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CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE INC - Quarter Report: 2013 September (Form 10-Q)


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
———————
FORM 10-Q
———————
þ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2013
Or
o Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Transition Period From _________ to _________

 
———————
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
——————— 
Delaware
0-33169
13-4066229
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
Commission
file number
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
6551 Park of Commerce Blvd, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(561) 998-2232
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
———————
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). þ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer ¨  Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller Reporting Company ¨
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
The registrant had outstanding 31,085,289 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, as of October 31, 2013.
 


INFORMATION RELATING TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
In addition to historical information, this Form 10-Q contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are “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 (the Exchange Act), and are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “suggests”, “seeks”, “will” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses, physicians and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term housing for our travel healthcare professionals, demand for the healthcare services we provide, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate, the functioning of our information systems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, our clients’ ability to pay us for our services, our ability to successfully implement our acquisition and development strategies, the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against us, the effect of competition in the markets we serve, our ability to successfully defend the Company, its subsidiaries, and its officers and directors on the merits of any lawsuit or determine its potential liability, if any, and other factors set forth in Item 1.A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as filed and updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date of this filing. There can be no assurance that (i) we have correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting our business or the extent of these factors’ likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) our strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
 
All references to “we”, “us”, “our”, or “Cross Country” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q mean Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates.


CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
 
INDEX
 
FORM 10-Q
 
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

i


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
 
September 30,
2013
 
December 31,
2012
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
32,453

 
$
10,463

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $1,846 in 2013 and $1,841 in 2012
57,773

 
62,674

Deferred tax assets
13,371

 
12,561

Income taxes receivable
2,843

 
586

Prepaid expenses
6,139

 
5,580

Assets held for sale
—

 
46,971

Insurance recovery receivable
4,092

 
5,484

Other current assets
672

 
1,049

Total current assets
117,343

 
145,368

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of
$44,819 in 2013 and $41,918 in 2012
5,878

 
8,235

Trademarks, net
48,701

 
48,701

Goodwill, net
62,712

 
62,712

Other identifiable intangible assets, net
12,808

 
14,492

Debt issuance costs, net
521

 
1,610

Non-current deferred tax assets
12,960

 
16,182

Indemnity escrow receivable
3,750

 
—

Non-current insurance recovery receivable
10,449

 
8,210

Other long-term assets
376

 
413

Total assets
$
275,498

 
$
305,923

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
10,302

 
$
10,130

Accrued employee compensation and benefits
19,956

 
21,650

Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations
146

 
33,683

Liabilities related to assets held for sale
—

 
2,835

Other current liabilities
6,972

 
4,289

Total current liabilities
37,376

 
72,587

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations
109

 
176

Long-term accrued claims
17,335

 
16,347

Other long-term liabilities
7,905

 
7,691

Total liabilities
62,725

 
96,801

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies


 


 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

Common stock
3

 
3

Additional paid-in capital
245,860

 
244,924

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(983
)
 
(3,083
)
Accumulated deficit
(32,107
)
 
(32,722
)
Total stockholders' equity
212,773

 
209,122

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
275,498

 
$
305,923


See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
1

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue from services
$
108,048

 
$
112,258

 
$
329,132

 
$
330,905

Operating expenses:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Direct operating expenses
79,864

 
84,802

 
244,234

 
247,263

Selling, general and administrative expenses
25,504

 
26,832

 
79,172

 
82,361

Bad debt expense
215

 
268

 
769

 
592

Depreciation
890

 
1,035

 
2,952

 
3,798

Amortization
552

 
566

 
1,684

 
1,698

Restructuring costs
109

 
—

 
484

 
—

Legal settlement charge
—

 
—

 
750

 
—

Impairment charge
—

 
—

 
—

 
18,732

Total operating expenses
107,134

 
113,503

 
330,045

 
354,444

Income (loss) from operations
914

 
(1,245
)
 
(913
)
 
(23,539
)
Other expenses (income):
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Foreign exchange (gain) loss
(53
)
 
108

 
(154
)
 
3

Interest expense
190

 
698

 
634

 
1,908

Loss on early extinguishment and modification of debt
—

 
82

 
1,419

 
82

Other (income) expense, net
(32
)
 
(89
)
 
(83
)
 
39

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
809

 
(2,044
)
 
(2,729
)
 
(25,571
)
Income tax benefit
(644
)
 
(2,763
)
 
(1,401
)
 
(7,811
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
1,453

 
719

 
(1,328
)
 
(17,760
)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
(539
)
 
(18,319
)
 
1,943

 
(14,928
)
Net income (loss)
$
914

 
$
(17,600
)
 
$
615

 
$
(32,688
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share, basic:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.05

 
$
0.02

 
$
(0.04
)
 
$
(0.58
)
Discontinued operations
(0.02
)
 
(0.59
)
 
0.06

 
(0.48
)
Net income (loss)
$
0.03

 
$
(0.57
)
 
$
0.02

 
$
(1.06
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.05

 
$
0.02

 
$
(0.04
)
 
$
(0.58
)
Discontinued operations
(0.02
)
 
(0.59
)
 
0.06

 
(0.48
)
Net income (loss)
$
0.03

 
$
(0.57
)
 
$
0.02

 
$
(1.06
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
31,085

 
30,902

 
30,984

 
30,823

Diluted
31,161

 
30,925

 
30,984

 
30,823


See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
2

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Net income (loss)
$
914

 
$
(17,600
)
 
$
615

 
$
(32,688
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(128
)
 
698

 
(413
)
 
446

Reclassification of currency translation adjustments
related to sale of clinical trial services business (see Note 3 - Comprehensive Income)
—

 
—

 
2,337

 
—

Write-down of marketable securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
39

Net change in fair value of marketable securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax
(128
)
 
698

 
1,924

 
484

Income tax (benefit) expense related to
items of other comprehensive (loss) income
(47
)
 
—

 
(176
)
 
15

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(81
)
 
698

 
2,100

 
469

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
833

 
$
(16,902
)
 
$
2,715

 
$
(32,219
)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
3

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Operating activities
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
615

 
$
(32,688
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
2,952

 
4,372

Amortization
1,684

 
2,440

Impairment charge
—

 
42,232

Bad debt expense
774

 
648

Loss on early extinguishment and modification of debt
1,419

 
82

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
2,195

 
(14,263
)
Share-based compensation
1,635

 
1,980

Gain on sale of clinical trial services business
(4,014
)
 
—

Other
176

 
1,324

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
5,322

 
(4,995
)
Other assets
(940
)
 
552

Income taxes
(1,651
)
 
142

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(338
)
 
2,294

Other liabilities
1,730

 
1,586

Net cash provided by operating activities
11,559

 
5,706

 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from sale of business segment, net of cash sold and transaction costs
45,704

 
—

Purchases of property and equipment
(676
)
 
(2,120
)
Other investing activities
—

 
(206
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
45,028

 
(2,326
)
 
 
 
 
Financing activities
 

 
 

Principal repayments on term loan
(23,125
)
 
(42,389
)
Proceeds from borrowing on term loan
—

 
25,000

Repayments on revolving credit facility
(10,000
)
 
(12,300
)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility
—

 
22,300

Repayments on asset-based revolving credit facility
(49,244
)
 
—

Borrowings under asset-based revolving credit facility
49,244

 
—

Principal payments on capital lease obligations and note payable
(451
)
 
(151
)
Repurchase of stock for restricted stock tax withholdings
(301
)
 
(152
)
Debt issuance costs
(506
)
 
(1,268
)
Stock repurchase and retirement
—

 
(374
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(34,383
)
 
(9,334
)
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(214
)
 
138

 
 
 
 
Change in cash and cash equivalents
21,990

 
(5,816
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
10,463

 
10,648

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
32,453

 
$
4,832


See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
4

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
 
1.
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) for complete financial statements. These operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the valuation of accounts receivable, goodwill and intangible assets, other long-lived assets, accruals for health, workers’ compensation and professional liability claims, legal contingencies, future contingent considerations, income taxes and sales and other non-income tax liabilities. Accrued claims and reserves include estimated settlements from known claims and actuarial estimates for claims incurred but not reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2012 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The December 31, 2012 condensed consolidated balance sheet included herein was derived from the December 31, 2012 audited consolidated balance sheet included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation (see Note 9 – Segment Data for more information).

