OLSTEN CORP
10-Q, 1998-11-12
HELP SUPPLY SERVICES
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<PAGE>
                                                              
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

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

                For the quarterly period ended September 27, 1998
                                               ------------------

                           Commission File No. 0-3532
                                               ------

                               OLSTEN CORPORATION
                               ------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                               13-2610512
         --------                                               ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)



175 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, New York                       11747-8905
- -----------------------------------------                       ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (516) 844-7800
                                                   --------------


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  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                       YES  X           NO 
                                                           ---             ---

Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

              Class                            Outstanding at November 6, 1998
- ------------------------------------           -------------------------------
Common Stock, $.10 par value                           68,205,970 shares
Class B Common Stock, $.10 par value                   13,074,396 shares









<PAGE>
                                      INDEX
                                      -----


                                                                        Page No.
                                                                        --------
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 Item 1. Financial Statements

         Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) -
         September 27, 1998 and December 28, 1997                           2

         Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) -
         Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 27, 1998 and
         September 28, 1997, respectively                                   3

         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) -
         Nine Months Ended September 27, 1998 and
         September 28, 1997, respectively                                   4

         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)            5-6

 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations                               7-9


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                                 10

 Item 5. Other Information                                                10-11

 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                  12


SIGNATURES                                                                 13























                                      1
<PAGE>
                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
        ---------------------
                               Olsten Corporation
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                      (In thousands, except share amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                        September 27, 1998     December 28, 1997
                                        ------------------     -----------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
 Cash                                        $      21,092         $     84,810
 Receivables, net                                  971,016              847,419
 Other current assets                              107,232               90,715
                                                 ---------            ---------
   Total current assets                          1,099,340            1,022,944

FIXED ASSETS, NET                                  216,300              186,347

INTANGIBLES, NET                                   587,303              534,284

OTHER ASSETS                                        13,259                6,626
                                                 ---------            ---------
                                                $1,916,202           $1,750,201
                                                 =========            =========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 Accrued expenses                              $   180,040          $   152,239
 Payroll and related taxes                         115,370               86,071
 Accounts payable                                   97,026               55,851
 Insurance costs                                    36,642               41,270
                                                 ---------            ---------
   Total current liabilities                       429,078              335,431

LONG-TERM DEBT                                     566,513              461,178

OTHER LIABILITIES                                  101,698              111,815

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 Common stock $.10 par value;
  authorized 110,000,000 shares;
  issued 68,250,519 and 68,151,708
  shares, respectively                               6,825                6,815
 Class B common stock $.10 par value;
  authorized 50,000,000 shares;
  issued 13,074,121 and 13,157,617
  shares, respectively                               1,307                1,316
 Additional paid-in capital                        447,463              447,297
 Retained earnings                                 368,026              390,786
 Accumulated other comprehensive income             (4,253)              (4,437)
 Less treasury stock, at cost:
    45,700 shares in 1998                             (455)                 --
                                                 ----------           ---------
   Total shareholders' equity                      818,913              841,777
                                                 ---------            ---------
                                                $1,916,202           $1,750,201
                                                 =========            =========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                      2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                             Olsten Corporation
                                     Consolidated Statements of Income
                                    (In thousands, except share amounts)
                                                (Unaudited)

<CAPTION>
                                                   Third Quarter Ended                 Nine Months Ended
                                                   -------------------                 -----------------
                                             September 27,     September 28,     September 27,     September 28,
                                                  1998              1997              1998              1997         
                                             -------------     -------------     -------------     -------------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Service sales, franchise fees,
  management fees and other income              $1,170,037        $1,063,281        $3,346,121        $3,028,519

Cost of services sold                              886,121           779,946         2,553,023         2,220,043
                                                ----------       -----------        ----------        ----------

 Gross profit                                      283,916           283,335           793,098           808,476

Selling, general and administrative
  expenses                                         250,998           233,965           774,449           674,692

Interest expense, net                                8,242             5,536            21,624            14,885
                                                ----------       -----------        ----------        ----------

Income (loss) before income taxes and
  minority interests                                24,676            43,834            (2,975)          118,899

Income tax charge (benefit)                          9,561            17,095            (1,153)           46,371
                                                ----------       -----------        ----------        ----------

Income (loss) before minority interests             15,115            26,739            (1,822)           72,528

Minority interests                                   2,581             1,482             6,307             2,775
                                                ----------       -----------        ----------        ----------

