On Assignment (ASGN)

 

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James L. Brill> joined the Company in January 2007 as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Brill was Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Diagnostic Products Corporation, a manufacturer of immuno-diagnostic kits, from July 1999 until it was acquired by Siemens in July 2006. From August 1998 to June 1999, Mr. Brill served as Chief Financial Officer of Jafra Cosmetics International, a marketing and direct-selling company in the skin care and beauty industry, and as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Vertel Corporation, a provider of middleware for the telecommunications industry, from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Brill also served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Merisel, Inc., a computer hardware and software distributor, from 1988 to 1996. Mr. Brill has been a member of the Board of Directors of Onvia Inc. since March 2004. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of California Los Angeles.

Emmett B. McGrath> joined the Company in September 2004 as President, Life Sciences U.S., and in August 2005, Mr. McGrath was appointed as President of Life Sciences Europe. Mr. McGrath was appointed as President of Allied Healthcare in November 2007. From February 1985 through August 2004, Mr. McGrath worked at Yoh Company, a privately-held IT staffing firm. During his tenure at Yoh, Mr. McGrath held various staffing positions, including Technical Recruiter, Account Manager, Branch and District Management, Vice President and Regional President. As Regional President, Mr. McGrath was responsible for core lines of businesses, including Scientific, Information Technology, Engineering, Healthcare, Telecommunications and Vendor on Premise (VOP) programs. In addition, Mr. McGrath served on Yoh’s Executive Committee and the Chairman’s Board of the Day & Zimmermann Group, Yoh’s parent company. Mr. McGrath received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resources, from California State University, Northridge in 1991.

Mark S. Brouse> is President of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., On Assignment’s Physician segment. Mr. Brouse joined On Assignment as a result of On Assignment’s January 2007 acquisition of VISTA, a company he co-founded in 1990. Mr. Brouse began his career in pharmaceutical sales in 1980, and in 1986 joined CompHealth, a locum tenens staffing company, where he led specialty teams serving psychiatry and internal medicine clients before founding VISTA. Mr. Brouse holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Chemistry from California State, Dominguez Hills, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake and PEHR Technologies, an electronic medical records company.

Michael J. McGowan> is President of Oxford Global Resources, Inc., On Assignment’s IT and Engineering segment. He has held this position since 1998. He joined Oxford in May of 1997 as Chief Operating Officer. Formerly, Mr. McGowan was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kelly Services’ Middle Markets Division, a provider of staffing solutions. Prior to that time he was Vice President & General Manager for The MEDSTAT Group, a healthcare information firm, and held increasingly senior positions for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), a provider of human resources, payroll and tax and benefits administration solutions, during a sixteen year tenure. Mr. McGowan holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, also at Michigan State University. Mr. McGowan joined On Assignment as a result of the Company’s acquisition of Oxford in January 2007.

Available Information and Access to Reports

We electronically file our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You may read and copy any of our reports that are filed with the SEC in the following manner:

·	At the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330;

·	At the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov;

·	At our website, http://www.onassignment.com; or

·	By contacting our Investor Relations Department at (818) 878-7900.

Our reports are available through any of the foregoing means and are available free of charge on our website as soon as practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Also available on our website (http://www.onassignment.com), free of charge, are copies of our Code of Ethics for the Principle Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters for the committees of our Board of Directors. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers on our website within five business days following the date of the amendment or waiver .

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business is subject to a number of risks, including the following:

Recent U.S. economic conditions have been uncertain and challenging, which adversely affects our business and results of operations.

Global market and economic conditions have been unprecedented and challenging with tighter credit conditions and recession in most major economies continuing into 2010.  Continued concerns about the systemic impact of potential long-term and wide-spread recession, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, and the global housing and mortgage markets have contributed to market volatility and diminished expectations for western and emerging economies. In 2009, added concerns fueled by the subprime mortgage crisis, higher interest rates and inflation, federal government stimulus spending, continued government conservatorship, government financial assistance and other federal government interventions lead to increased market uncertainty and instability in both U.S. and international capital and credit markets.  These conditions, combined with volatile oil prices, lowered business and consumer confidence and high unemployment, have contributed to economic slowdown and volatility of unprecedented levels.  Further regulation of the healthcare industry also has a significant effect on spending in this area.

As a result of these market conditions, the cost and availability of credit has been and may continue to be adversely affected by illiquid credit markets and wider credit spreads.  Concern about the stability of the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically has led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide credit to businesses and consumers.  These factors have lead to a decrease in spending by businesses and consumers alike, and a corresponding decrease in demand for business services.  Continued turbulence in the U.S. and international markets and economies and prolonged declines in business consumer spending may adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, including our ability to refinance maturing liabilities and access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.

Our liquidity and our ability to obtain financing may be adversely impacted if any of the lenders under our credit facilities suffers liquidity issues.  In such an event, we may not be able to draw on all, or a substantial portion, of our credit facilities.

Temporary staffing companies are negatively impacted by high unemployment rates which have accompanied this period of economic turbulence.  We experienced, and may continue to experience, a decline in demand for our staffing services as the U.S. suffers high levels of unemployment.

The market condition has also affected the liquidity and financial condition of many of our clients.  The problems our clients are experiencing, including with regard to their access to financing, liquidity issues, funding issues, creditworthiness and their budgetary constraints may expose us to risks in collections of our accounts receivable.

Our results of operations may vary from quarter to quarter as a result of a number of factors, which may make it difficult to evaluate our business and could cause instability in the trading price of our common stock.

Factors that may cause our quarterly results to fluctuate include:

·	the level of demand for our temporary staffing services and the efficiency with which we source and assign our contract professionals and support our staffing consultants in the execution of their duties;

·	changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors; and

·	our ability to control costs and manage our accounts receivable balances.

In addition, most temporary staffing companies experience seasonal declines in demand during the first and fourth quarters as a result of fewer business days and the reduced number of contract professionals willing to work during the holidays. Historically, we have experienced variability in the duration and depth of these seasonal declines, which in turn have materially affected our quarterly results of operations and made period-to-period comparisons of our financial and operating performance difficult.

If our operating results are below the expectations of public market analysts or investors in a given quarter, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

Failure to comply with restrictive covenants under our debt instruments could trigger prepayment obligations or additional costs.

 

 

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    Our failure to comply with restrictive covenants under our credit facilities and other debt instruments could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in us being required to repay these borrowings before their due date.  Some of these covenants are tied to our operating results and thus may be breached if we do not perform as expected.  The lenders may require fees and expenses to be paid or other changes to terms in connection with waivers or amendments.  If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected by increased costs and rates.

Failure of internal controls may leave us susceptible to errors and fraud.

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our 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 assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Furthermore, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, would be detected.

Significant legal actions could subject us to substantial uninsured liabilities.

In recent years, we have been subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging malpractice, vicarious liability, intentional torts, negligent hiring, discrimination or related legal theories. We may be subject to liability in such cases even if the contribution to the alleged injury was minimal. Many of these actions involve large claims and significant defense costs. In addition, we may be subject to claims related to torts or crimes committed by our corporate employees or contract professionals. In most instances, we are required to indemnify clients against some or all of these risks. A failure of any of our corporate employees or contract professionals to observe our policies and guidelines intended to reduce these risks; relevant client policies and guidelines or applicable federal, state or local laws, rules and regulations could result in negative publicity, payment of fines or other damages.

To protect ourselves from the cost of these types of claims, we maintain workers’ compensation and professional malpractice liability insurance and general liability insurance coverage in amounts and with deductibles that we believe are appropriate for our operations. Our coverage is, in part, self-insured and our insurance coverage may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost. If we are unable to maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to substantial liabilities.

If we are unable to attract and retain qualified contract professionals for our Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering segments, our business could be negatively impacted.

Our business is substantially dependent upon our ability to attract and retain contract professionals who possess the skills, experience and, as required, licenses to meet the specified requirements of our clients. We compete for such contract professionals with other temporary staffing companies and with our clients and potential clients. There can be no assurance that qualified healthcare, nursing, life sciences, physician, IT and engineering professionals will be available to us in adequate numbers to staff our operating segments. Moreover, our contract professionals are often hired to become regular employees of our clients. Attracting and retaining contract professionals depends on several factors, including our ability to provide contract professionals with desirable assignments and competitive benefits and wages. The cost of attracting and retaining contract professionals may be higher than we anticipate and, as a result, if we are unable to pass these costs on to our clients, our likelihood of achieving or maintaining profitability could decline. In periods of high unemployment, contract professionals frequently opt for full-time employment directly with clients and, due to a large pool of available candidates, clients are able to directly hire and recruit qualified candidates without the involvement of staffing agencies.  If we are unable to attract and retain a sufficient number of contract professionals to meet client demand, we may be required to forgo staffing and revenue opportunities, which may hurt the growth of our business.

We may not successfully make or integrate acquisitions, which could harm our business and growth.

As part of our growth strategy, we intend to opportunistically pursue selected acquisitions. We compete with other companies in the professional staffing and consulting industries for acquisition opportunities, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to effect future acquisitions on commercially reasonable terms or at all. To the extent we enter into acquisition transactions in the future, we may experience:

·	delays in realizing or a failure to realize the benefits, cost savings and synergies that we anticipate;

·	difficulties or higher-than-anticipated costs associated with integrating any acquired companies into our businesses;

·	attrition of key personnel from acquired businesses;

·	diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

·	inability to maintain the business relationships and reputation of the acquired companies;

 

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·	difficulties in integrating the acquired companies into our information systems, controls, policies and procedures;

·	additional risks relating to the businesses or industry of the acquired companies that are different from ours;

·	unexpected costs or charges; and

·	unforeseen operating difficulties that require significant financial and managerial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of our existing operations.