2.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
The clinical trial services business provided clinical trial, drug safety, and regulatory professionals and services on a contract staffing and outsourced basis to companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, as well as to contract research organizations, primarily in the United States, and also in Canada and Europe.  During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to exit the clinical trial services business as a result of an extensive review of its business and the changing landscape in the pharmaceutical outsourcing industry. Classification of a disposal group as held for sale occurs when sufficient authority to sell the disposal group has been obtained, the disposal group is available for immediate sale, an active program to sell the disposal group has been initiated and its sale is probable within one year. Accordingly, the clinical trial services business was classified as a disposal group held for sale as of December 31, 2012.

On February 15, 2013, the Company completed the sale of its clinical trial services business to ICON Clinical Research, Inc. and ICON Clinical Research UK Limited (the “Buyer”) for an aggregate $52.0 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. At closing, the total amount paid was reduced by $0.1 million for the amount the Targeted Net Working Capital exceeded the Estimated Net Working Capital. Subsequent to September 30, 2013, the Company paid an additional $0.2 million to the Buyer to finalize the Net Working Capital adjustment, pursuant to the agreement.

The agreement included a provision for an earn-out of up to $3.75 million related to certain performance-based milestones. The maximum earn-out amount of $3.75 million was deposited in escrow by Buyer as security for the earn-out payment, if any. The $3.75 million earn out related to certain performance-based milestones is treated as contingent consideration and the Company assigned no fair value to this earn-out as of September 30, 2013 based on recent information available to the Company. In addition, a portion of the performance-based milestones was not earned, and as a result $1.5 million of the original escrow was released to the Buyer in the second quarter of 2013, leaving a balance of $2.25 million as of September 30, 2013 (see Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements for more information).



5

Of the $52.0 million purchase price paid at closing, $3.75 million was also placed in escrow for a period of 18 months following the closing to provide partial security to the Buyer in the event of any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company. The Company recorded the $3.75 million indemnity escrow funds as an escrow receivable, and will adjust the amount, each reporting period, based on any known information that may arise that would be reasonable and estimable. As of September 30, 2013 there was no known information about any indemnity claims.

The Company has provided certain transitional services to the Buyer since the sale date, which have substantially ceased as of September 30, 2013.

As a result of the disposal, the underlying operations and cash flows of the clinical trial services business have been eliminated from the Company’s continuing operations and the Company no longer has the ability to influence the operating and/or financial policies of the disposal group. In addition, the future continuing cash flows from the disposed business resulting from a short-term transitional services agreement are not expected to be significant and do not constitute a material continuing financial interest in the clinical trial services business. As a result, pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles, the historical financial results of operations, except for disclosures related to cash flows, have been presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

The following table presents the revenues and the components of discontinued operations, net of tax:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
(amounts in thousands)
Revenue
$
—

 
$
16,865

 
$
7,939

 
$
51,162

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale and income taxes (a)
—

 
(22,354
)
 
483

 
(20,427
)
(Loss) gain on sale of discontinued operations
(71
)
 
—

 
4,014

 
—

Income tax (expense) benefit
(468
)
 
4,035

 
(2,554
)
 
5,499

(Loss) income from discontinued operations,
net of income taxes
$
(539
)
 
$
(18,319
)
 
$
1,943

 
$
(14,928
)

 _______________

(a)
Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 include a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of $22.1 million and a pre-tax trademark impairment charge of $1.4 million.

3.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
Total comprehensive income includes net loss, foreign currency translation adjustments, and net changes in the fair value of marketable securities available for sale, net of any related deferred taxes. Certain of the Company’s foreign operations use their respective local currency as their functional currency. In accordance with the Foreign Currency Matters Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Statement of operations items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The cumulative impact of currency translation is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and was $1.2 million and $3.1 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
 
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-2, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2013-2).  ASU 2013-2 adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), including (1) disaggregating and separately presenting changes in AOCI balances by component and (2) presenting significant items reclassified out of AOCI either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements.  It does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in the financial statements.  The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 (and interim periods within those years), and is to be applied prospectively.  The Company adopted this guidance in its first quarter of 2013 and has disclosed the required information in its notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.



6

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-5, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2013-5).  The objective of ASU 2013-5 is to resolve the diversity in practice as to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) within a foreign entity.

ASU 2013-5 clarifies that a cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages (i.e., a step acquisition). This ASU is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted.  The Company adopted this guidance and released into earnings $2.3 million of its cumulative currency translation losses related to the sale of clinical trial services business in the first quarter of 2013, which was included in the income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the income tax benefit related to other comprehensive income was immaterial. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $0.2 million of income tax benefit related to foreign currency translation adjustments was included on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.

4.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
In accordance with the requirements of the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC, basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (excluding unvested restricted stock) and diluted earnings per share reflects the dilutive effects of stock options and restricted stock (as calculated utilizing the treasury stock method). Certain shares of common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of options and vesting of restricted stock have been excluded from the per share calculations because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Such shares amounted to 1,544,503 and 1,701,697 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and 2,265,206 and 1,986,228, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. For purposes of calculating net income (loss) per common share, the Company excluded potentially dilutive shares of 135,846 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 41,998 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, from the calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net income (loss) from continuing operations in those periods.



7

The following table sets forth the components of the numerator and denominator for the computation of the basic and diluted earnings per share:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
(amounts in thousands)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
$
1,453

 
$
719

 
$
(1,328
)
 
$
(17,760
)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
(539
)
 
(18,319
)
 
1,943

 
(14,928
)
Net income (loss)
$
914

 
$
(17,600
)
 
$
615

 
$
(32,688
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share, basic:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.05

 
$
0.02

 
$
(0.04
)
 
$
(0.58
)
Discontinued operations
(0.02
)
 
(0.59
)
 
0.06

 
(0.48
)
Net income (loss)
$
0.03

 
$
(0.57
)
 
$
0.02

 
$
(1.06
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Continuing operations
$
0.05

 
$
0.02

 
$
(0.04
)
 
$
(0.58
)
Discontinued operations
(0.02
)
 
(0.59
)
 
0.06

 
(0.48
)
Net income (loss)
$
0.03

 
$
(0.57
)
 
$
0.02

 
$
(1.06
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
31,085

 
30,902

 
30,984

 
30,823

Diluted
31,161

 
30,925

 
30,984

 
30,823


 
5.
ACQUISITIONS
 
In September 2008, the Company consummated the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of privately-held MDA Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries and all of the outstanding stock of Jamestown Indemnity Ltd., a Cayman Island company and wholly-owned subsidiary (collectively, MDA). As of September 30, 2013, an indemnification escrow account of $3.6 million exists.
 
6.
DEBT
 
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, long-term debt consists of the following:
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
2013
 
2012
 
(amounts in thousands)
Term loan, interest 2.72% at December 31, 2012
$
—

 
$
23,125

Revolving credit facility, interest 2.72% at December 31, 2012
—

 
10,000

Capital lease obligations and note payable
255

 
734

 
 
 
 
Total debt
255

 
33,859

Less current portion
(146
)
 
(33,683
)
Long-term debt
$
109

 
$
176



As of September 30, 2013, the Company’s capital lease obligations mature serially through December 31 as follows (amounts in thousands): 2013 - $79; 2014 - $83; 2015 - $65; and 2016 - $28.