 Net income (loss)                             $    12,534      $     25,257       $    (8,129)      $    69,753
                                                ==========       ===========        ==========        ==========

SHARE INFORMATION:

 Basic earnings (loss) per share:

  Net income (loss)                            $       .15      $        .31       $       (.10)     $        .86
                                                ==========       ===========        ===========       ===========

  Average shares outstanding                        81,289            81,268             81,307            81,214
                                                ==========       ===========        ===========       ===========

 Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

  Net income (loss)                            $      .15       $        .31       $       (.10)     $        .86
                                                ==========       ===========        ===========       ===========

  Average shares outstanding                        81,295            83,239             81,307            83,137
                                                ==========       ===========        ===========       ===========
</TABLE>


See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                                       3
<PAGE>
                                            Olsten Corporation
                                   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                              (In thousands)
                                                (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
                                                                                Nine Months Ended
                                                                                -----------------
                                                                     September 27, 1998     September 28, 1997
                                                                     ------------------     ------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>                    <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net income (loss)                                                       $  (8,129)              $  69,753
 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
   cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                                          49,895                  39,365
     Changes in assets and liabilities,
       net of effect from acquisitions:
         Accounts receivable and other current assets                     (123,582)                (97,064)
         Current liabilities                                                87,965                 (10,457)
         Other, net                                                        (11,817)                 27,662
                                                                          --------                --------

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES                         (5,668)                 29,259
                                                                          --------                --------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Acquisitions of businesses including franchises, net of
   cash acquired                                                           (73,164)               (145,985)
 Purchases of fixed assets                                                 (64,353)                (54,219)
 Sale of investment securities                                                  --                   9,415
                                                                          --------                --------

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                     (137,517)               (190,789)
                                                                          --------                --------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Net proceeds from issuance of notes                                       133,806                      --
 Net (repayments of) proceeds from line of credit agreements               (40,862)                104,735
 Cash dividends                                                            (14,630)                (17,049)
 Repayment of notes payable                                                 (6,202)                     --
 Payment for purchase of treasury stock                                       (455)                     --
 Issuances of common stock under stock plans                                    72                   1,683
                                                                          --------                --------

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                   71,729                  89,369 
                                                                          --------                --------

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH                                      7,738                      --
                                                                          --------                --------

NET DECREASE IN CASH                                                       (63,718)                (72,161)

CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                 84,810                 105,725
                                                                          --------                --------

CASH AT END OF PERIOD                                                    $  21,092               $  33,564
                                                                          ========                ========

NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
 Assets acquired through the issuance of a note                          $      --               $  19,535
 Issuance of restricted stock                                            $      --               $   6,437
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                      4
<PAGE>
                            Olsten Corporation
                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                               (Unaudited)

1.   Accounting Policies
     -------------------
     The  unaudited  consolidated  financial  statements  have been  prepared by
     Olsten Corporation (the "Company") pursuant to the rules and regulations of
     the Securities and Exchange  Commission  and, in the opinion of management,
     include all  adjustments  necessary for a fair  presentation  of results of
     operations,  financial  position and cash flows for each period  presented.
     Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a
     full year.  The  year-end  balance  sheet  data was  derived  from  audited
     financial  statements,  but does not  include all  disclosures  required by
     generally accepted accounting principles.

2.   Long-Term Debt
     --------------
     In May 1998, the Company's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Olsten International
     B.V. issued, in a public offering,  800 million French Franc (approximately
     U.S. $134 million at that date),  6 percent  Euronotes due 2008,  which are
     fully  guaranteed  by the  Company.  The net  proceeds  were  used to repay
     existing  indebtedness and for general financing purposes of the issuer and
     its related companies.

     On July 30, 1998, the Company's revolving credit agreement, dated August 9,
     1996,  was amended to revise the provision  related to the  maintenance  of
     various financial ratios and covenants.

     Interest expense, net, consists primarily of interest on long-term debt for
     the  quarter  of $9  million  in 1998 and $7  million  in 1997,  offset  by
     interest  income  from  investments  of $1 million  for both 1998 and 1997.
     Interest  expense  for the nine  months was $24  million,  net of  interest
     income of $2 million in 1998 and $18 million,  net of interest income of $3
     million in 1997.