To undertake more transactions, we may incur additional debt in the future. We may face unexpected contingent liabilities arising from these or future acquisitions that could harm our business. We may also issue additional equity in connection with future transactions, which would dilute our existing shareholders.

If we cannot attract, develop and retain qualified and skilled sales and recruiting staff, our business growth will suffer.

A key component of our ability to grow our lines of business is our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified and skilled sales and recruiting staff, particularly persons with industry experience. The available pool of qualified staffing consultant candidates is limited, and further constrained by the industry practice of entering into non-compete agreements with these employees, which may restrict their ability to accept employment with other staffing firms, including us. We cannot assure that we will be able to recruit, develop and retain qualified sales and recruiting staff in sufficient numbers or that our staffing consultants will achieve productivity levels sufficient to enable growth of our business. Failure to attract and retain productive sales and recruiting staff could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Reclassification of our independent contractors by tax authorities could materially and adversely affect our business model and could require us to pay significant retroactive wages, taxes and penalties.

We consider our locum tenens physicians to be independent contractors rather than employees. As such, we do not withhold or pay income or other employment related taxes or provide workers’ compensation insurance for them. Our classification of locum tenens physicians as independent contractors is consistent with general industry standard, but can nonetheless be challenged by the contractors themselves as well as the relevant taxing authorities. If federal or state taxing authorities determine that locums tenens physicians engaged as independent contractors are employees, our business model for that segment would be materially and adversely affected. Although we believe we would qualify for safe harbor under the provisions of Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95−600 (“Section 530”), and any similar applicable state laws, we could incur significant liability for past wages, taxes, penalties and other employment benefits if we could not so qualify. In addition, many states have laws that prohibit non−physician owned companies from employing physicians. If our independent contractor physicians are classified as employees, we could be found in violation of such state laws, which could subject us to liability in those states and thereby negatively impact on our profitability.

If our information systems do not function in a cost effective manner, our business will be harmed.

The operation of our business is dependent on the proper functioning of our information systems. In 2009, we continued to upgrade our information technology systems, including our PeopleSoft and Vurv Technology enterprise-wide information systems used in daily operations to identify and match staffing resources and client assignments, track regulatory credentialing, manage scheduling and also perform billing and accounts receivable functions. If the systems fail to perform reliably or otherwise do not meet our expectations, or if we fail to successfully complete the implementation of other modules of the systems, we could experience business interruptions that could result in deferred or lost sales. Our information systems are vulnerable to fire, storm, flood, power loss, telecommunications failures, physical or software break-ins and similar events. Our network infrastructure is currently located at our facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a result, any system failure or service outage at this primary facility could result in a loss of service for the duration of the failure of the outage. Our location in Southern California is susceptible to earthquakes and has, in the past, experienced power shortages and outages, any of which could result in system failures or outages. If our information systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, these functions would have to be accomplished manually, which could impact our ability to respond to business opportunities quickly, to pay our staff in a timely fashion and to bill for services efficiently.

If we are not able to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients, our future growth will suffer.

 

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The contract staffing industry is highly competitive and fragmented with limited barriers to entry. We compete in national, regional and local markets with full-service agencies and in regional and local markets with specialized contract staffing agencies. Some of our competitors in the Nurse Travel line of business include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., Cross Country, Inc. and several privately-held companies. Some of our competitors in the Life Sciences segment and Allied Healthcare line of business include Kelly Services, Inc., Kforce Inc., Manpower, Inc., Adecco, SA, Yoh Company, and Allegis Group. Competitors for the Physician segment include CHG Healthcare Services, Cross Country, TeamHealth, Inc. and AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., along with several other privately-held companies specializing in locum tenens services. Competitors of our IT and Engineering segment include Robert Half International, Accenture, Yoh Company and Aerotek. Several of these companies have significantly greater marketing and financial resources than we do. Our ability to attract and retain clients is based on the value of the service we deliver, which in turn depends principally on the speed with which we fill assignments and the appropriateness of the match based on clients’ requirements and the skills and experience of our contract professionals. Our ability to attract and retain skilled, experienced contract professionals is based on our ability to pay competitive wages or contract rates, to provide competitive benefits and provide multiple, continuous assignments. To the extent that competitors seek to gain or retain market share by reducing prices or increasing marketing expenditures, we could lose revenues and our gross and operating margins could decline, which could seriously harm our operating results and cause the trading price of our stock to decline. As we expand into new geographic markets, our success will depend in part on our ability to gain market share from competitors. We expect competition for clients to increase in the future, and the success and growth of our business depend on our ability to remain competitive.

Agreements may be terminated by clients and contract professionals at will and the termination of a significant number of such agreements would adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.

Each contract professional’s employment or independent contractor’s relationship with us is terminable at will. A locum tenens physician may generally terminate his or her contract with VISTA for non-emergency reasons upon 60 days notice. The duration of agreements with clients are generally dictated by the contract. Usually, contracts with clients may be terminated with 30 days notice by us or by the clients and, oftentimes, assignments may be terminated with less than one week’s notice. We cannot assure that existing clients will continue to use our services at historical levels, if at all.   In addition, we continue to participate in an increasing number of third party contracts as a subcontractor and that require us to participate in vendor management contracts, which may subject us to a greater risks or lower margins.  If clients terminate a significant number of our staffing agreements or assignments and we are unable to generate new contract staffing orders to replace lost revenues or a significant number of our contract professionals terminate their employment with us and we are unable to find suitable replacements, our revenues and results of operations could be harmed.

We are subject to business risks associated with international operations, which could make our international operations significantly more costly.

As of December 31, 2009, we had international sales in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Virgin Islands, New Zealand and Australia. Our international operations comprised approximately 5% of total sales for each of the three years ended December 31, 2009. We have limited experience in marketing, selling and, particularly, supporting our services outside of North America.

Operations in certain markets are subject to risks inherent in international business activities, including:

·	fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

·	complicated work permit requirements;

·	varying economic and political conditions;

·	seasonal reductions in business activity during the summer months in Europe and Asia;

·	overlapping or differing tax structures;

·	difficulties collecting accounts receivable; and

·	regulations concerning pay rates, benefits, vacation, union membership, redundancy payments and the termination of employment.

Our inability to effectively manage our international operations could result in increased costs and adversely affect our results of operations.

Improper activities of our contract professionals could result in damage to our business reputation, discontinuation of our client relationships and exposure to liability.

We may be subject to possible claims by our clients related to errors and omissions, misuse of proprietary information, discrimination and harassment, theft and other criminal activity, malpractice and other claims stemming from the improper activities or alleged activities of our contract professionals. We cannot assure that our current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims. Claims raised by clients stemming from the improper actions of our contract professionals, even if without merit, could cause us to incur significant expense associated with the costs or damages related to such claims. Further, such claims by clients could damage our business reputation and result in the discontinuation of client relationships.

 

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Claims against us by our contract professionals for damages resulting from the negligence or mistreatment by our clients could result in significant costs and adversely affect our recruitment and retention efforts.

We may be subject to possible claims by our contract professionals alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, negligence and other similar activities. Our physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals may also be subject to medical malpractice claims. We cannot assure that our current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims. Claims raised by our contract professionals, even if without merit, could cause us to incur significant expense associated with the costs or damages related to such claims. Further, any associated negative publicity could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain qualified contract professionals in the future.

If we are required to further write down goodwill or identifiable intangible assets, the related charge could materially impact our reported net income or loss for the period in which it occurs.

We have approximately $202.8 million in goodwill on our balance sheet at December 31, 2009, as well as $25.5 million in identifiable intangible assets. As part of the analysis of goodwill impairment, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, requires the Company’s management to estimate the fair value of the reporting units on at least an annual basis and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. At December 31, 2009, we performed our annual goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets impairment test and concluded that there was no further impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. In addition, at December 31, 2009, we determined that there were no events or changes in circumstances that indicated that the carrying values of other identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization may not be recoverable. While we believe that our goodwill was not impaired at December 31, 2009, our market capitalization experienced significant declines during 2009.  Declines in our market capitalization or any other impairment indicators subsequent to the balance sheet date could be an early indication that goodwill may become impaired in the future.  Although a future impairment of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets would not affect our cash flow, it would negatively impact our operating results.

If we are subject to material uninsured liabilities under our partially self-insured workers’ compensation program and medical malpractice coverage, our financial results could be adversely affected.

We maintain a partially self-insured workers’ compensation program and medical malpractice coverage. In connection with these programs, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred up to certain levels. We are insured for losses greater than certain levels, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. There can be no assurance that our loss reserves and insurance coverage will be adequate in amount to cover all workers’ compensation or medical malpractice claims. If we become subject to substantial uninsured workers’ compensation or medical malpractice liabilities or there is a significant change in the circumstances related to claims, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Our costs of providing travel and housing for traveling contract professionals may be higher than we anticipate and, as a result, our margins could decline.

If our travel and housing costs, including the costs of airline tickets, rental cars, apartments and rental furniture for our traveling contract professionals exceed the levels we anticipate, and we are unable to pass such increases on to our clients, our margins may decline. To the extent the length of our apartment leases exceed the terms of our staffing contracts, we bear the risk that we will be obligated to pay rent for housing we do not use. If we cannot source a sufficient number of appropriate short-term leases in regional markets, or if, for any reason, we are unable to efficiently utilize the apartments we do lease, we may be required to pay rent for unutilized or underutilized housing.  Effective management of travel costs will be necessary to prevent a decrease in gross profit and gross and operating margins.