8


Loan Agreement
 
On January 9, 2013, the Company terminated its commitments under senior secured credit agreement (July 2012 Credit Agreement) and entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, (Loan Agreement), by and among the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Bank of America, N.A., as agent.
 
The Loan Agreement provides for: a three-year senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $65.0 million (as described below), which includes a subfacility for swingline loans up to an amount equal to 10% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and a $20.0 million subfacility for standby letters of credit. Swingline loans and letters of credit issued under the Loan Agreement reduce available revolving credit commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis.  Subject to certain conditions, the Company is permitted, at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility, to increase the total revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20.0 million, with additional commitments from Lenders or new commitments from financial institutions, subject to certain conditions as described in the Loan Agreement. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the aggregate amount of advances under the Line of Credit (Borrowing Base) cannot exceed the lesser of (a) (i) $65.0 million, or (ii) 85% of eligible billed accounts receivable as defined in the Loan Agreement; plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85% of eligible unbilled accounts receivable and (ii) $12.0 million; minus (c)  reserves as defined by the Loan Agreement, which include one week’s worth of W-2 payroll and fees payable to independent contractors. As of September 30, 2013, the availability under the Loan Agreement was approximately $38.1 million based on the Company's August accounts receivable. The Company had $11.5 million letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2013. The letters of credit relate to the Company’s workers’ compensation and professional liability policies.
 
The initial proceeds from the revolving credit facility were used to finance the repayment of existing indebtedness of the Company under its prior credit agreement and the payment of fees and expenses.  The repayment of the term loan portion of the Company’s debt outstanding in the first quarter of 2013 was treated as extinguishment of debt, and, as a result, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment in the first quarter of 2013, related to the write-off of unamortized net debt issuance costs of approximately $0.3 million.  The repayment of the revolver portion of the Company’s debt outstanding in the first quarter of 2013 was treated partially as extinguishment and partially as a modification.  The fees related to the modified portion of $0.1 million relate to the continuation of credit provided by Bank of America, N.A. in its Loan Agreement.  The Company wrote-off the remaining unamortized net debt issuance costs of approximately $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2013.
 
The revolving credit facility can be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries.  As of September 30, 2013, the interest rate spreads and fees under the Loan Agreement are based on LIBOR plus 1.5% or Base Rate plus 0.50%. The LIBOR and Base Rate margins are subject to performance pricing adjustments, pursuant to a pricing matrix based on the Company’s excess availability under the revolving credit facility, and could increase by 200 basis points if an event of default exists.
 
The Loan Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and affirmative covenants. The Loan Agreement also contains customary negative covenants; including covenants with respect to, among other things, (i) indebtedness, (ii) liens, (iii) investments, (iv) significant corporate changes, including mergers and acquisitions, (v) dispositions, (vi) dividend, distributions and other restricted payments, (vii) transactions with affiliates and (viii) restrictive agreements.  In addition, if the Company’s availability under the revolving credit facility is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Loan Cap, as defined, and (ii) $6.25 million, the Company is required to meet a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0, as defined in the Loan Agreement.  The Loan Agreement also contains customary events of default, such as payment defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency, the occurrence of a defined change in control and the failure to observe covenants or conditions under the credit facility documents.
 
The Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement are guaranteed by all material domestic subsidiaries of the Company that are not co-borrowers (Subsidiary Guarantors).   As collateral security for their obligations under the Loan Agreement and guarantees thereof, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have granted to Bank of America, N.A., a security interest in substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets.

July 2012 Credit Agreement
 
The Company entered into July 2012 Credit Agreement on July 10, 2012 , by and among the Company, as borrower, a syndicate of lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agent. The July 2012 Credit Agreement provided for: (i) a five-year senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, and (ii) a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million,


9

which included a $10.0 million subfacility for swingline loans, and a $20.0 million subfacility for standby letters of credit. Swingline loans and letters of credit issued under the July 2012 Credit Agreement reduced available revolving credit commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Subject to certain conditions under the Credit Agreement, the Company was permitted, at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility, to increase its total revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million.
 
Through December 31, 2012, interest on the term loan and revolving credit portion of the July 2012 Credit Agreement was based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or Base Rate (as defined by the July 2012 Credit Agreement, as modified) plus a margin of 1.50%. In addition, the Company was required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on its average daily unused portion of the revolving loan facility of 0.50%. The interest rate spreads and fees fluctuated during the term of the July 2012 Credit Agreement based on the consolidated total leverage ratio at each calculation date, as defined.

7.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
 
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
 
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:
 
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s financial assets/liabilities required to be measured on a recurring basis were its deferred compensation liability included in other long-term liabilities and contingent consideration receivable related to the sale of its clinical trial services business.
 
Deferred compensation —The Company utilizes Level 1 inputs to value its deferred compensation liability. The Company’s deferred compensation liability is measured using publicly available indices that define the liability amounts, as per the plan documents.
 
Contingent Consideration Receivable—The earn out related to the Company’s sale of its clinical trial services business is treated as a contingent consideration receivable for accounting purposes. The Company utilizes Level 3 inputs to value its contingent consideration receivable as significant unobservable inputs are used in the calculation of its fair value and are related to future performance of the disposed business. The fair value of the contingent consideration receivable will be adjusted to its fair value on a quarterly basis with the adjustment to the related receivable and the gain/loss on the sale of assets (included in discontinued operations). The future performance of the disposed business directly impacts the contingent consideration that could be paid to the Company, thus performance that exceeds target could result in a higher payout, and a performance under target could result in a lower payout. As of September 30, 2013, the Company assigned no value to the performance earn-out based on recent information available to the Company. See Note 2- Discontinued Operations for further information.



10

The table which follows summarizes the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
 
Fair Value Measurements
(amounts in thousands)
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
(Level 1)
 

 
 

Financial Liabilities:
 

 
 

Deferred compensation
$
1,517

 
$
1,471

 
 
 
 
 
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis:
 
If  required by the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC, the Company’s goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets are also reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that amounts may not be recoverable. If the testing performed indicates that impairment has occurred, the Company records a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying amount of the goodwill or other intangible assets and the implied fair value of the goodwill or other intangible assets in the period the determination is made.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company disclosed all the assets and liabilities held for sale at fair value with the exception of other intangible assets whose carrying value was below fair value. For other assets and liabilities except for goodwill and other intangible assets, fair value approximated their carrying amount due to their short-term nature. The following table presented the fair value of goodwill, which was the most significant component of the assets held for sale, measured on a non-recurring basis for the Company’s clinical trial services reporting unit included in assets held for sale as of December 31, 2012:

Fair Value Measurements
(amounts in thousands)
 
December 31, 2012
(Level 3)
 
Clinical trial services segment goodwill
$
28,176


 
Other Fair Value Disclosures:
 
Financial instruments not measured or recorded at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, escrow receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and short and long-term debt. The estimated fair value of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their carrying amount due to the short-term nature of these instruments. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of the Company’s term loan and revolver credit facility was calculated using discounted cash flow analysis and appropriate valuation methodologies using Level 2 inputs and available market information.  

The Company recorded the $3.75 million indemnity escrow funds related to the sale of its clinical trial services business as an escrow receivable (see Note 2- Discontinued Operations for more information), and will adjust the amount to the estimated fair value, each reporting period, based on any known information. As of September 30, 2013, the fair value of the escrow receivable was calculated using Level 2 inputs and reflecting a discount for the time value of money.