3.   Acquisitions
     ------------
     Under  the  terms  of the 1997  purchase  agreement  for  Sogica  S.A.,  an
     additional  payment  of  approximately  $31  million,  related  to its 1997
     results  of  operations,  was  paid  in the  second  quarter  of  1998.  An
     additional  purchase  price  payment  will be  required  in the year  2000,
     calculated  based upon the  average net income for the three  fiscal  years
     ended  December  31,  1999.  The Company is  obligated  in the year 2000 to
     purchase the remaining  Sogica S.A. shares at a price to be determined by a
     multiple ranging from an upper limit of 16 and a lower limit of 10, applied
     to average net income for the two fiscal years ended 1998 and 1999.

     During  the  first  nine  months of 1998,  the  Company  purchased  various
     businesses for $42 million in cash.  Included in these acquisitions was the
     purchase of a Danish company,  Attention Personalservice A/S, several small
     acquisitions  in France,  Norway and Sweden,  as well as the acquisition in
     Brazil of Top Services S.A. All acquisitions have been accounted for by the
     purchase method of accounting.






                                      5
<PAGE>
4.   Adjustments and One-Time Charges
     --------------------------------
     The results for the nine months include second quarter 1998 adjustments and
     one-time  charges of $66 million  ($40  million,  net of tax),  or $.50 per
     diluted share, related primarily to the restructuring of the Company's home
     health business.


5.   Adoption of SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income"
     ------------------------------------------------------
     As of  December  29,  1997,  the Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial
     Accounting  Standards  No. 130,  "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income"  ("SFAS
     130").  SFAS 130  establishes new rules for the reporting and displaying of
     comprehensive  income and its  components;  however,  the  adoption of this
     Statement  had no  impact on the  Company's  net  income  or  shareholders'
     equity.  SFAS 130  requires  unrealized  gains or losses  on the  Company's
     foreign  currency  translation  adjustments,  which prior to adoption  were
     reported  separately  in  shareholders'  equity,  to be  included  in other
     comprehensive   income.   Prior  year   financial   statements   have  been
     reclassified to conform to the requirements of SFAS 130.

     Total comprehensive  income (loss) amounted to $17 million and $(8) million
     during the third  quarter  and nine months of 1998,  respectively,  and $25
     million and $73 million for the same periods in 1997.

6.   Subsequent Events
     -----------------
     On October 28,  1998,  the Company  announced  it had entered  into a final
     settlement agreement with several Government agencies investigating certain
     past practices of Quantum Health Resources, acquired by the Company in June
     1996.  The  settlement  calls for the Company to reimburse  the  Government
     approximately  $4.5  million  for certain  disputed  claims  involving  the
     provision of anti-hemophilia factor products to patients covered by certain
     federal health care  programs.  The Company had provided for the settlement
     in its fiscal second  quarter ended June 28, 1998.  Both the  investigation
     and resulting  settlement relate  predominately to matters that predate the
     Company's  ownership of this  subsidiary.  Quantum has since become part of
     Olsten Health  Services,  the  Company's  home health care  division.  This
     settlement is not related to an ongoing probe into certain  Quantum  health
     care practices in New Mexico.

     On November 6, 1998, the Company  completed the  acquisition,  for cash, of
     all of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation's home health care operations in
     the state of Florida in an asset  transaction  valued at approximately  $34
     million.















                                      6
<PAGE>
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
         Results of Operations.

Results of Operations
- ---------------------
Net income for the third quarter was $13 million,  or $.15 per diluted  share, a
50 percent decrease compared to $25 million, or $.31 per diluted share, reported
in 1997.  The results of operations  for the nine months  include second quarter
1998 adjustments and one-time charges of $66 million ($40 million,  net of tax),
or $.50  per  diluted  share,  related  primarily  to the  restructuring  of the
Company's home health  business.  Excluding the effect of these  adjustments and
one-time charges, net income for the nine months of 1998 decreased 54 percent to
$32 million,  or $.40 per diluted  share,  compared to $70 million,  or $.86 per
diluted share, for the same period last year.

Revenues  increased $107 million,  or 10 percent,  to $1.2 billion for the third
quarter,  as compared to $1.1  billion for last year's third  quarter.  Revenues
increased $318 million, or 10 percent, to $3.3 billion for the first nine months
of 1998, as compared to $3 billion for the comparable period of 1997.