Demand for our services is significantly impacted by changes in the general level of economic activity and continued periods of reduced economic activity could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

Demand for the contract staffing services that we provide is significantly impacted by changes in the general level of economic activity, particularly any negative effect on healthcare, research and development and quality control and capital spending. As economic activity slows, many clients or potential clients for our services reduce their usage of and reliance upon contract professionals before laying off their regular, full-time employees. During periods of reduced economic activity, we may also be subject to increased competition for market share and pricing pressure. As a result, continued periods of reduced economic activity could harm our business and results of operations.

We do not have long-term or exclusive agreements with our temporary staffing clients and growth of our business depends upon our ability to continually secure and fill new orders.

 

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We do not have long-term agreements or exclusive guaranteed order contracts with our temporary staffing clients. Assignments for our Life Sciences segment typically have a term of three to six months. Assignments for our Healthcare segment typically have a term of two to thirteen weeks. Assignments for our Physician segment typically have a term of six weeks. Assignments for our IT and Engineering segment typically have a term of approximately five months. The success of our business depends upon our ability to continually secure new orders from clients and to fill those orders with our contract professionals. Our agreements do not provide for exclusive use of our services, and clients are free to place orders with our competitors. As a result, it is imperative to our business that we maintain positive relationships with our clients. If we fail to maintain positive relationships with these clients, we may be unable to generate new contract staffing orders, and the growth of our business could be adversely affected.

Fluctuation in patient occupancy rates at client facilities could adversely affect demand for services of our Healthcare and Physician segments and our results of operations.

Client demand for our Healthcare and Physician segment services is significantly impacted by changes in patient occupancy rates at our hospital and healthcare clients’ facilities. Increases in occupancy often result in increased client need for contract professionals before full-time employees can be hired. During periods of decreased occupancy, however, hospitals and other healthcare facilities typically reduce their use of contract professionals before laying off their regular, full-time employees. During periods of decreased occupancy, we may experience increased competition to service clients, including pricing pressure. Occupancy at certain healthcare clients’ facilities also fluctuates due to the seasonality of some elective procedures and patients declining elective procedures. Periods of decreased occupancy at client healthcare facilities could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

The loss of key members of our senior management team could adversely affect the execution of our business strategy and our financial results.

We believe that the successful execution of our business strategy and our ability to build upon the significant recent investments in our business and acquisitions of new businesses depends on the continued employment of key members of our senior management team. If any members of our senior management team become unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our financial results and our business could be materially adversely affected.

Future changes in reimbursement trends could hamper our Healthcare and Physician segments clients’ ability to pay us, which would harm our financial results.

Many of our Healthcare and Physician segments’ clients are reimbursed under the federal Medicare program and state Medicaid programs for the services they provide. In recent years, federal and state governments have made significant changes in these programs that have reduced reimbursement rates. In addition, insurance companies and managed care organizations seek to control costs by requiring that healthcare providers, such as hospitals, discount their services in exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. Future federal and state legislation or evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce, or change conditions for, our clients’ reimbursement. Limitations on reimbursement could reduce our clients’ cash flows, thereby hampering their ability to pay us.

If our insurance costs increase significantly, these incremental costs could negatively affect our financial results.

The costs related to obtaining and maintaining workers’ compensation insurance, medical malpractice insurance, professional and general liability insurance and health insurance for our contract professionals have been increasing. If the cost of carrying this insurance continues to increase significantly, this may reduce our gross and operating margins and affect our financial results.

Healthcare reform could negatively impact our business opportunities, revenues and gross and operating margins.

The U.S. government has undertaken efforts to reform the healthcare system through legislation and regulation.  Healthcare reform proposals are generally intended to expand healthcare coverage for the uninsured and reduce the growth of total healthcare expenditures. While the U.S. Congress has not adopted any comprehensive reform proposals, Congress continues to consider such proposals. If any of these proposals are approved, hospitals and other healthcare facilities may react by spending less on healthcare staffing, including nurses and physicians. If this were to occur, we would have fewer business opportunities, which could seriously harm our business.  In addition, healthcare reform proposals, if approved, may require employers to provide healthcare insurance coverage to its employees.  If we are required to provide healthcare insurance coverage to our contract employees, we may not be able to increase client bill rates to cover the additional expense and this may reduce our gross and operating margins and affect our financial results.

 

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Furthermore, third-party payers, such as health maintenance organizations, increasingly challenge the prices charged for medical care. Failure by hospitals and other healthcare facilities to obtain full reimbursement from those third-party payers could reduce the demand or the price paid for our staffing services.

We operate in a regulated industry and changes in regulations or violations of regulations may result in increased costs or sanctions that could reduce our revenues and profitability.

Our organization is subject to extensive and complex federal and state laws and regulations including but not limited to laws and regulations related to professional licensure, payroll tax, conduct of operations, payment for services and payment for referrals. If we fail to comply with the laws and regulations that are directly applicable to our business, we could suffer civil and/or criminal penalties or be subject to injunctions or cease and desist orders.

Extensive and complex laws that apply to our hospital and healthcare facility clients, including laws related to Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs, could indirectly affect the demand or the prices paid for our services. For example, our hospital and healthcare facility clients could suffer civil and/or criminal penalties and/or be excluded from participating in Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs if they fail to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to their businesses. In addition, our hospital and healthcare facility clients could receive reduced reimbursements or be excluded from coverage because of a change in the rates or conditions set by federal or state governments. In turn, violations of or changes to these laws and regulations that adversely affect our hospital and healthcare facility clients could also adversely affect the prices that these clients are willing or able to pay for our services.

We may be subject to increases in payroll-related costs and state unemployment insurance taxes which, as a result, our margins could decline.

We currently pay federal, state and local payroll costs and taxes for our corporate employees and contract professional employees.  If we are subject to significant increases in costs associated with payroll and state unemployment taxes, we may not be able to increase client bill rates to cover the additional expense and this may reduce our gross and operating margins and affect our financial results.

The trading price of our common stock has experienced significant fluctuations, which could make it difficult for us to access the public markets for financing or use our common stock as consideration in a strategic transaction.

In 2009, the trading price of our common stock experienced significant fluctuations, from a high of $7.52 to a low of $1.28. The closing price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market was $7.06 on March 10, 2010. Our common stock may continue to fluctuate widely as a result of a large number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

·	period to period fluctuations in our financial results or those of our competitors;

·	failure to meet previously announced guidance or analysts’ expectations of our quarterly results;

·	announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, significant contracts, commercial relationships or capital commitments;

·	commencement of, or involvement in, litigation;

·	any major change in our board or management;

·	changes in government regulations, including those related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies;

·	recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates;

·	announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

·	the volume of shares of common stock available for public sale;

·	announcements by our competitors of their earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

·	sales of stock by us or by our shareholders;

·	short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions in shares of our common stock; and

·	general economic conditions, slow or negative growth of unrelated markets and other external factors.

The stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the trading prices of the common stock of many companies involved in the temporary staffing industry. As a result of these fluctuations, we may encounter difficulty should we determine to access the public markets for financing or use our common stock as consideration in a strategic transaction.

 

 

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Future sales of our common stock and the future exercise of options may cause the market price of our common stock to decline and may result in substantial dilution.

We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our common stock, or the availability of our common stock for sale will have on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market by management or us, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock at a time and price which you may deem appropriate.

We have adopted anti-takeover measures that could prevent a change in our control.

In June 2003, we adopted a shareholder rights plan that has certain anti-takeover effects and will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us in a manner or on terms that have not been approved by our board of directors. This plan could delay or impede the removal of incumbent directors and could make more difficult a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us, even if such events could be beneficial, in the short-term, to the interests of our shareholders. In addition, such provisions could limit the price that some investors might be wiling to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that limit liability and provide for indemnification of our directors and officers, and provide that our stockholders can take action only at a duly called meeting of stockholders. These provisions and others also may have the affect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management.

Provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent a change in control that our stockholders consider favorable.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. These provisions include the following:

·	Our board of directors has the right to elect directors to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors.

·

Our stockholders may not act by written consent. In addition, a holder or holders controlling a majority of our capital stock would not be able to take certain actions without holding a stockholder’s meeting, and only stockholders owning at least 50 percent of our entire voting stock must request in writing in order to call a special meeting of stockholders (which is in addition to the authority held by our board of directors to call a special stockholder meeting).

·

Stockholders must provide advance notice to nominate individuals for election to the board of directors or to propose matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

·

Our board of directors may issue, without stockholder approval, up to 1 million shares of undesignated or “blank check” preferred stock. The ability to issue undesignated or “blank check” preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt or make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.

    As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to certain Delaware anti-takeover provisions, including Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under these provisions, a corporation may not engage in a business combination with any large stockholders who hold 15 percent or more of our outstanding voting capital stock in a merger or business combination unless the holder has held the stock for 3 years, the board of directors has expressly approved the merger or business transaction or at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting capital stock not owned by such large stockholder approve the merger or the transaction. These provisions of Delaware law may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control, and may discourage bids for our common stock at a premium over its market price. In addition, our board of directors could rely on these provisions of Delaware law to discourage, prevent or delay an acquisition of us.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable .

Item 2. Properties

As of December 31, 2009, we leased approximately 30,500 square feet of office space through March 2011 for our field support and corporate headquarters in Calabasas, California.  Additionally, we leased 16,600 square feet of office space for our field support offices in Blue Ash, Ohio.  As of December 31, 2009, we leased approximately 56,000 square feet of office space through December 2016 at our VISTA headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and 48,300 square feet of office space through December 2015 at our Oxford headquarters in Beverly, Massachusetts.

 

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In addition, we lease approximately 369,000 square feet of office space in approximately 73 branch office locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Canada. A branch office typically occupies space ranging from approximately 1,000 to 3,000 square feet with lease terms that typically range from six months to five years.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, we do not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 4.  Removed and Reserved

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Our common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ASGN. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market for each quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years. At March 10, 2010, we had approximately 41 holders of record, approximately 3,400 beneficial owners of our common stock and 36,371,091 shares outstanding.