11

The following table represents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments that were not measured at fair value:

 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
(Level 2)
 
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Escrow Receivable
$
3,750

 
$
3,682

 
$
—

 
$
—

Financial Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Term loan and revolver credit facility
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
33,125

 
$
32,654

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Concentration of Risk:

The Company has invested its excess cash in highly rated overnight funds and other highly rated liquid accounts. The Company has been exposed to credit risk associated with these investments. The Company minimizes its credit risk relating to these positions by monitoring the financial condition of the financial institutions involved and by primarily conducting business with large, well established financial institutions and diversifying its counterparties.
 
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial conditions and, generally, does not require collateral. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s estimate of uncollectible receivables based on a review of specific accounts and the Company’s historical collection experience. The Company writes off specific accounts based on an ongoing review of collectability as well as past experience with its customers. The Company’s contract terms typically require payment between 30 to 60 days from the date services are provided and are considered past due based on the particular negotiated contract terms. Overall, based on the large number of customers in differing geographic areas throughout the United States and its territories, the Company believes the concentration of credit risk is limited.
 
8.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Stock Repurchase Program
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock under its February 2008 Board authorization. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company repurchased, under its February 2008 Board authorization, a total of 71,653 shares at an average price of $5.22. The cost of such purchases was approximately $0.4 million. All of the common stock was retired.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company may purchase up to an additional 942,443 shares of common stock under the February 2008 Board authorization, subject to certain conditions in the Company's Credit Agreement. At September 30, 2013, the Company had approximately 31.1 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Subject to certain conditions as described in its Loan Agreement entered into on January 9, 2013, the Company may repurchase up to an aggregate amount of $5.0 million of its Equity Interests (as defined in the Loan Agreement).

Share-Based Payments
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, was included in selling, general and administrative expenses related to share-based payments. In addition, a net of 180,613 shares of common stock were issued upon vesting of restricted stock awards in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, $0.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, was included in selling, general and administrative expenses related to share-based payments. In addition, a net of 161,944 shares of common stock were issued upon vesting of restricted stock awards in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

During the three months ended September 30, 2013, 31,500 shares of restricted stock at a market price of $5.57 were granted to Directors and key employees of the Company. In addition, 31,500 stock appreciation rights were granted to key employees at a weighted average price of $5.57 and a weighted average valuation per share of $2.15.


12


During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 340,509 shares of restricted stock at a market price of $4.64 were granted to Directors and key employees of the Company. In addition, 324,000 stock appreciation rights were granted to key employees at a weighted average price of $5.25 and a weighted average valuation per share of $1.77.

Similar to prior grants, the restricted stock vests 25% per year over a four year period on the anniversary date of the grant. The stock appreciation rights vest 25% per year over a four year period, expire after seven years and can only be settled with stock.

9.
SEGMENT DATA
 
In accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC, the Company historically reported four business segments – nurse and allied staffing, clinical trial services, physician staffing, and other human capital management services.  During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company decided to divest its clinical trial services business segment. Their results of operations have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The remaining three business segments in continuing operations are described below:

●
Nurse and allied staffing - The nurse and allied staffing business segment provides travel nurse and allied staffing services and per diem nurse services primarily to acute care hospitals. Nurse and allied staffing services are marketed to public and private and for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. The Company aggregates the different brands that it markets to its customers in this business segment.

●
Physician staffing – The physician staffing business segment provides multi-specialty locum tenens services to the healthcare industry throughout the U.S.

●
Other human capital management services - The other human capital management services business segment includes the combined results of the Company’s education and training and retained search businesses that both have operations within the U.S.

The Company’s management evaluates performance of each segment primarily based on revenue and contribution income. The Company’s management does not evaluate, manage or measure performance of segments using asset information; accordingly, asset information by segment is not prepared or disclosed. The information in the following table is derived from the segments’ internal financial information as used for corporate management purposes. Certain corporate expenses are not allocated to and/or among the operating segments.



13

Information on operating segments and a reconciliation to income (loss) from operations for the periods indicated are as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012 (a)
 
2013
 
2012 (a)
 
(amounts in thousands)
Revenues:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nurse and allied staffing
$
67,448

 
$
69,750

 
$
207,736

 
$
206,904

Physician staffing
31,485

 
32,681

 
92,506

 
92,879

Other human capital management services
9,115

 
9,827

 
28,890

 
31,122

 
$
108,048

 
$
112,258

 
$
329,132

 
$
330,905

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contribution income (b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nurse and allied staffing (c)
$
5,156

 
$
2,511

 
$
14,192

 
$
7,771

Physicians staffing
2,191

 
3,108

 
6,820

 
8,192

Other human capital management services
55

 
25

 
879

 
1,410

 
7,402

 
5,644

 
21,891

 
17,373

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unallocated corporate overhead (c)
4,937

 
5,288

 
16,934

 
16,684

Depreciation
890

 
1,035

 
2,952

 
3,798

Amortization
552

 
566

 
1,684

 
1,698

Restructuring costs
109

 
—

 
484

 
—

Legal settlement charge
—

 
—

 
750

 
—

Impairment charge
—

 
—

 
—

 
18,732

Income (loss) from operations
$
914

 
$
(1,245
)
 
$
(913
)
 
$
(23,539
)

_______________

(a)
Prior periods have been restated to conform to the 2013 presentation of the Company’s former clinical trial services business segment from continuing operations to discontinued operations.   

(b)
The Company defines contribution income as income or loss from operations before depreciation, amortization, restructuring costs, legal settlement charges, impairment charges and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance and is provided in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC. 
(c)
In 2013, the Company refined its methodology for allocating certain corporate overhead expenses to its nurse and allied staffing segment expenses to more accurately reflect this segment’s profitability. Prior year information has been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

10.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Commitments
In July 2013, the Company entered into an agreement to lease 41,607 square feet of space in Peachtree Corners, Georgia for its physician staffing business. The commitment is for ten years, eight months, subject to adjustment and earlier termination as provided in the lease, and totals approximately $4.2 million, excluding operating costs. The lease also contains certain lease incentives including a tenant improvement allowance of up to $1.5 million, of which any excess may be used for moving expenses. The commencement of the lease is expected to be in the first quarter of 2014.



14

Legal Contingencies

In late 2012, Alice Ogues, a former employee of Travel Staff, LLC (then CC Staffing, Inc.) commenced a putative wage and hour class action against the Company. The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, under the caption Ogues v. CC Staffing, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-6135-JCS. The Plaintiff seeks to represent a class of all individuals employed by the company as non-exempt workers from December 4, 2008 to the present and alleges that Travel Staff: (1) failed to provide meal periods; (2) failed to provide rest breaks; (3) failed to pay minimum and overtime wages; (4) failed to timely pay wages during employment; (5) made unlawful deductions from wages; (6) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (7) waiting time penalties; and (8) unfair competition. In June 2013, the parties reached a settlement in principle for $750,000, and are negotiating the terms of the settlement agreement. Preliminary and final approval hearing dates have not yet been set by the court. Accordingly, during the second quarter of 2013, the Company accrued a reserve of $750,000 for this claim which is included in other current liabilities and legal settlement charge on its condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, respectively.

On September 8, 2010, the Company's subsidiary, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. became the subject of an indemnity lawsuit (New Hanover Regional Medical Center vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., d/b/a Cross Country Staffing, and Christina Lynn White) filed in the New Hanover County Civil Superior Court, State of North Carolina. Plaintiff alleged that a former employee of Cross Country TravCorps was negligent in caring for a patient which resulted in the death of that patient. New Hanover Regional Medical Center settled the claim pre-suit and subsequently brought an indemnity claim against the former nurse and Cross Country TravCorps for the actions of the nurse pursuant to the Staffing Agreement between Cross Country TravCorps and the hospital.