Staffing  Services'  revenues increased 20 percent to $847 million for the third
quarter  and 22 percent to $2.4  billion  for the nine  months  over last year's
third  quarter  and  nine-month  periods  of  $708  million  and  $1.9  billion,
respectively.  Acquisitions  accounted for  approximately 9 percent of the third
quarter  revenue  growth,  while  European  operations   contributed  6  percent
reflecting  industry growth and favorable economic  conditions.  The remaining 5
percent  growth  is  primarily  attributable  to  internal  growth  in our North
American  Information  Technology  Services  business,  increased Latin American
revenues and increases in professional  services  operations,  while traditional
North American  Staffing  operations  were relatively flat compared to the third
quarter of 1997.

Health  Services'  revenues  declined  9 percent to $321  million  for the third
quarter,  and 10 percent to $968 million for the nine  months,  compared to $353
million and $1.1  billion  for the  comparable  periods of 1997.  The decline in
Health Services'  revenues for the quarter reflects an industry-wide  decline in
patient  visits and  reimbursement  rates  that have  resulted  from  Medicare's
Interim  Payment  System  (IPS),  and from  continuing  pricing and  utilization
pressure in managed  care  business.  An overall  increase in Infusion  Therapy,
Clinical  Solutions  and Medical  Staffing  businesses  partly  offset the above
decline.

Cost of services sold increased 14 percent to $886 million for the third quarter
and 15 percent to $2.6  billion for the nine months of 1998,  from $780  million
and $2.2  billion  for the same  periods of 1997.  Gross  profit  margins,  as a
percentage of revenues, decreased to 24.3 percent for the third quarter and 23.7
percent for the nine months from 26.6  percent and 26.7  percent for last year's
third quarter and nine months,  respectively.  Staffing  Services'  gross profit
margins  declined for the quarter  primarily  as a result of reduced  margins on
large contracts within the Information  Technology Services business,  offset by
margin  improvements  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.   In  Germany,  the  margin
improvement  resulted from decreased  wages and increased  utilization  while in
Scandinavia, the improvement was primarily related to an increase in high-margin
business and favorable  contract  negotiations.  Health  Services'  gross profit
margins  decreased for the quarter  primarily as a result of a reduction in both
Medicare  visits and  reimbursement  rates that have  resulted  from  Medicare's
Interim  Payment  System.  The  reduction  in  visits  was  offset  slightly  by
productivity enhancements and pricing increases.


                                      7
<PAGE>
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 7 percent to $251 million
for the third quarter from $234 million for the third  quarter in 1997.  For the
nine months of 1998,  expenses  increased  15 percent to $774  million from $675
million for the nine months in 1997. As a percentage of revenues,  such expenses
were  essentially  flat for the  quarter at 22  percent  and  increased  to 23.1
percent from 22.3 percent for the nine months.  The increase in expenses for the
nine  month  period  resulted  primarily  from  investments  in  infrastructure,
including new systems in both Staffing Services and Health Services  businesses,
and the  development of  professional  services'  divisions,  offset by positive
results of cost  reduction  initiatives,  including  closing  and  consolidating
offices within the Health  Services  division as announced in the second quarter
as part of our restructuring and recovery plan.

Net  interest  expense was $8 million  and $6 million for the third  quarters of
1998 and 1997, respectively,  and $22 million and $15 million for the nine month
periods  of 1998  and  1997,  respectively.  Net  interest  primarily  reflected
borrowing costs on long-term debt offset by interest income on investments.  The
increase  resulted from interest  expense  incurred as the Company  continued to
fund its acquisition program, as well as the financing of accounts receivable.

Year 2000
- ---------
The Year 2000 issue  concerns the inability of  information  systems to properly
recognize and process  date-sensitive  information  beyond  January 1, 2000. The
failure to correct a material Year 2000 problem could result in an  interruption
or a failure of certain normal business activities or operations.  Such failures
could  materially  and  adversely  affect the Company's  results of  operations,
liquidity and financial condition.

The Company's technical infrastructure,  encompassing all business applications,
is planned to be Year 2000 ready.  Systems not directly related to the financial
operations  of the  business,  primarily  voice  communications,  are also being
upgraded  to help ensure  readiness.  In  addition,  the  Company  has,  through
questionnaires,  interviews  and written  confirmations,  contacted  significant
suppliers and vendors to ascertain their stage of Year 2000 readiness.

