Systems, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Mark J. Stockslager

 

Mark J. Stockslager

Chief Financial Officer

Dated: February 13, 2008

 

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