On April 19, 2013, an arbitration panel found the nurse negligently caused the death of the patient and that New Hanover Regional Medical Center had no active negligence contributing to that death. Furthermore, the arbitration panel found that the facility was entitled to recover compensatory damages from the nurse and Cross Country Staffing in the amount of approximately $2.0 million, plus pre-judgment interest (from September 8, 2010) at 8% per year. In addition, New Hanover Regional Medical Center was entitled to recover from Cross Country prejudgment interest on the compensatory damages from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 at the rate of 8% per year and approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees. The panel also found that, but for the negligence of the nurse, Cross Country would have no liability to New Hanover Regional Medical Center; therefore, as a matter of equity Cross Country was entitled to recover indemnity from the former nurse to the full extent Cross Country actually paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center any portion of the award (other than the prejudgment interest from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 and the approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees). The nurse had insurance coverage for this claim with $2.0 million (individual)/$4.0 million (aggregate) limits and no deductible. In addition, the Company has excess coverage that was expected to cover the amount of loss over $2.0 million.

During the second quarter of 2013, the nurse's insurance carrier paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center $2,000,000 and Cross Country made an indemnity payment to the facility in the amount of $920,450. As of September 30, 2013, Cross Country had been reimbursed $883,450 from its excess carrier. Subsequent to September 30, 2013, Cross Country received the remaining reimbursement for the indemnity payment as well as a reimbursement for additional legal expenses related to this claim of $273,474, which was collected in October 2013.

The Company is also subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these other matters will not have a significant effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Sales & Other State Non-income Tax Liabilities

The Company's sales and other state non-income tax filings are subject to routine audits by authorities in the jurisdictions where it conducts business in the United States which may result in assessments of additional taxes. The Company accrues sales and other non-income tax liabilities based on the Company's best estimate of its probable liability utilizing currently available information and interpretation of relevant tax regulations. Given the nature of the Company's business, significant subjectivity exists as to both whether sales and other state non-income taxes can be assessed on its activity and how the sales tax will ultimately be measured by the relevant jurisdictions. The Company makes a determination for each reporting period whether the estimates for sales and other non-income taxes in certain states should be revised.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company accrued $0.9 million, primarily based on a change in the estimate of the liability. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, based on a change in the estimate of the liability, an expected state non-income tax audit assessment, and additional estimates for current year activity, the


15

Company accrued an additional pretax liability related to these non-income tax matters of approximately $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, primarily related to the 2005-2011 tax years. The expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on its condensed consolidated statements of operations and the liability is reflected in other current liabilities as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company is working with professional tax advisors and state authorities to resolve these matters.

11.
INCOME TAXES
 
The Company's income tax provision and the corresponding annual effective tax rate are based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. For interim financial reporting, except in circumstances as described in the following paragraph, the Company estimates the annual effective tax rate based on projected taxable income for the full year and records a quarterly tax provision in accordance with the expected annual effective tax rate. As the year progresses, the Company refines the estimates of the year's taxable income as new information becomes available, including year-to-date financial results. This continual estimation process often results in a change to the Company's expected annual effective tax rate for the year. When this occurs, the Company adjusts the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date income tax provision reflects the expected annual effective tax rate. Significant judgment is required in determining our annual effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions.

When projected taxable income for the full year is close to break-even, the expected annual effective tax rate becomes volatile and will distort the income tax provision for an interim period. When this happens the Company calculates the income tax provision or benefit using the year-to-date effective tax rate in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the ASC (ASC 740, paragraphs 270-30-18). This cut-off method results in an income tax provision or benefit based solely on the year-to-date pretax income or loss as adjusted for permanent differences on a pro rata basis.

For the period ended September 30, 2013 the Company has calculated its effective tax rate based on year-to-date results (under ASC 740-280-30-18) as opposed to estimating its annual effective tax rate.  The Company’s effective tax rate for continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was (79.6)% and 51.3%, respectively, including the impact of discrete items. Excluding discrete items, the Company’s effective tax rate for continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was 43.1% and 4.1%. The effective tax rates are different than the statutory rates primarily due to the impact of the partial non-deductibility of certain per diem expenses.

Unrecognized tax benefits are included in other current liabilities and other long term liabilities on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. In accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, including estimated interest and penalties, is as follows:

Unrecognized Tax Benefits
(amounts in thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2013
$
5,203

Additions based on tax provisions related to prior years
390

Additions based on tax provisions related to current year
358

Settlements of tax provisions related to prior years
(183
)
Other
7

Balance at September 30, 2013
$
5,775

 
As of September 30, 2013, the Company had approximately $5.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits, net of deferred taxes, which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company had gross increases of $0.8 million to its current year unrecognized tax benefits related to federal and state tax issues. In addition, the Company had gross decreases of $0.2 million to its unrecognized benefits related to settlements.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. The Company had accrued approximately $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the payment of interest and penalties at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
 
The tax years 2004, 2005 and 2008 through 2011 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions in which the Company is subject to tax, with the exception of certain states in which the statute of limitations has been extended. In mid-July of 2013, the Company received a notice of proposed audit adjustments from the State of New York relating to the examination


16

of its tax years ending December 31, 2006 through 2009. The Company has increased its current unrecognized tax benefits by $0.4 million as a result of the examination.

12.
RESTRUCTURING AND COST REDUCTION PLAN

During the second quarter of 2013, the Company initiated a restructuring plan to reduce operating costs. As of September 30, 2013, the Company has incurred approximately $0.5 million primarily related to senior management employee severance pay. These costs are included as restructuring costs in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

13.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Income Taxes - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carry forwards Exists (ASU 2013-11). ASU 2013-11 requires entities to present the unrecognized tax benefits in the financial statements as a liability and not combine it with deferred tax assets to the extent a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. ASU 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating its impact on the financial statements and disclosures.
 


17




ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements present a consolidation of all its operations. This discussion supplements the detailed information presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed for the year ended December 31, 2012, and is intended to assist the reader in understanding the financial results and condition of the Company.
 
Overview
 
We are a diversified leader in healthcare staffing services offering an extensive suite of staffing and outsourcing services to the healthcare market. We report our financial results according to three business segments: (1) nurse and allied staffing, (2) physician staffing, and (3) other human capital management services. We believe we are one of the top two providers of nurse and allied staffing services; one of the top four providers of temporary physician staffing (locum tenens) services; and one of the top four providers of retained physician and healthcare executive search services. We are also a leading provider of education and training programs specifically for the healthcare marketplace.
 
We have a diversified revenue mix across business sectors and healthcare customers. For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, our nurse and allied staffing business segment which is comprised of travel and per diem nurse staffing, and allied health staffing represented approximately 63% of our revenue. Travel nurse staffing represented approximately 48% of our total revenue and 77% of our nurse and allied staffing business segment revenue. Other nurse and allied staffing services include the placement of allied healthcare professionals, such as rehabilitation therapists, radiology technicians, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists. Our physician staffing business segment represented approximately 29% of our third quarter 2013 revenue and consists of temporary physician staffing services (locum tenens). Our other human capital management services business segment represented approximately 8% of our revenue and consists of education and training and retained search services.
 
For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, our revenue was $108.0 million, and we had income from continuing operations of $1.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. Cash flow from operations for the nine months ended was $11.6 million. We used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of our clinical trial services business to repay all $29.3 million of our then outstanding debt. We ended the third quarter of 2013 with $32.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $0.3 million primarily related to capital lease obligations.
 