The North American  Staffing  Services business is achieving Year 2000 readiness
by replacing all business applications and related infrastructure with compliant
technology.  This project, referred to as Project REach, is being implemented to
increase  efficiencies and improve the Company's  ability to provide services to
customers.  The selected  systems are Year 2000  compliant  and,  therefore,  no
remediation of current applications is necessary. Project REach is approximately
75 percent  completed and is on schedule to be fully  implemented  by July 1999.
The Company's  European and Latin  American  staffing  operations  are achieving
readiness   primarily   through   remediation  of  existing  systems  which  are
anticipated to be completed by the second quarter of 1999.

In the Health Services  segment,  systems  critical to the business,  which have
been  identified as non-year  2000  compliant,  are being  replaced as part of a
project  referred to as Project REO,  which  similarly is being  implemented  to
increase  efficiencies and improve the Company's  ability to provide services to
customers.  The new infrastructure,  which is Year 2000 compliant,  is currently
being  implemented in field offices and is scheduled for completion by the first
quarter of 1999 with the balance of the Project  scheduled for completion in the
fourth quarter of 1999. Other Health Services systems which require  remediation
are expected to be compliant by July 1999.

The total cost of the Company's remediation plan (exclusive of Project REach and
Project REO costs) is estimated at approximately $2 million to $3 million.

                                      8
<PAGE>
Due to the general  uncertainty  inherent in the Year 2000 issue  resulting,  in
part, from the  uncertainty of the Year 2000 readiness of third-party  suppliers
and  customers,  the  Company is unable to  determine  at this time  whether the
consequences  of Year 2000 failures will have a material impact on the Company's
results of operations,  liquidity or financial  condition.  The continuing  Year
2000 effort is expected to help reduce the Company's level of uncertainty  about
the Year 2000 issue  and,  in  particular,  about the Year 2000  readiness.  The
Company  believes  that  the  implementation  of new  business  systems  and the
completion of its Year 2000 plan as scheduled  should help reduce the likelihood
of significant interruptions of normal operations.

The Company's plan is to address its significant Year 2000 issues prior to being
affected by them.  Should the Company identify  significant risks related to its
Year 2000 readiness or its progress deviates from the anticipated timeline,  the
Company will develop contingency plans as deemed necessary at that time.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------
Working capital decreased from $688 million at December 28, 1997 to $670 million
at September 27, 1998. For the nine month period, net cash decreased $64 million
primarily  resulting  from a paydown of borrowings  under the Company's  line of
credit,  the  acquisition of businesses and capital  expenditures  totaling $178
million, dividend payments of $15 million and a $6 million decrease in cash from
operations, offset by $134 million in proceeds received from the issuance of the
6 percent  Euronotes by the  Company's  subsidiary,  Olsten  International  B.V.
Accounts receivable and other current assets increased $124 million for the nine
months.  This  increase  is  primarily  attributed  to  acquisitions,   Staffing
Services'  revenue  growth,  the  consolidated  billing  requirements  of  large
corporate accounts in the Staffing Services division,  and the growth of managed
care and infusion therapy accounts,  which impacted the timing of the collection
process.

The Company has a revolving  credit  agreement with a consortium of eleven banks
for up to $400 million in borrowings and letters of credit.  As of September 27,
1998,  there were $139  million in  borrowings  outstanding  and $57  million in
standby  letters of credit.  On July 30, 1998,  the Company's  revolving  credit
agreement, dated August 9, 1996, was amended to revise the provisions related to
the  maintenance  of various  financial  ratios and  covenants.  The Company has
invested  available  funds  in  short-term,  interest-bearing  investments.  The
Company  believes  that its levels of working  capital,  liquidity and available
sources of funds are sufficient to support present operations. See PART II, Item
5.

OTHER
- -----
INFORMATION  CONTAINED  HEREIN,  OTHER THAN  HISTORICAL  INFORMATION,  SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED   FORWARD-LOOKING   AND  IS  SUBJECT  TO  VARIOUS  RISK  FACTORS  AND
UNCERTAINTIES.  FOR INSTANCE,  THE COMPANY'S  STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS  INVOLVE
RISKS  OF  COMPETITION,   CHANGING  MARKET  CONDITIONS,   CHANGES  IN  LAWS  AND
REGULATIONS  AFFECTING  THE  COMPANY'S  INDUSTRIES  AND NUMEROUS  OTHER  FACTORS
DISCUSSED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND IN OTHER COMPANY  FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.  ACCORDINGLY,  ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER  MATERIALLY  FROM
THOSE PROJECTED IN ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN.