		Price Range of Common Stock
		High				Low
Year Ended December 31, 2009
First Quarter		$	5.79			$	1.28
Second Quarter		$	4.41			$	2.40
Third Quarter		$	6.29			$	3.53
Fourth Quarter		$	7.52			$	5.15
Year Ended December 31, 2008
First Quarter		$	6.98			$	4.32
Second Quarter		$	8.82			$	6.26
Third Quarter		$	9.70			$	7.26
Fourth Quarter		$	7.92			$	4.05

Since inception, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock, and we currently plan to retain all earnings to support the development and expansion of our business and we have no present intention of paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, the board of directors periodically reviews our dividend policy to determine whether the declaration of dividends is appropriate. Terms of our senior credit facility restrict our ability to pay dividends of more than $2.0 million per year.

    On June 15, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2,940,939 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2003, the Company had repurchased 2,662,500 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $23.0 million. The Company did not repurchase any shares during 2004, 2005 and 2006.  In  2007, the Company repurchased the remaining 278,439 shares of its common stock for $2.0 million. At December 31, 2009, the Company has no remaining authorization to repurchase shares. Effective December 31, 2009, the Company retired all of its treasury stock.

Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares the performance of On Assignment’s common stock price during the period from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2009 with the composite prices of companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and of companies included in the SIC Code No. 736—Personnel Supply Services Companies Index. The companies listed in the SIC Code No. 736 include peer companies in the same industry or line of business as On Assignment.

The graph depicts the results of investing $100 in On Assignment’s common stock, the NASDAQ Stock Market composite index and an index of the companies listed in the SIC Code No. 736 on December 31, 2004 and assumes that dividends were reinvested during the period.

The comparisons shown in the graph below are based upon historical data, and we caution stockholders that the stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, potential future performance.

 

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		Year Ended December 31,
		2009				2008				2007				2006				2005				2004
On Assignment, Inc.		$	137.76			$	109.25			$	135.07			$	226.40			$	210.21			$	100.00
SIC Code No. 736 Index—Personnel Supply Services Company Index		$	90.49			$	62.89			$	96.37			$	130.20			$	103.47			$	100.00
NASDAQ Stock Market Index		$	108.56			$	74.71			$	124.57			$	112.68			$	102.20			$	100.00

 
 

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table presents selected financial data of On Assignment. This selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2009				2008				2007(1)				2006				2005
		(in thousands, except per share data)
Income Statement Data:
Revenues		$	416,613			$	618,058			$	567,180			$	287,566			$	237,856
Cost of services			280,245				418,602				387,643				209,725				174,627
Gross profit			136,368				199,456				179,537				77,841				63,229
Selling, general and administrative expenses			121,141				155,942				151,942				67,900				64,135
Operating income (loss)			15,227				43,514				27,595				9,941				(906	)
Interest expense			(6,612	)			(9,998	)			(12,174	)			(54	)			—
Interest income			170				715				1,394				1,698				681
Income (loss) before income taxes			8,785				34,231				16,815				11,585				(225	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes			4,078				15,261				7,493				541	(2)			(129	)
Net income (loss)		$	4,707			$	18,970			$	9,322			$	11,044			$	(96	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic		$	0.13			$	0.53			$	0.27			$	0.41			$	(0.00	)
Diluted		$	0.13			$	0.53			$	0.26			$	0.39			$	(0.00	)
Number of shares and share equivalents used to calculate earnings (loss) per share:
Basic			36,011				35,487				35,138				27,155				25,464
Diluted			36,335				35,858				35,771				28,052				25,464
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and current portion of marketable securities		$	25,974			$	46,271			$	37,764			$	110,161			$	25,365
Working capital			62,238				91,192				79,009				135,501				47,629
Total assets			343,462				401,850				384,680				186,995				93,705
Long-term liabilities			84,847				129,805				140,803				627				70
Stockholders’ equity			226,661				218,514				193,034				165,944				76,637

(1) On January 3, 2007, we acquired VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., and on January 31, 2007, we acquired Oxford Global Resources, Inc.

(2)  In 2006, there was a reversal of the valuation allowance of $4.9 million that was recorded against our net deferred income tax assets in 2004 and 2005.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our anticipated financial and operating performance for future periods. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed or suggested in the forward-looking statements herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences or prove our forward-looking statements, by hindsight, to be overly optimistic or unachievable include, but are not limited to, the following:

·	actual demand for our services;

·	our ability to attract, train, and retain qualified staffing consultants;

·	our ability to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients;

·	the availability of qualified temporary nurses and other qualified contract professionals;

·	our ability to manage our growth efficiently and effectively; and

·	continued performance of our information systems.

For a discussion of these and other factors that may impact our realization of our forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” within Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Other factors may also contribute to the differences between our forward-looking statements and our actual results. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements in this document are based on information available to us as of the date we file this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or the reasons why our actual results may differ.

Overview

On Assignment, Inc. is a diversified professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in specialty skills including Laboratory/Scientific, Healthcare/Nursing, Physicians, Medical Financial, Information Technology and Engineering. We provide clients in these markets with short-term or long-term assignments of contract professionals, contract-to-permanent placement and direct placement of these professionals. Our business currently consists of four operating segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician, and IT and Engineering.

Economic conditions in 2009 were challenging with tight credit markets, volatile financial markets, low consumer confidence and high unemployment rates.

Our consolidated revenues and gross profit decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 as demand for temporary staffing services weakened as a result of the economic environment.  Despite the decrease in revenues, we remained disciplined in maintaining margins and positioning our Company for future growth and profitability.  In 2009, we generated higher operating cash flows than in 2008 and decreased our long-term debt.

 Many strategic factors helped sustain our business during 2009, including our business model that includes professional diversification, expanded product lines and a commitment to excellent service to better serve our end markets.  Our four operating segments, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering segments provide a mutually supportive infrastructure where we share best practices and maximize cross selling opportunities.

We are confident that as conditions in the U.S. and global economy improve in 2010, we will be in a position of great opportunity as companies with a need to create new jobs, yet with uncertainty about sustainable growth, will turn to professional staffing firms for their contract needs.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes selected income statement data expressed as a percentage of revenues:

		Year Ended December 31,
		2009				2008				2007
Revenues			100.0	%			100.0	%			100.0	%
Cost of services			67.3				67.7				68.3
Gross profit			32.7				32.3				31.7
Selling, general and administrative expenses			29.1				25.2				26.8
Operating income			3.6				7.1				4.9
Interest income			0.0				0.1				0.2
Interest expense			(1.5	)			(1.6	)			(2.1	)
Income before income taxes			2.1				5.6				3.0
Provision for income taxes			1.0				2.5				1.4
Net income			1.1	%			3.1	%			1.6	%

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009

COMPARED WITH THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

Revenues.

		Year Ended December 31,								Change
		2009				2008				$					%
Revenues by segment (in thousands):
Life Sciences		$	93,664			$	129,483			$	(35,819	)			(27.7	%)
Healthcare			97,137				180,671				(83,534	)			(46.2	%)
Physician			87,719				89,217				(1,498	)			(1.7	%)
IT and Engineering			138,093				218,687				(80,594	)			(36.9	%)
Total Revenues		$	416,613			$	618,058			$	(201,445	)			(32.6	%)

Revenues decreased $201.4 million, or 32.6 percent, as a result of weakened demand for our services in all segments.

Life Sciences segment revenues decreased $35.8 million, or 27.7 percent. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to a 24.8 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, as well as a $3.4 million, or 54.8 percent decrease in direct hire and conversion fees. Based on our research and client feedback, we believe this was a direct result of our clients’ decisions to focus more on cost containment than on completing projects and developing new products or enhancing existing product lines during this challenging economic period, decreased venture capital funding in the life sciences sector, softness in the clinical trials arena, which is closely tied to the struggling pharmaceutical industry, decreased demand for recent graduates and lower level scientific skill disciplines.

Healthcare segment revenues (comprised of our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business) decreased $83.5 million, or 46.2 percent. Nurse Travel revenues decreased $69.4 million, or 55.5 percent, to $55.6 million primarily as a result of a 51.1 percent decrease in the average number of nurses on assignment and a 3.4 percent decrease in the average bill rate. Allied Healthcare revenues decreased $14.1 million, or 25.3 percent, to $41.5 million due to a 21.1 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, partially offset by a 6.5 percent increase in the average bill rate. Based on our research and client feedback, we believe the decrease in revenues was attributable to less demand from hospitals and other healthcare facilities as they reduced their usage of contract professionals in response to declining patient admissions, endowment balances, reduced charitable contributions and the inability to access the credit markets during this challenging economic period.

Physician segment revenues decreased $1.5 million, or 1.7 percent. The decrease in revenue was primarily attributable to a 13.2 percent decrease in the average number of physicians on assignment and a $0.9 million decrease in reimbursable revenue for billable expenses, partially offset by a 2.3 percent increase in the average bill rate.  Based on industry research and client feedback, we believe the decrease in revenues reflects the uncertainty surrounding health care reform and the decline in patient admissions which has slowed down our clients’ hiring decisions.

 

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IT and Engineering segment revenues decreased $80.6 million, or 36.9 percent.  The decrease in revenues was primarily due to a 31.8 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, an 8.8 percent decrease in the average bill rate and a $3.7 million decrease in reimbursable revenue for billable expenses.  Based on client feedback, the decrease in revenues was mainly the result of the current economic environment and the lack of capital available to clients for projects and programs.