In general, we evaluate our financial condition and operating results by revenue, contribution income (see Segment Information), and net income (loss). We also use measurement of our cash flow generation and operating and leverage ratios to help us assess our financial condition. In addition, we monitor several key volume and profitability indicators such as number of open orders, contract bookings, number of FTEs, days filled and price.
 
Nurse and Allied Staffing
 
Demand in the third quarter was generally soft across the board due to lower hospital admissions and delays in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) technology implementations. However, contribution income margins improved in the third quarter as a result of: 1) an increase in bill rates which are up 3% year over year; 2) a reduction in housing costs; and 3) an increase in bill/pay spread.

While we experienced a decline in demand for our nurse and allied staffing services early in the quarter, demand at the end of the quarter was up 13% from the beginning of the quarter and this positive trend has continued into the fourth quarter. Also, the number of our healthcare professionals working at our Managed Service Programs (MSP's) increased 18% in the quarter due to higher demand and a 4% increase in market share at our MSP customers. Our book to bill ratio was 111% for the quarter and averaged 123% in the last five weeks of the quarter. The general increase in demand, our recent strong book to bill ratio along with two MSP and four large EMR wins should benefit our fourth quarter somewhat but should mostly help us to get a good start in our nurse and allied business in 2014.
 


18


Physician Staffing
 
Our physician staffing business experienced a decrease in demand throughout the third quarter with revenue down 3.7% year-over-year and 4.5% sequentially. The decrease in demand was partly due to what we believe is an increase in the number of physicians willing to accept permanent opportunities. We experienced declines in many of our specialties. Primary care sub-specialties and OB/GYN were particularly weak, which was partially offset by growth in anesthesia and oncology.
 
We believe the future outlook for the physician staffing industry is positive as demand for physicians is projected to increase due to the demographics of a growing and aging population along with healthcare reform that is expected to increase utilization of our services. We believe our physician staffing services business is well positioned to respond to the current and future needs of its healthcare customers.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected condensed consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of revenue:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Revenue from services
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
Direct operating expenses
73.9

 
75.6

 
74.2

 
74.7

Selling, general and administrative expenses
23.6

 
23.9

 
24.1

 
24.9

Bad debt expense
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.2

Depreciation and amortization
1.3

 
1.4

 
1.4

 
1.6

Restructuring costs
0.1

 
—

 
0.1

 
—

Legal settlement charge
—

 
—

 
0.2

 
—

Impairment charge
—

 
—

 
—

 
5.7

Income (loss) from operations
0.9

 
(1.1
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(7.1
)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
—

 
0.1

 
—

 
—

Interest expense
0.2

 
0.6

 
0.2

 
0.6

Debt financing costs
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loss on early extinguishment and modification of debt
—

 
0.1

 
0.4

 
—

Other (income) expense, net
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
—

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
0.7

 
(1.8
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(7.7
)
Income tax benefit
(0.6
)
 
(2.4
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(2.3
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
1.3

 
0.6

 
(0.4
)
 
(5.4
)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
(0.5
)
 
(16.3
)
 
0.6

 
(4.5
)
Net income (loss)
0.8
 %
 
(15.7
)%
 
0.2
 %
 
(9.9
)%

Dispositions
 
On February 15, 2013, we completed the sale of our clinical trial services business to ICON Clinical Research, Inc. and ICON Clinical Research UK Limited (the “Buyer”) for an aggregate $52.0 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. At closing, the total amount paid was reduced by $0.1 million for the amount the Targeted Net Working Capital exceeded the Estimated Net Working Capital. Subsequent to September 30, 2013, we paid an additional $0.2 million to the Buyer to finalize the Net Working Capital adjustment, pursuant to the agreement.

The agreement included a provision for an earn-out of up to $3.75 million related to certain performance-based milestones. The maximum earn-out amount of $3.75 million was deposited in escrow by Buyer as security for the earn-out payment, if any. The $3.75 million earn-out related to certain performance-based milestones, has been treated as contingent consideration and we assigned no value to this earn-out as of September 30, 2013 based on recent information available to us including a revised revenue forecast for the Arena Contract (as defined in the agreement). In addition, the FTE earn-out (as defined in the agreement) was not earned, and as a result $1.5 million of the original escrow was released to the Buyer in the second quarter of 2013, leaving a


19


balance of $2.25 million as of September 30, 2013. (see Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information).

Of the $52.0 million purchase price, paid at closing, $3.75 million was also placed in escrow for a period of 18 months following the closing to provide partial security to the Buyer in the event of any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company. We recorded the $3.75 million indemnity escrow funds as an escrow receivable, and will adjust the amount, each reporting period, based on any known information that may arise that would be reasonable and estimable.

We have provided certain transitional services to the Buyer since the sale date, which have substantially ceased as of September 30, 2013.
 
The sale was a result of an extensive review of our business and the changing competitive landscape in the pharmaceutical outsourcing industry. This segment consisted of service offerings that include traditional contract staffing and functional outsourcing, as well as drug safety monitoring and regulatory services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. As of September 30, 2013, our clinical trial services segment has been classified as discontinued operations and its results of operations have been classified for all periods presented.
 
Acquisitions
 
In September 2008, we consummated the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of privately-held MDA Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries and all of the outstanding stock of a subsidiary of MDA Holdings, Inc. (collectively, MDA). As of September 30, 2013, an indemnification escrow account of $3.6 million exists.
 
Goodwill, Trademarks and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill, trademarks and other intangible assets represented 58.4% of our stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2013. Goodwill, trademarks and other identifiable intangible assets from acquisitions were $62.7 million, $48.7 million and $12.8 million, respectively, net of accumulated amortization, at September 30, 2013. In accordance with the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC, goodwill and certain other identifiable intangible assets are not subject to amortization; instead, we review impairment annually at year-end, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
 
Other identifiable intangible assets, which are subject to amortization, are being amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from 8 to 15 years.
 
Segment Information
 
In accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC, we historically reported four business segments – nurse and allied staffing, clinical trial services, physician staffing, and other human capital management services. During the fourth quarter of 2012, we decided to divest our clinical trial services business segment. Their results of operations have been classified as discontinued operations for periods presented. See Note 2- Discontinued Operations. The remaining three business segments in continuing operations are described below:
 
●
Nurse and allied staffing - The nurse and allied staffing business segment provides travel nurse and allied staffing services and per diem nurse staffing services primarily to acute care hospitals. Nurse and allied staffing services are marketed to public and private and for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare facilities throughout the U.S.

●
Physician staffing - The physician staffing business segment provides multi-specialty locum tenens to the healthcare industry throughout the U.S.

●
Other human capital management services - The other human capital management services business segment includes the combined results of our education and training and retained search businesses that both have operations within the U.S.
 


20


Information on operating segments and a reconciliation to income (loss) from operations for the periods indicated are as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012 (a)
 
2013
 
2012 (a)
 
(amounts in thousands)
Revenues:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nurse and allied staffing
$
67,448

 
$
69,750

 
$
207,736

 
$
206,904

Physician staffing
31,485

 
32,681

 
92,506

 
92,879

Other human capital management services
9,115

 
9,827

 
28,890

 
31,122

 
$
108,048

 
$
112,258

 
$
329,132

 
$
330,905

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contribution income (b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nurse and allied staffing (c)
$
5,156

 
$
2,511

 
$
14,192

 
$
7,771

Physicians staffing
2,191

 
3,108

 
6,820

 
8,192

Other human capital management services
55

 
25

 
879

 
1,410

 
7,402

 
5,644

 
21,891

 
17,373

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unallocated corporate overhead (c)
4,937

 
5,288

 
16,934

 
16,684

Depreciation
890

 
1,035

 
2,952

 
3,798

Amortization
552

 
566

 
1,684

 
1,698

Restructuring costs
109

 
—

 
484

 
—

Legal settlement charge
—

 
—

 
750

 
—

Impairment charge
—

 
—

 
—

 
18,732

Income (loss) from operations
$
914

 
$
(1,245
)
 
$
(913
)
 
$
(23,539
)

___________________

(a)
Prior periods have been restated to conform to the 2013 presentation of our former clinical trial services business segment from continuing operations to discontinued operations.  