                                      9
<PAGE>
                          PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.
          ------------------
          On September 8, 1998, a  Consolidated  Amended Class Action  Complaint
          (the  "Amended  Complaint")  was filed by the  plaintiffs  in the four
          previously   disclosed  purported  class  action  lawsuits  (Weichman,
          Goldman,  Waldman and Cannold)  pending  against Olsten and certain of
          its officers and directors  (collectively,  the "Class  Action").  The
          Amended  Complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) (including Rule
          10b-5  promulgated  thereunder),  14(a)  and  20(a) of the  Securities
          Exchange  Act  of  1934  and  Sections  11,  12(a)(2)  and  15 of  the
          Securities  Act of 1933.  On October  19,  1998,  the  Company and the
          individual  defendants served a motion seeking an Order dismissing the
          Amended  Complaint;  that motion is scheduled  to be fully  briefed by
          December 23, 1998.  While the Company is unable at this time to assess
          the  probable  outcome of the Class Action or the  materiality  of the
          risk of loss in connection  therewith (given the preliminary  stage of
          the Class  Action  and the fact that the  Amended  Complaint  does not
          allege  damages with any  specificity),  the Company  believes that it
          acted  responsibly  with  respect to its  shareholders  and intends to
          vigorously defend the Class Action.

Item 5.   Other Information.
          ------------------
          Government Investigations.  The Company's home health care business is
          subject to extensive federal and state regulations which govern, among
          other things, Medicare,  Medicaid, CHAMPUS and other government-funded
          reimbursement  programs,  reporting  requirements,  certification  and
          licensure  standards  for certain  home health  agencies  and, in some
          cases,  certificate-of-need and pharmacy-licensing  requirements.  The
          Company is also subject to a variety of federal and state  regulations
          which  prohibit  fraud  and  abuse  in the  delivery  of  health  care
          services,  including,  but not  limited to,  prohibitions  against the
          offering or making of direct or indirect  payments for the referral of
          patients. As part of the extensive federal and state regulation of the
          Company's  home  health  care  business,  the  Company  is  subject to
          periodic audits,  examinations and  investigations  conducted by or at
          the direction of governmental  investigatory  and oversight  agencies.
          Violation of the applicable  federal and state  regulations can result
          in a health care provider  being  excluded from  participation  in the
          Medicare,  Medicaid  and/or  CHAMPUS  programs,  and can  subject  the
          provider to civil and/or criminal penalties.

          The Company  continues  to  cooperate  with the  previously  disclosed
          health  care  industry   investigations  being  conducted  by  certain
          governmental agencies (collectively, the "Healthcare Investigations").

          Among the  Healthcare  Investigations  with which Olsten  continues to
          cooperate is that being  conducted  into the Company's  preparation of
          Medicare cost reports by the Office of  Investigations  section of the
          Office of Inspector  General (an agency within the U.S.  Department of
          Health and Human Services) and the U.S. Department of Justice.

          The Company also  continues to cooperate  with the U.S.  Department of
          Justice and other  federal  agencies  investigating  the  relationship
          between Columbia/HCA  Healthcare  Corporation and Olsten in connection
          with the purchase,  sale and operation of certain home health agencies
          which had  been owned  by Columbia/HCA  and managed  under contract by

                                     10
<PAGE>
          Olsten  Health  Management,  a unit of  Olsten  Health  Services  that
          provides management services to hospital-based home health agencies.

          On October 28, 1998, Olsten announced that it had entered into a final
          settlement  agreement with several Government  agencies  investigating
          certain past  practices of Quantum  Health  Resources  ("Quantum"),  a
          provider  of home  infusion  therapy  services  which was  acquired by
          Olsten in June 1996.  The  agreement  was  entered  into with the U.S.
          Department  of Justice;  the Office of  Inspector  General of the U.S.
          Department of Health and Human Services; the U.S. Secretary of Defense
          (for the CHAMPUS/Tricare  program);  and the Attorneys General for the
          States of New York and Oklahoma.  Pursuant to the  settlement,  Olsten
          reimbursed  the  government  approximately  $4.5  million  for certain
          disputed  claims  involving  the provision of  anti-hemophilia  factor
          products to patients  covered by certain federal health care programs.
          The investigation and the resulting settlement relate predominantly to
          matters that predated Olsten's ownership of Quantum.