Gross Profit and Gross Margins.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2009								2008
		Gross Profit				Gross Margin				Gross Profit				Gross Margin
Gross Profit by segment (in thousands):
Life Sciences		$	30,470				32.5	%		$	43,502				33.6	%
Healthcare			27,329				28.1	%			46,265				25.6	%
Physician			28,545				32.5	%			27,369				30.7	%
IT and Engineering			50,024				36.2	%			82,320				37.6	%
Total Gross Profit		$	136,368				32.7	%		$	199,456				32.3	%

The year-over-year gross profit decrease was primarily due to the decline in revenues in all four segments, partially offset by a 46 basis point expansion in consolidated gross margin. The increase in gross margin was primarily attributable to margin expansion in the Healthcare and Physician segments and a shift in mix from our Nurse Travel line of business which has the lowest gross margin.

Life Sciences segment gross profit decreased $13.0 million, or 30.0 percent. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to a 27.7 percent decrease in the segment revenues and a 107 basis point contraction in gross margin mainly due to a $3.4 million decrease in direct hire and conversion fee revenues. The contraction in gross margin was partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in workers’ compensation expense as a result of both lower claim frequency and favorable settlements.

Healthcare segment gross profit decreased $18.9 million, or 40.9 percent. The decrease in gross profit was due to a 46.2 percent decrease in the segment revenues, partially offset by a 252 basis point expansion in gross margin. The expansion in gross margin was primarily due to a 117 basis point decrease in travel related expenses, an 88 basis point reduction in other employee-related expenses and a 38 basis point decrease in workers’ compensation expense as a result of our loss control efforts. The expansion in gross margin was partially offset by an 8.5 percent decrease in the bill/pay spread. Within this segment Allied Healthcare gross profit decreased 22.4 percent while gross margin expanded 123 basis points and Nurse Travel gross profit decreased 52.4 percent while gross margin increased 160 basis points.

Physician segment gross profit increased $1.2 million, or 4.3 percent. The increase in gross profit was attributable to a 186 basis point expansion in gross margin, partially offset by a $1.5 million decrease in revenue. The expansion in gross margin was primarily due to a 6.9 percent increase in the bill/pay spread as well as a 0.9 million increase in direct hire and conversion fee revenues. The expansion in gross margin was partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in medical malpractice expense, which included a $0.6 million non-cash expense related to the Company’s adjustment of the discount rate applied to our medical malpractice liability because of the decrease in interest rates.

IT and Engineering segment gross profit decreased $32.3 million, or 39.2 percent, primarily due to a 36.9 percent decrease in revenues and a contraction in gross margin of 142 basis points.  The contraction in gross margin was primarily due to an 11.3 percent decrease in the bill/pay spread and a $1.0 million decrease in direct hire and conversion fee revenues.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  >Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses include field operating expenses, such as costs associated with our network of staffing consultants and branch offices for each of our four segments, including staffing consultant compensation, rent, other office expenses, marketing and recruiting expenses for our contract professionals. SG&A expenses also include our corporate and branch office support expenses, such as the salaries of corporate operations and support personnel, recruiting and training expenses for field staff, marketing staff expenses, expenses related to being a publicly-traded company and other general and administrative expenses.

 

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SG&A expenses decreased $34.8 million, or 22.3 percent, to $121.1 million from $155.9 million. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily due to a $23.9 million decrease in compensation and benefits as a result of lower headcount as compared with the prior year.  The decrease in SG&A expenses was also due to a $3.4 million decrease in amortization expense as certain intangible assets became fully amortized beginning in late 2008, as well as a $2.2 million decrease in travel related expense and a $1.4 million decrease in marketing expense. Total SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 29.1 percent in the 2009 period from 25.2 percent in the same period in 2008, primarily due to revenue decreasing faster than SG&A expenses in 2009.

Interest expense and interest income.>  Interest expense was $6.6 million in 2009 compared with $10.0 million in 2008.  This decrease was primarily due to a $1.3 million gain in 2009 compared with a $0.1 million loss in 2008 for the mark-to-market adjustment on our interest rate swap, which expired on June 30, 2009 and lower average debt balances, partially offset by higher interest rates as a result of the debt amendment completed in the first quarter of 2009.

Interest income was $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the years ended 2009 and 2008, respectively. Interest income in the current period decreased compared to 2008 due to lower account balances invested in interest-bearing accounts and lower average interest rates.

Provision for Income Taxes>. The provision for income taxes was $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with $15.3 million for 2008. The annual effective tax rate for 2009 was 46.4 percent compared with 44.6 percent for 2008. The increase in the annual effective tax rate was attributable to a decline in the income before income taxes for the year while our level of permanent differences was comparable with 2008.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

COMPARED WITH THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

Revenues.

		Year Ended December 31,								Change
		2008				2007				$					%
Revenues by segment (in thousands):
Life Sciences		$	129,483			$	134,622			$	(5,139	)			(3.8	%)
Healthcare			180,671				175,079				5,592				3.2	%
Physician			89,217				74,599				14,618				19.6	%
IT and Engineering			218,687				182,880				35,807				19.6	%
Total Revenues		$	618,058			$	567,180			$	50,878				9.0	%

Revenues increased $50.9 million, or 9.0 percent as a result of growth in our Healthcare, Physician, IT and Engineering segments. The growth was due to both demand in our end markets, as well as an expanded and more experienced sales and fulfillment team. In the latter half of 2007, we made management changes and realigned certain geographic markets in our Healthcare segment in order to generate higher revenue growth. The 2008 period included twelve months of activity from the IT and Engineering segment, as opposed to only eleven months in the 2007 period.

Life Sciences segment revenues decreased $5.1 million, or 3.8 percent. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to a 9.8 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, a $0.6 million, or 28.3 percent, decrease in conversion fee revenues and the deteriorating foreign exchange rate for the British Pound and the Euro combined with a deepening recession in the United Kingdom and the United States.  These decreases were partially offset by a 5.4 percent increase in the average bill rate and a $0.2 million increase in permanent placement fees. The year-over-year decrease in revenues was a direct result of our clients’ decisions to focus more on cost containment than on completing projects, developing new products or enhancing existing product lines during this challenging economic period.

The overall increase in Healthcare segment revenues, which include our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business, consisted of an increase in both the Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business revenues. Nurse Travel revenues increased $5.3 million, or 4.4 percent, to $125.1 million. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to a 4.0 percent increase in the average number of nurses on assignment, as well as a 2.9 percent increase in the average bill rate. The Nurse Travel revenues in 2008 also included $2.4 million related to supporting a long standing customer that experienced a labor disruption.  The Nurse Travel results include a decrease in revenues derived from hospitals that experienced labor disruptions, which for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $2.8 million.  Allied Healthcare revenues increased $0.3 million, or 0.6 percent due to a 4.8 percent increase in the average bill rate and an increase in billable expenses, partially offset by a 6.7 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment. In addition, direct hire revenues in the Allied Healthcare line of business decreased $0.2 million, or 13.5 percent.

 

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Physician segment revenues increased $14.6 million, or 19.6 percent. The increase in revenues in 2008 was primarily due to an 11.2 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment as well as a 7.3 percent increase in the average bill rate as a result of a strong demand environment as a result of a shortage of physicians.

The IT and Engineering segment revenues increased $35.8 million, or 19.6 percent. The increase in revenue was primarily due to a 7.3 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, a 3.5 percent increase in the average bill rate as well as an increase in conversion and direct hire fee revenue and billable expenses. In addition, revenues for 2007 only included eleven months of results because the Company completed its acquisition of Oxford on January 31, 2007.

Gross Profit and Gross Margins.

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2008								2007
		Gross Profit				Gross Margin				Gross Profit				Gross Margin
Gross Profit by segment (in thousands):
Life Sciences		$	43,502				33.6	%		$	45,024				33.4	%
Healthcare			46,265				25.6	%			44,269				25.3	%
Physician			27,369				30.7	%			21,808				29.2	%
IT and Engineering			82,320				37.6	%			68,436				37.4	%
Total Gross Profit		$	199,456				32.3	%		$	179,537				31.7	%

The year-over-year gross profit increase was due to growth in revenues in the IT and Engineering, Physician and Healthcare segments and a 62 basis point expansion in consolidated gross margin. The expansion in gross margin was primarily attributable to increases in margins in the Physician and Healthcare segments and to a higher proportion of revenues from the IT and Engineering segment, which has higher gross margins than the other segments.  The 2008 period included twelve months of reportable activity from the IT and Engineering segment as compared with only eleven months in the 2007 period.

Life Sciences segment gross profit decreased $1.5 million, or 3.4 percent. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to a 3.8 percent decrease in the segment revenues partially offset by an increase of 16 basis points in gross margin. The increase in gross margin was predominantly due to a 7.1 percent increase in bill/pay spread as a result of our continued focus on pricing policies and increased direct hire revenues.

Healthcare segment gross profit increased $2.0 million, or 4.5 percent. The increase in gross profit was due to a 3.2 percent increase in the segment revenues and an increase in gross margin. Gross margin for the segment increased 32 basis points due to an increase in the bill/pay spread, partially offset by an increase in other contract employee expenses. This segment includes gross profit from the Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business. Allied Healthcare gross profit increased 0.7 percent and gross margin increased 2 basis points while Nurse Travel gross profit increased 7.0 percent and gross margin increased 57 basis points. Gross margins in the first quarter of a year tend to be lower than the fourth quarter of the preceding year due to the reset of certain payroll taxes.

Physician segment gross profit increased $5.6 million, or 25.5 percent. The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to a 19.6 percent increase in revenues as well as an increase in gross margin. Gross margin for the segment increased 145 basis points primarily due to an increase in bill/pay spread, partially offset by increased medical malpractice expense. The segment began adjusting bill rates simultaneously with adjustments in the pay rates when possible which positively impacted the bill/pay spread in 2008.