(b)
We define contribution income or loss from operations before depreciation, amortization, restructuring costs, legal settlement charges, impairment charges, and other corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a measure used by management to access operations and is provided in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC.
(c)
In 2013, we refined our methodology for allocating certain corporate overhead expenses to our nurse and allied staffing segment expenses to more accurately reflect this segment’s profitability. Prior year information has been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.


Comparison of Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
Revenue from services
 
Revenue from services decreased 3.8%, to $108.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $112.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. All three business segments experienced revenue declines.



21


Nurse and allied staffing
 
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment decreased 3.3%, to $67.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $69.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Lower staffing volume more than offset higher bill rates in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
 
The average number of nurse and allied staffing FTEs on contract during the three months ended September 30, 2013, decreased 6.9% from the three months ended September 30, 2012. The average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE per day increased 3.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to an increase in our average bill rates and more hours provided per FTE.
 
Physician staffing
 
Revenue from our physician staffing business decreased 3.7%, to $31.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $32.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease in revenue is due to lower volume partially offset by higher bill rates in the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Physician staffing days filled is equivalent to total hours filled during the respective period divided by eight hours. Physician staffing days filled decreased 8.2%, to 20,788 days in the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to 22,647 days in the three months ended September 30, 2012. Revenue per day filled for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $1,515, a 5.0% increase from the three months ended September 30, 2012. Revenue per day filled is calculated by dividing total physician staffing revenue by days filled for the respective period.
 
Other human capital management services
 
Revenue from other human capital management services decreased 7.2%, to $9.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $9.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The revenue decline was due to fewer seminars being held by our education business and fewer retained search sales in our physician search business.
 
Direct operating expenses
 
Direct operating expenses are comprised primarily of field employee compensation and independent contractor expenses, housing expenses, travel expenses and field insurance expenses. Direct operating expenses decreased $4.9 million or 5.8%, to $79.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $84.8 million for three months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, direct operating expenses decreased to 73.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 75.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease is primarily due to lower field insurance expenses, lower housing costs and a continued expansion of our bill/pay spread in our nurse and allied staffing segment.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 4.9%, to $25.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $26.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease is primarily due to lower compensation expenses, health insurance costs, and direct mail expenses, partially offset by a change in our estimated sales tax liability in our physician staffing business. As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 23.6% and 23.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
 
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses are unallocated corporate overhead of $4.9 million for three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 4.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 4.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Share-based compensation, included in unallocated corporate overhead, was $0.5 million and $0.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Bad debt expense
 
Bad debt expense totaled $0.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2013, and $0.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012. Bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue was 0.2% in the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.  


22


 
Contribution income
 
Nurse and allied staffing
 
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment increased $2.6 million or 105.3%, to $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of segment revenue, contribution income was 7.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, and 3.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The margin improvement was due to to a combination of lower field insurance costs resulting from favorable claims development, lower selling, general, and administrative expenses, lower housing costs, and improved bill/pay spreads in the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Physician staffing
 
Contribution income from physician staffing decreased $0.9 million or 29.5%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of segment revenue, contribution income was 7.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 9.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease was primarily due to an increase of accrued sales tax liability based on a change in the estimate of the liability in the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Other human capital management services
 
Contribution income from other human capital management services was $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $0.03 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Contribution income as a percentage of segment revenue was 0.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 0.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The increase in contribution income margin was primarily due to lower direct mail expenses in our education business, partly offset by negative operating leverage in both businesses.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
 
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was 1.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 1.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Restructuring Costs

In the second quarter we initiated a restructuring plan to reduce operating costs. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, we incurred additional restructuring charges of $0.1 million, pretax, primarily related to severance pay. Severance costs are included as restructuring costs in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. No similar charges were recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2012.

Interest expense
 
Interest expense totaled $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average borrowings. The effective interest rate on our borrowings was 2.1% through February 15, 2013 (the day we repaid our outstanding debt with proceeds from the sale of clinical trial services business). The effective interest rate on our borrowings was 2.3% for the three month periods ended September 30, 2012. See Note 6- Debt, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

Income tax benefit
 
Income tax benefit from continuing operations totaled $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The income tax benefit included $1.0 million from discrete items, the most significant of which related to a reversal of accrued U.S. taxes on foreign earnings made possible by the divestiture of the Company's clinical trial services business. Excluding discrete items, income tax expense was $0.3 million


23


in the three months ended September 30, 2013, representing a 43.1% effective tax rate, which is higher than statutory rates due to the partial non-deductibility of certain per diem payments. The effective tax rate excluding discrete items in the three months ended September 30, 2012, was 133.2%. The effective tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2012 is greater than statutory rate primarily due to foreign taxes and the impact of certain non-deductible per diem payments, which reduced our income tax benefit.

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes includes the results from the sale of the clinical trial services business which is classified as discontinued in the three months ended September 30, 2013. The clinical trial services business had a loss from operations before income taxes of $22.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2012, primarily related to impairment of goodwill and certain trademarks. See Note 2 –Discontinued Operations, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

Comparison of Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
Revenue from services
 
Revenue from services decreased 0.5%, to $329.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $330.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease was due to decreases in revenue from our other human capital management services and physician staffing businesses, partially offset by an increase in revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment.

Nurse and allied staffing
 
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment increased 0.4%, to $207.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $206.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The increase is due to higher average bill rates partially offset by lower volume in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
The average number of nurse and allied staffing FTEs on contract during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, decreased 2.5% from the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE per day increased 3.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to the increase in our average bill rates.
 
Physician staffing
 
Revenue from our physician staffing business decreased 0.4%, to $92.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $92.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease in revenue is primarily due to lower volume, partially offset by higher revenue per days filled in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Physician staffing days filled is equivalent to total hours filled during the respective period divided by eight hours. Physician staffing days filled decreased 4.8%, to 61,589 days in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to 64,711 days in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Revenue per day filled for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $1,502, a 4.7% increase from the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Revenue per day filled is calculated by dividing total physician staffing revenue by days filled for the respective period.
 
Other human capital management services
 
Revenue from other human capital management services decreased 7.2%, to $28.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $31.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease is due to a combination of fewer seminars conducted and lower revenue from our retained search business in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
Direct operating expenses
 
Direct operating expenses are comprised primarily of field employee compensation and independent contractor expenses, housing expenses, travel expenses and field insurance expenses. Direct operating expenses decreased $3.0 million or 1.2%, to


24


$244.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $247.3 million for nine months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, direct operating expenses were 74.2% and 74.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $3.2 million or 3.9%, to $79.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $82.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 24.1% and 24.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in compensation expense, lower health insurance costs due to favorable claims development, and a decrease in direct mail marketing expenses.
 
