Quest Diagnostics 2004 Annual Report Download - page 13

Fees and Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Aggregate fees for professional services rendered for Quest Diagnostics by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 were:
2003 2002
Audit fees ....................................................... $1,210,021 $1,223,449
Audit related fees ............................................... 269,030 107,106
Tax fees ........................................................ 77,558 50,998
All other fees ................................................... 3,101 0
$1,559,710 $1,381,553
The Audit Fees for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were for
professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of the
Company; statutory audits and subsidiary audits; issuance of comfort letters related to financing
transactions; and assistance with review of documents filed with the SEC.
The Audit Related Fees as of the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were
for assurance and related services related to employee benefit plan audits; due diligence related to
mergers and acquisitions; and internal control reviews.
Tax Fees as of the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were for services
related to tax compliance, including preparation of tax returns and claims for refund; tax
planning and tax advice, including assistance with and representation in tax audits and appeals;
advice related to mergers and acquisitions; and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax
authorities.
All Other Fees for the year ended December 31, 2003 were for access to on-line technical
accounting and reporting updates.
The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors has considered all services
rendered and does not believe that they are incompatible with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
remaining independent.
Audit and Finance Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Effective January 1, 2003, it is the policy of the Audit and Finance Committee to pre-approve
each audit or non-audit service provided by the Company’s independent auditor. Requests for pre-
approval are considered at each regularly scheduled Committee meeting, or if necessary, are
approved by unanimous consent of all members of the Committee. For the year ended
December 31, 2003, there was less than $1,000 of fees paid to the independent auditor for which
the de minimis exception from the Audit and Finance Committee pre-approval was used.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" ratification of the appointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Other Matters
As of the date hereof, the Board does not know of any matter that will come before the
annual meeting of stockholders other than Proposals 1 and 2. If any other matter is properly
presented at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting, it
is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote thereon in accordance
with their best judgment. Quest Diagnostics’ By-Laws generally provide that no matters may be
brought before any stockholder meeting by a stockholder unless the proponent is a stockholder as
of the record date and Quest Diagnostics has received notice of the proposed matter, no later
than the February 15 preceding the date of an annual meeting, at its principal executive office at
One Malcolm Avenue, Teterboro, New Jersey 07608. Quest Diagnostics has not received notice of
any such proposal.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated ?2004 Proxy Statement ?11