IT and Engineering segment gross profit increased $13.9 million, or 20.3 percent, primarily due to a 19.6 percent increase in revenues, as the 2008 period included twelve months of reportable activity versus eleven months in 2007, as well as an increase in gross margin for the segment. Gross margin for the segment increased 22 basis points, primarily due to an increase in bill/pay spread and a $0.8 million, or 83.7 percent increase in conversion fee revenue, partially offset by a $3.2 million, or 31.0 percent increase in other contract employment expenses.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  >SG&A expenses include field operating expenses, such as costs associated with our network of staffing consultants and branch offices for our Life Sciences segment and our Allied Healthcare lines of business, including staffing consultant compensation, rent and other office expenses, as well as marketing and recruiting for our contract professionals. Nurse Travel SG&A expenses include compensation for regional sales directors, account managers and recruiters, as well as rent and other office expenses and marketing for traveling nurses. SG&A expenses from our Physician and IT and Engineering segments include compensation for sales personnel, as well as rent and other office expenses and marketing for these segments. SG&A expenses also include our corporate and branch office support expenses, such as the salaries of corporate operations and support personnel, recruiting and training expenses for field staff, marketing staff expenses, rent, expenses related to being a publicly-traded company and other general and administrative expenses.

SG&A expenses increased $4.0 million, or 2.6 percent, to $155.9 million from $151.9 million. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to a $10.2 million increase in compensation and benefits as a result of increased revenues, and SG&A expenses of the IT and Engineering segment being included for twelve months in 2008 compared to only eleven months in 2007. The increase in SG&A expense was partially offset by a $7.0 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses, primarily related to a reduction of the amortization amount for other intangibles in 2008. Total SG&A as a percentage of revenues decreased to 25.2 percent in the 2008 period from 26.8 percent in the 2007 period, primarily due to decreased depreciation and amortization expense.

Interest expense and interest income.>  Interest expense was $10.0 million and $12.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average debt balances in 2008 due to $9.7 million principal payments in 2007, and a decrease in average interest rates during 2008. On December 31, 2008 and 2007, the value of our interest rate swap was marked-to-market, and we recorded a loss of $0.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, for the years then ended, which is shown in interest expense, and the related liability of $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, was included in the Consolidated  Balance Sheets in other current liabilities.

Interest income was $0.7 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Interest income in the current period was also lower due to lower average interest rates in 2008.

Provision for Income Taxes>. The provision for income taxes was $15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $7.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The annual effective tax rate was 44.6 percent for 2008 and 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital at December 31, 2009 was $62.2 million and our cash and cash equivalents were $26.0 million. Our operating cash flows have been our primary source of liquidity and historically have been sufficient to fund our working capital and capital expenditure needs. Our working capital requirements consist primarily of the financing of accounts receivable, payroll expenses and the periodic payments of principal and interest on our term loan.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $42.0 million for 2009 compared with $35.4 million for 2008.  This increase was due to cash generated from the reduction in net operating assets and liabilities during 2009, mainly from lower accounts receivable. The decrease in accounts receivable reflects the decline in revenues during the year and improved days sales outstanding.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $13.8 million during 2009 compared with $17.7 million during 2008, primarily due to lower capital expenditures.  Net cash from investing activities included proceeds of $0.5 million from insurance settlements in the third quarter of 2009. Capital expenditures related to information technology projects, leasehold improvements and various property and equipment purchases during 2009 totaled $4.7 million, compared with $8.2 million during 2008. We estimate capital expenditures to be approximately $4.8 million for 2010.

Net cash used in financing activities was $49.0 million for 2009, compared with net cash used in financing activities of $8.4 million for 2008.  During 2009, we paid down our term loan facility by $48.0 million compared with $10.0 million paid down during 2008.

Under terms of our credit facility, we are required to maintain certain financial covenants, including a minimum total leverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a limitation on capital expenditures. The facility also restricts our ability to pay dividends of more than $2.0 million per year. On March 27, 2009, we entered into an amendment to our credit facility that modified certain financial covenants.  Under the terms of the amended facility, the maximum total leverage ratio (total debt to EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement for the preceding 12 months) is as follows:

January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009	3.25 to 1.00
January 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010	3.00 to 1.00
October 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011	2.75 to 1.00
January 1, 2012 and thereafter	2.50 to 1.00

 

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Additionally, the minimum interest coverage ratio (EBITDA to interest expense, as defined by the credit agreement for the preceding 12 months) is 4.00 to 1.00 until maturity.  The amendment also modified the definition of the LIBOR rate to include a 3.0 percent floor and increased the spread on revolving and term loans by 150 basis points to 3.75 percent. As a condition to the effectiveness of the amendment, we paid down the principal balance on the term loan by $15.0 million.  In 2009, we paid down an additional $33.0 million on the principal balance of our term loan.  The payments were sufficient to cover the excess cash flow payment required by the bank, as well as all minimum quarterly payments until maturity on January 31, 2013.  Based on our current operating plan, we believe we will maintain compliance with the covenants contained in our credit facility for the next 12 months.  

 

The VISTA earn-out related to the 2008 operating performance of VISTA was paid in April 2009.  We notified the selling shareholders of VISTA of certain claims for indemnification, totaling $1.4 million, which was recorded as a decrease to goodwill and an increase in other current assets as of December 31, 2008.  We anticipate that the remaining balance of $0.5 million of the indemnification payments will be settled by the agreement of all applicable parties to the terms and provisions related to such payment in 2010. In October 2009, we paid $4.8 million of the earn-out related to the 2008 operating performance of Oxford. The Company has no additional earn-out payment obligations.

We continue to make progress on enhancements to our front-office and back-office information systems.  These enhancements include the consolidation of back-office systems across all corporate functions, as well as enhancements to and broader application of our front-office software across all lines of business. The timing of the full integration of information systems used by VISTA and Oxford will remain a consideration of management.

We believe that our working capital as of December 31, 2009, our credit facility and positive operating cash flows expected from future activities will be sufficient to fund future requirements of our debt obligations, accounts payable and related payroll expenses as well as capital expenditure initiatives for the next twelve months.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

    We lease space for our corporate and branch offices. Rent expense was $8.2 million in 2009, $9.5 million in 2008 and $8.8 million in 2007.

 

    The following table sets forth, on an aggregate basis, at December 31, 2009, the amounts of specified contractual cash obligations required to be paid in the periods shown (in thousands):

Contractual Obligations		2010				2011				2012				2013				2014				Thereafter				Total
Long-term debt obligations		$	―			$	―			$	―			$	77,913			$	―			$	―			$	77,913
Operating lease obligations			6,196				3,939				2,492				1,936				1,733				2,317				18,613
Total		$	6,196			$	3,939			$	2,492			$	79,849			$	1,733			$	2,317			$	96,526

 

    For additional information about these contractual cash obligations, see Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report. Interest payments related to our bank debt are not set forth in the table above.

 

    As of December 31, 2009, included in other current assets is a balance of $0.5 million for claims indemnifiable by the selling shareholders of VISTA, which we anticipate will be settled by the agreement of all applicable parties to the terms and provisions related to such payment in 2010. See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

   We are partially self-insured for our workers' compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments as well as its medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with this program, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred up to certain levels and are insured for losses greater than certain levels per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not yet reported. We account for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes in estimates, differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or payments were made. The self-insurance claim liability was approximately $10.3 million and $9.8 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Additionally, we have letters of credit outstanding to secure obligations for workers’ compensation claims with various insurance carriers.  The letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were $3.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively.         

 

    As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, we have an income tax reserve in other long-term liabilities related to our uncertain tax positions of $0.3 million.

 

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    We are involved in various other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, we do not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

    As of December 31, 2009, the Company had no significant off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases and letters of credit outstanding.

Accounting Standards Updates

 

    The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) in the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The ASC does not alter current accounting principles generally accepted in the Unites States of America (GAAP), but rather integrated existing accounting standards with other authoritative guidance. The ASC provides a single source of authoritative GAAP for nongovernmental entities and supersedes all other previously issued non-SEC accounting and reporting guidance. The adoption of the ASC did not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), which requires new disclosures for fair value measurements and provides clarification for existing disclosures requirements. More specifically, this update will require (a) an entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers; and (b) information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be presented separately (i.e. present the activity on a gross basis rather than net) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). This guidance clarifies existing disclosure requirements for the level of disaggregation used for classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and requires disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosure are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosure requirements related to the purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward activity of Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2010. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which will be effective in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, which establishes the criteria for separating consideration in multiple-element arrangements.  The updated guidance requires companies allocating the overall consideration to each deliverable to use an estimated selling price of individual deliverables in the arrangement in the absence of vendor-specific evidence or other third-party evidence of the selling price for the deliverables and it also provides additional factors that should be considered when determining whether software in a tangible product is essential to its functionality. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which will be effective January 1, 2011.

In August 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 820 on measuring liabilities at fair value. The guidance provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted market price in an active market for an identical liability is not available, an entity is required to measure fair value using a valuation technique that uses the quoted price of an identical liability when traded as an asset or, if unavailable, quoted prices for similar liabilities or similar assets when traded as assets. If none of this information is available, an entity should use a valuation technique in accordance with existing fair valuation principles.  The Company adopted the measurement requirements of this guidance in the quarter ended December 31, 2009 with no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events, on accounting and disclosure.  The Company adopted this guidance in the quarter ended June 30, 2009 with no impact on the consolidated financial statements. See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report under Subsequent Events for the related disclosure required by this standard.