          Olsten continues to cooperate with various state and federal agencies,
          including the U.S.  Department of Justice,  the Office of the Attorney
          General of New Mexico and the New Mexico Health Care  Anti-Fraud  Task
          Force ("Task  Force"),  in connection with their  investigations  into
          certain health care practices of Quantum. Among the matters into which
          those agencies are inquiring are  allegations of improper  billing and
          fraud against various  federally-funded medical assistance programs on
          the part of Quantum and its post-acquisition  successor,  the Infusion
          Therapy Services division of Olsten Health Services.  Most of the time
          period that the Company  understands  to be at issue in the Task Force
          investigation predates Olsten's June 1996 acquisition of Quantum.

          The Company believes that certain of the Healthcare Investigations may
          have been  triggered by or given rise to lawsuits under federal and/or
          state whistleblower statutes against Olsten and/or Quantum.

          Notwithstanding   the  Company's   continuing   cooperation  with  the
          Healthcare  Investigations,  Olsten  has  been  notified  that it is a
          target of a federal grand jury  investigation  by the U.S.  Attorney's
          Office for the  Southern  District  of  Florida,  which  investigation
          Olsten   believes   focuses   upon  the   Company's   above-referenced
          relationship with  Columbia/HCA in connection with the purchase,  sale
          and operation of certain home health agencies. In addition to the U.S.
          Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, other agencies
          of the federal and/or state  governments may regard the Company and/or
          certain of its  employees as subjects or targets of one or more of the
          other Healthcare Investigations. An indictment of Olsten in connection
          with any one of the  Healthcare  Investigations  could  result  in the
          suspension of payments to Olsten under the Medicare,  Medicaid  and/or
          CHAMPUS  programs.  If Olsten were to be found to have violated any of
          the laws and  regulations at issue in the  Healthcare  Investigations,
          the Company  could be subjected to a variety of  sanctions,  including
          substantial  monetary  fines,  civil  and/or  criminal  penalties  and
          exclusion from participation in the Medicare,  Medicaid and/or CHAMPUS
          programs.  While the  Company  is unable at this time to  predict  the
          ultimate    outcome   of   the    Healthcare    Investigations,    the
          above-referenced  suspension of payments or the  imposition of any one
          of the foregoing  sanctions could have a material  adverse effect upon
          the Company's financial position and results of operations.



                                     11
<PAGE>
Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
          ---------------------------------

          (a)    The following exhibit is filed herewith:

                 Exhibit 27  -  Financial Data Schedule.

          (b)    Reports on Form 8-K.

                        The Company filed a report on Form 8-K,  dated June
                        29, 1998,  reporting in Item 5, Other Events,  that
                        the Company had released a press release dated June
                        29, 1998, which was filed as an Exhibit.















































                                     12
<PAGE>
                                 SIGNATURES







Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the

registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the

undersigned thereunto duly authorized.









                                    OLSTEN CORPORATION
                                       (REGISTRANT)




Date:    November 11, 1998          /s/Frank N. Liguori
                                    -------------------
                                    Frank N. Liguori
                                    Chairman and Chief
                                    Executive Officer



Date:    November 11, 1998          /s/Anthony J. Puglisi
                                    ---------------------
                                    Anthony J. Puglisi
                                    Executive Vice President and
                                    Chief Financial Officer



















                                     13
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule


























































<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Olsten
Corporation and Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Balance Sheets at September 27, 1998
(unaudited) and Olsten Corporation and Subsidiaries  Consolidated  Statements of
Income for the nine months ended September 27, 1998 (unaudited) and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                        SEP-27-1998
<CASH>                                                    21,092
<SECURITIES>                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            996,730
<ALLOWANCES>                                              25,714
<INVENTORY>                                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       1,099,340
<PP&E>                                                   377,279
<DEPRECIATION>                                           160,979
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         1,916,202
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    429,078
<BONDS>                                                        0
                                          0
                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                   8,132
<OTHER-SE>                                               810,781
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                           1,916,202
<SALES>                                                3,346,121
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       3,346,121
<CGS>                                                  2,553,023
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          2,553,023
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        24,398
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           (2,975)
<INCOME-TAX>                                              (1,153)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       (8,129)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                              (8,129)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               (.10)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               (.10)
        

</TABLE>


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