        In April 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 820 on determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased, and in identifying transactions that are not orderly.  The Company adopted this guidance in the quarter ended June 30, 2009 with no impact to the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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    In April 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, to include additional requirements regarding accounting for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The Company implemented these requirements with no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, to include additional requirements regarding interim disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments which were previously only disclosed on an annual basis. The Company adopted these requirements in the quarter ended June 30, 2009. See Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report for the disclosures required by this standard.

On January 1, 2009, the Company implemented the deferred provisions under ASC 820 related to non-financial assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis.  See Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report for the disclosures required by this standard.

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the guidance in ASC Topic 815, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. See Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report for the disclosures required by this standard.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report. We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We consider the following policies to be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our financial statements and the uncertainties that could impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Billing Adjustments. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as well as an allowance for billing adjustments related to trade receivables based on our analysis of historical collection and adjustment experience. We apply actual collection and adjustment percentages to the outstanding accounts receivable balances at the end of the period. If we experience a significant change in collections or billing adjustment experience, our estimates of the recoverability of accounts receivable could change by a material amount.

Workers’ Compensation and Medical Malpractice Loss Reserves. We are partially self-insured for our workers’ compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments as well as our medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with these programs, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred, not to exceed certain stop-loss limits. We are insured for losses above these limits, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not reported. We account for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes in estimates and differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or the payments were made.

Contingencies. We record an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information available prior to issuance of our financial statements indicates it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Accounting for contingencies, such as legal settlements, workers’ compensation matters and medical malpractice insurance matters, requires us to use our judgment. While we believe that our accruals for these matters are adequate, if the actual loss from a loss contingency is significantly different than the estimated loss, results of operations may be over or understated.

Income taxes. We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that a portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

We make a comprehensive review of our portfolio of uncertain tax positions regularly.  In this regard, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken in a filed tax return, or planned to be taken in a future tax return or claim, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.  Until these positions are sustained by the taxing authorities, we have not recognized the tax benefits resulting from such positions and report the tax effects as a liability for uncertain tax positions in our consolidated balance sheets.

 

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Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis as of December 31, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives consist of trademarks.  In order to test the trademarks for impairment, we determine the fair value of the trademarks and compare such amount to its carrying value. We determine the fair value of the trademarks using a projected discounted cash flow analysis based on the relief-from-royalty approach. The principal factors used in the discounted cash flow analysis requiring judgment are projected net sales, discount rate, royalty rate and terminal value assumption. The royalty rate used in the analysis is based on transactions that have occurred in our industry.  Intangible assets having finite lives are amortized over their useful lives and are reviewed to ensure that no conditions exist indicating the recorded amount is not recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows.

Goodwill is tested for impairment using a two-step process that begins with an estimation of the fair value of a reporting unit.  This first step is a screen for impairment and compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value.  The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of impairment, if any. We determine the fair value based upon discounted cash flows prepared for each reporting unit. Cash flows are developed for each reporting unit based on assumptions including revenue growth expectations, gross margins, operating expense projections, working capital, capital expense requirements and tax rates. The multi-year financial forecasts for each reporting unit used in the cash flow models considered several key business drivers such as new product lines, historical performance and industry and economic trends, among other considerations.

The principal factors used in the discounted cash flow analysis requiring judgment are the projected results of operations, discount rate, and terminal value assumptions. The discount rate is determined using the weighted average cost of capital (WACC).  The WACC takes into account the relative weights of each component of our consolidated capital structure (equity and debt) and represents the expected cost of new capital adjusted as appropriate to consider lower risk profiles associated with such things as longer term contracts and barriers to market entry.  It also considers our risk-free rate of return, equity market risk premium, beta and size premium adjustment. A single discount rate is utilized across each reporting unit since we do not believe that there would be significant differences by reporting unit.  Additionally, the selection of the discount rate accounts for any uncertainties in the forecasts.  The terminal value assumptions are applied subsequent to the tenth year of the discounted cash flow model.

For purposes of establishing inputs for the estimated fair value calculations described above, we applied annual revenue growth rates based on the then current economic and market conditions and a terminal growth rate of 4.0 percent.  These growth factors were applied to each reporting unit for the purpose of projecting future cash flows.  The cash flows as of December 31, 2008 were discounted at a rate of approximately 12.0 percent.  No impairment of goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives was determined to exist as of December 31, 2008.

We determined that there had been a triggering event as of March 31, 2009 due to the fact that the market capitalization was below book value, and there was a significant decline in forecasted cash flows for 2009.   We revised the assumptions used to determine the fair value of each reporting unit as of March 31, 2009 from those assumptions used at December 31, 2008 to reflect estimated reductions in future expected cash flows for 2009 and 2010 and to increase forecasts for 2011 and later years based on our review of the historical revenue growth rates. The discount rate used was approximately 13.5 percent.  The interim analysis performed at March 31, 2009 did not indicate impairment.

We determined that there continued to be a triggering event as of June 30, 2009 due to the fact that our market capitalization continued to be below book value, and due to additional reductions in forecasted cash flows for 2009 based on actual results through June 30, 2009.  We performed step one of the impairment analysis as of June 30, 2009.  The assumptions used to determine the fair value of each reporting unit as of June 30, 2009 were revised from the assumptions used at March 31, 2009 to reflect further reductions in future expected cash flows for 2009 and 2010, offset by future expected increases in cash flows from cost savings measures taken in 2009 and revised cash flow forecasts for later years to incorporate future cost savings resulting from initiatives which contemplate further synergies from system and operational improvements in infrastructure and field support. Given the current economic environment, we evaluated historical revenue growth rates experienced during a recovery from a recession in establishing inputs.  Despite the significant decline in revenue in 2009 as a result of the economic downturn, large annual increases were forecasted over the next four to five years anticipating an economic recovery. Revenue was forecasted to stabilize in the second half of 2009.  Revenue growth rates in the years beginning in 2010 reflect a recovery from the recession, but were within the range of historical growth rates we have experienced during similar economic recoveries.   The discount rate used was approximately 16.0 percent as of June 30, 2009 due primarily to increases in the cost of debt, the small company risk premium based on current market capitalization and the risk-free interest rate in the second quarter.  The interim analysis performed at June 30, 2009 did not indicate impairment.

 

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     Given that our market capitalization as of June 30, 2009 was significantly below book value, we performed a review of market-based data to perform the step one analysis. The market data review included a comparable trading multiple analysis based on public company competitors in the staffing industry.  We also performed a selected transaction premiums paid analysis using 2009 transactions with characteristics similar to ours.   Both market analyses were performed on a consolidated basis to assess the reasonableness of the results of the discounted cash flow analysis.  We performed the market analyses on a consolidated basis because we did not believe that there were direct competitors with publicly available financial data that were comparable to each of our reporting units.

 

    Based on these analyses, the fair value determination based on the discounted cash flow model was determined to be reasonable in comparison to the fair values derived from these other valuation methods.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, overall operating results for our reporting units, with the exception of the Nurse Travel reporting unit, were consistent with our forecasts.  Additionally, our stock price increased during the third quarter and the excess of book value over our market capitalization declined significantly.  As a result, with the exception of the Nurse Travel reporting unit, we determined that none of our other reporting units had triggering events as of September 30, 2009.  We evaluated the Nurse Travel reporting unit and noted no impairment as of September 30, 2009.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, overall operating results for our reporting units, with the exception of the Physician reporting unit, were consistent with our forecasts.  Additionally, our stock price continued to increase during the fourth quarter and the excess of book value over our market capitalization continued to decline and was within a reasonable range.  We performed the step one analyses for each reporting unit because December 31 is our annual impairment test date.  We noted no impairment for any of the reporting units as of December 31, 2009. The discount rate that was used was 16.9 percent.  The Company performed a review of market-based data to perform the step one analysis as part of its annual impairment test.  The market data review included a comparable trading multiple analysis based on public company competitors in the staffing industry.  The market analysis was performed on a consolidated basis to assess the reasonableness of the results of the discounted cash flow analysis.  The market analysis was performed on a consolidated basis because the Company did not believe that there were direct competitors with publicly available financial data that were comparable to each of our reporting units.  Based on this analysis, the fair value determination based on the discounted cash flow model was determined to be reasonable in comparison to the fair values derived from these other valuation methods.

While the Nurse Travel reporting unit’s revenues declined to an amount which was below our forecasted amount in the third quarter, it met the forecasted amounts in the fourth quarter of 2009.  Our forecasted revenues for each of the five years beginning in 2011 are less than 2008 actual revenues.  As of December 31, 2009, the Nurse Travel reporting unit represented 7.6 percent of our $202.8 million goodwill balance and the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded the carrying value by 53.5 percent.

The current economic environment significantly impacted the results of the IT and Engineering reporting unit and as a result, the assumptions related to its forecasts require a higher degree of management estimate and judgment.  The forecasted results, particularly as it relates to revenue, are dependent on our assumptions about the timing and degree of recovery for this reporting unit.  This is also the case for the Nurse Travel reporting unit and the related assumptions described above.  The IT and Engineering reporting unit represented 73.2 percent of our $202.8 million goodwill balance and the percentage by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded its carrying value at December 31, 2009 was 7.7 percent.  We reviewed the reporting unit’s historical revenue growth over the past ten years noting that the assumptions used for the revenue growth rates in the discounted cash flow analysis lead to a result 0.5 percent higher than what the reporting unit had achieved historically.  Our second quarter forecasts projected IT and Engineering revenues to begin to stabilize in the second half of 2009 and to increase beginning in 2010.  Our third quarter results showed the stabilization that we anticipated and they achieved growth in the fourth quarter.  Given that our forecasts assume recovery and revenue growth from the recession beginning in 2010, we have disclosed below the five-year compounded annual revenue growth rates for periods after the 2009 decline that were used in the discounted cash flow analysis to show the level of expected revenue growth after the economic downturn.  We have also provided a comparison below of these revenue growth rates reflected in the discounted cash flow analysis to the historical five-year compounded annual growth rates. This comparison demonstrates that the revenue growth rates reflected in the discounted cash flow analysis were reasonable based on the reporting unit’s historical financial performance. 

The IT and Engineering reporting unit was heavily impacted by the economic environment because this business is concentrated in highly specialized projects which decline significantly when companies are not investing in capital expenditures.  However, historically the reverse has occurred during a period of economic recovery since the work that the reporting unit performs is necessary to develop systems or product enhancements.   The ten-year compounded annual revenue growth rate between 2008 and 2018 for the reporting unit forecasted in the December 31, 2009 analysis was 5.1 percent and its historical ten-year compounded annual revenue growth rate between 1998 and 2008 was 4.6 percent. Both of these

 

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periods include the impact of an economic decline and a subsequent recovery. Had we used a ten-year compounded annual revenue growth rate of 4.6 percent in our discounted cash flow analysis, the percentage by which the estimated fair value would have exceeded its carrying value at December 31, 2009 was 3.6 percent. The reporting unit experienced an economic downturn between 2002 and 2003 and as a result, revenues declined by 38.7 percent.  When the economy recovered over the next several years through 2008, the five-year compounded annual revenue growth rate was 16.3 percent.  In the discounted cash flow analysis, we used a five-year compounded annual revenue growth rate between 2009 and 2014 of 15.9 percent reflecting the expected stabilization of revenues in the second half of 2009 and the economic recovery at the beginning of 2010, which we believe is reasonable based on the historical growth rates recovering from an economic downturn.

The Physician segment’s revenues were growing the first half of 2009, which was offset by a recent decline which resulted in a small year-over-year decline of 1.7 percent.  We believe that the decline in the Physician reporting unit is not sustainable and will not significantly impact the forecasts for the future years. As such, the five-year compounded annual growth rate for VISTA between 2008 and 2013 has remained consistent around 6.6 to 6.7 percent between the third and fourth quarter discounted cash flow analyses. This is based on various factors such as the growth of the permanent placement business in the third and fourth quarter which are high margin and the increase in the gross margins throughout 2009.   The Physician reporting unit represented 18.3 percent of our $202.8 million goodwill balance and the percentage by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded its carrying value at December 31, 2009 was 5.2 percent.

In addition to the sensitivity to changes in assumptions related to revenue growth and timing described above, the discounted cash flows and the resulting fair value estimates of our reporting units are highly sensitive to changes in other assumptions which include an increase of less than 100 basis points in the discount rate and/or a less than five percent decline in the cash flow projections of a reporting unit could cause the fair value of certain significant reporting units to be below their carrying value.  Additionally, we have assumed that there will be an economic recovery at the beginning of 2010 for all of the reporting units. Changes in the timing of the recovery and the impact on our operations and costs may also affect the sensitivity of the projections including achieving future cost savings resulting from initiatives which contemplate further synergies from system and operational improvements in infrastructure and field support which were included in our forecasts.  Ultimately, future changes in these assumptions may impact the estimated fair value of a reporting unit and cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be below their carrying value, which would require a step two analysis and may result in impairment of goodwill.

Due to the many variables inherent in the estimation of a business’s fair value and the relative size of recorded goodwill, changes in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis. Downward revisions of our forecasts, extended delays in the economic recovery, or a sustained decline of our stock price resulting in market capitalization significantly below book value could lead to an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives in future periods.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.  We evaluate long-lived assets, other than goodwill and identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, in which case a write-down is recorded to reduce the related asset to its estimated fair value. There was no impairment of long-lived assets in 2009, 2008 or 2007.

Business Combinations.  We record acquisition transactions in accordance with the purchase method of accounting, and therefore this requires us to use judgment and estimates related to the allocation of the purchase price to the intangibles assets of the acquisition and the remaining amount, net of assets and liabilities assumed, to goodwill.  On January 1, 2009, we adopted new accounting guidance for business combinations as issued by FASB which establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, as well as the goodwill acquired. Significant changes from previous guidance resulting from this new guidance include the expansion of the definitions of a “business” and a “business combination.” For all business combinations (whether partial, full or step acquisitions), the acquirer will record 100% of all assets and liabilities of the acquired business, including goodwill, generally at their fair values; contingent consideration will be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and; for certain arrangements, changes in fair value will be recognized in earnings until settlement, Acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs will be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition. The new accounting guidance also establishes disclosure requirements to enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.

Stock-Based Compensation.  We account for restricted stock awards and stock units based upon the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant.   Market-based awards are valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model.  Compensation expense for performance-based awards is measured based on the amount of shares ultimately expected to vest, estimated at each reporting date based on management’s expectations regarding the relevant performance criteria.  We account for stock options granted and ESPP shares based on an estimated fair market value using a Black-Scholes option valuation model.  This methodology requires the use of subjective assumptions, including expected stock price volatility and the estimated life of each award.  The fair value of equity-based compensation awards less the estimated forfeitures is amortized over the service period of the award.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to certain market risks arising from transactions in the normal course of business, principally risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and interest rates. We are exposed to foreign currency risk from the translation of foreign operations into U.S. dollars. Based on the relative size and nature of our foreign operations, we do not believe that a ten percent change in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar would have a material impact on our financial statements. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with our debt instruments. See “Item 6.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further description of our debt instruments.  The interest rate swap that we entered into with a financial institution on May 2, 2007 expired as of June 30, 2009 in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Prior to the expiration of the interest rate swap on June 30, 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate cap contract effective July 1, 2009, in order to mitigate the interest rate risk as required by the amended credit agreement.  The interest rate cap contract is for a notional amount of $51.0 million with a one-month LIBOR cap of 3.0 percent for a term of one year.  See Note 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information on the interest rate swap agreement and interest rate cap contract entered into by the Company. Excluding the effect of our interest rate swap agreement and interest rate cap contract, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Including the effect of our interest rate swap agreement and interest rate cap contract, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $0.7 million and $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  However, given that our loan agreement has an interest rate floor (3.0 percent in the case of LIBOR), short-term rates would have to increase by approximately 250 basis points before it would impact us. We have not entered into any market risk sensitive instruments for trading purposes. 

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of On Assignment, Inc.

Calabasas, California

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of On Assignment, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of On Assignment, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 16, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP>

Los Angeles, California

March 16, 2010

 

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ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

     

		December 31,
		2009				2008
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	25,974			$	46,271
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments of  $1,949 and $2,443, respectively			50,173				78,370
Advances and deposits			163				311
Prepaid expenses			3,445				4,503
Prepaid income taxes			4,717				3,759
Deferred income tax assets			7,507				9,347
Other			2,213				2,162
Total current assets			94,192				144,723
Property and equipment, net			15,618				17,495
Goodwill			202,814				202,777
Identifiable intangible assets, net			25,523				31,428
Other assets			5,315				5,427
Total Assets		$	343,462			$	401,850
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	4,164			$	5,204
Accrued payroll and contract professional pay			11,625				19,836
Deferred compensation			2,070				1,610
Workers’ compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves			10,349				9,754
Accrued earn-out payments			—				10,168
Other			3,746				6,959
Total current liabilities			31,954				53,531
Deferred income taxes			5,697				1,997
Long-term debt			77,913				125,913
Other long-term liabilities			1,237				1,895
Total liabilities			116,801				183,336
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding			—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 36,262,810 and 38,816,844 issued, respectively			363				388
Paid-in capital			220,082				227,522
Retained earnings			5,090				16,215
Accumulated other comprehensive income			1,126				800
			226,661				244,925
Less: Treasury stock at cost, 3,097,364 shares in 2008			—				26,411
Total stockholders’ equity			226,661				218,514
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	343,462			$	401,850

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2009				2008				2007
Revenues		$	416,613			$	618,058			$	567,180
Cost of services			280,245				418,602				387,643
Gross profit			136,368				199,456				179,537
Selling, general and administrative expenses			121,141				155,942				151,942
Operating income			15,227				43,514				27,595
Interest expense			(6,612	)			(9,998	)			(12,174	)
Interest income			170				715				1,394
Income before income taxes			8,785				34,231				16,815
Provision for income taxes			4,078				15,261				7,493
Net income		$	4,707			$	18,970			$	9,322
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	0.13			$	0.53			$	0.27
Diluted		$	0.13			$	0.53			$	0.26
Number of shares and share equivalents used to calculate earnings per share:
Basic			36,011				35,487				35,138
Diluted			36,335				35,858				35,771

 

Reconciliation of net income to comprehensive income:
Net income		$	4,707			$	18,970			$	9,322
Foreign currency translation adjustment			326				(1,390	)			628
Comprehensive income		$	5,033			$	17,580			$	9,950

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except share data)

		Common Stock								Paid-in Capital				Retained Earnings				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Treasury Stock								Total
		Shares				Amount																Shares				Amount
Balance at January 1, 2007			36,769,713			$	367			$	199,355			$	(11,860	)		$	1,562				(2,711,566	)		$	(23,480	)		$	165,944
Exercise of common stock options			362,394				4				2,012				—				—				—				—				2,016
Employee Stock Purchase Plan			126,484				1				1,105				—				—				—				—				1,106
Stock issued for acquisition			795,292				8				9,992				—				—				—				—				10,000
Stock repurchase			—				—				—				—				—				(278,439	)			(1,997	)			(1,997	)
Stock-based compensation expense			—				—				6,092				—				—				—				—				6,092
Vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards			162,538				2				(2	)			—				—				(48,933	)			(523	)