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is unallocated corporate overhead of $16.9 million for nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $16.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 5.1% and 5.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Share-based compensation, included in unallocated corporate overhead, was $1.6 million and $2.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Bad debt expense
 
Bad debt expense was $0.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $0.6 million in the months ended September 30, 2012. Bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue was 0.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
 
Contribution income
 
Nurse and allied staffing
 
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment increased 82.6%, to $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of segment revenue, contribution income was 6.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, and 3.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The margin improvement was primarily due to a combination of lower selling, general and administrative expenses, lower professional liability expenses and lower housing costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Physician staffing
 
Contribution income from physician staffing decreased 16.7%, to $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $8.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of segment revenue, contribution income was 7.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 8.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease was primarily due to a combination of higher physician compensation and an increase of our accrued sales tax liability based on a change in the estimate of the liability in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Other human capital management services
 
Contribution income from other human capital management services decreased 37.7%, to $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Contribution income as a percentage of segment revenue was 3.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 4.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease in contribution income margin was primarily due to negative operating leverage in our retained search business. Our retained search business has the highest fixed cost structure of all of our businesses. Due to this high fixed cost structure, when revenue declines, the business suffers a disproportionate decline in contribution margin. Conversely, when revenue increases, it should produce a disproportionately strong margin improvement.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
 
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, depreciation and


25


amortization expense was 1.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 1.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Restructuring Costs

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we initiated a restructuring plan to reduce operating costs. In the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded a restructuring charge of $0.5 million, pretax, primarily related to senior management severance pay. Severance costs are included as restructuring costs in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. No similar charges were recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Legal Settlement Charge

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we agreed in principle to settle a wage and hour class action lawsuit in California for $0.75 million, subject to a final binding agreement and approval by the court. The amount was accrued in the second quarter of 2013. See Note 10- Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Impairment Charge
Impairment charge in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 represented impairment of goodwill for the nurse and allied staffing segment due to the results of an interim impairment analysis in the second quarter of 2012, pursuant to the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC. We determined that the fair value of our nurse and allied staffing segment was lower than the respective carrying value. The decrease in value was due to slower than expected booking momentum and reduced contribution income in our first and second quarters of 2012 which lowered the anticipated growth trend used for goodwill impairment testing. Pursuant to the second step of the interim impairment testing we were required to calculate an implied fair value of goodwill based on a hypothetical purchase price allocation. Based on these results, we determined a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of $18.7 million. 

Loss on early extinguishment and modification of debt
 
Loss on early extinguishment and modification of debt was $1.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and related to the write off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to our prior credit agreement.  See Note 6- Debt, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information. In the nine months ended September 30, 2012, loss on early extinguishment or modification of debt was $0.1 million and related to a change in lenders' participations and modification of the then existing July 2012 Credit Agreement.

Interest expense
 
Interest expense totaled $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average borrowings. The effective interest rate on our borrowings was 2.1% through February 15, 2013 (the day we repaid our outstanding debt with proceeds from the sale of clinical trial services business). The effective interest rate on our borrowings was 2.2% for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012. See Note 6- Debt, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

Income tax benefit
 
Income tax benefit from continuing operations totaled $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The effective tax rate was 51.3% and 30.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The income tax benefit in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 included $1.3 million from discrete items, the most significant of which related to a reversal of accrued U.S. taxes on foreign earnings made possible by the divestiture of the Company's clinical trial services business. Excluding discrete items, the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 4.1% and 31.3%, respectively. The effective tax rates are different than statutory rates primarily due to the impact of certain non-deductible per diem payments and foreign taxes.

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes includes the results from the sale of the clinical trial services business which is classified as discontinued in the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Income from discontinued


26


operations, net of tax of $1.9 million included a $4.0 million gain ($1.7 million net of taxes) on the sale of our clinical trial services business in the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax of $14.9 million included a goodwill impairment charge of $22.1 million, pretax, in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. See Note 2 –Discontinued Operations, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
As of September 30, 2013, we had a current ratio, defined as the amount of current assets divided by current liabilities, of 3 to 1. Working capital increased $7.2 million to $80.0 million as of September 30, 2013 from $72.8 million as of December 31, 2012.
 
Our operating cash flows constitute our primary source of liquidity, and historically, have been sufficient to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, internal business expansion and debt service. We believe that operating cash flows and cash on hand, along with amounts available under our Loan Agreement, will be sufficient to meet these needs during the next twelve months.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $5.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to lower days sales outstanding at September 30, 2013 compared to September 30, 2012. The number of days’ sales outstanding was 49 days at September 30, 2013 compared to 54 days at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012 including the clinical trial services business.
 
Investing activities provided $45.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to a use of $2.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we sold the clinical trial services business. The net proceeds from the sale of this business segment were $45.7 million which included costs to sell the business. We used $0.7 million for capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $2.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Net cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, was $34.4 million compared to $9.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily related to net payments on our total debt in both periods. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repaid total debt, net of borrowings, in the amount of $33.6 million primarily using the proceeds from the sale of clinical trial services business.  In addition, we used $0.5 million to pay debt issuance costs related to our Loan Agreement (as described in Credit Facility below). In the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we repaid total debt, net of borrowings, of $7.5 million using cash on hand and cash flow from operations. In addition, we used $1.3 million to pay debt issuance costs related to the July 2012 Credit Agreement (as described in Credit Facility below) and $0.4 million for stock repurchases, as described in the Stockholders' Equity section. 
 
Stockholders’ Equity
 
Stock Repurchase Program

As of September 30, 2013, there are 942,443 shares remaining under our February 2008 Board authorization and 31.1 million shares of common stock outstanding.  Subject to certain conditions as described in the Loan Agreement entered into on January 9, 2013, we may repurchase up to an aggregate amount of $5.0 million of our Equity Interests (as defined in the Loan Agreement). During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we did not repurchase any shares under our February 2008 Board of Directors’ authorization.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we repurchased 71,653 shares at an average price of $5.22, under our February 2008 Board of Directors’ authorization. The cost of such purchases was $0.4 million. All of the common stock was retired.
 
Share-based Payments

During the three months ended September 30, 2013, 31,500 shares of restricted stock at a market price of $5.57 were granted to Directors and key employees of the Company. In addition, 31,500 stock appreciation rights were granted to key employees at a weighted average price of $5.57 and a weighted average valuation per share of $2.20.



27


During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 340,509 shares of restricted stock at a market price of $4.64 were granted to Directors and key employees of the Company. In addition, 324,000 stock appreciation rights were granted to key employees at a weighted average price of $5.25 and a weighted average valuation per share of $1.77.

Similar to prior grants, the restricted stock vests 25% per year over a four year period on the anniversary date of the grant. The stock appreciation rights vest 25% per year over a four year period, expire after seven years and can only be settled with stock.

Credit Facility
 
Loan Agreement
 
On January 9, 2013, we terminated our commitments under senior secured credit agreement (July 2012 Credit Agreement) and entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (Loan Agreement), by and among us and certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Bank of America, N.A., as agent.
 
The Loan Agreement provides for: a three-year senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $65.0 million (as described below), which includes a subfacility for swingline loans up to an amount equal to 10% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and a $20.0 million subfacility for standby letters of credit. As of September 30, 2013, we had no revolver borrowings outstanding under this Loan Agreement. As of September 30, 2013, the availability under the Loan Agreement was approximately $38.1 million based on August accounts receivable. We had $11.5 million of letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
 
Swingline loans and letters of credit issued under the Loan Agreement reduce available revolving credit commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis.  Subject to certain conditions, we are permitted, at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility, to increase the total revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20.0 million, with additional commitments from Lenders or new commitments from financial institutions, subject to certain conditions as described in the Loan Agreement. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the aggregate amount of advances under the Line of Credit (Borrowing Base) cannot exceed the lesser of (a) (i) $65.0 million, or (ii) 85% of eligible billed accounts receivable as defined in the Loan Agreement; plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85% of eligible unbilled accounts receivable and (ii) $12.0 million; minus (c)  reserves as defined by the Loan Agreement, which include one week’s worth of W-2 payroll and fees payable to independent contractors.
 
The initial proceeds from the revolving credit facility were used to finance the repayment of our existing indebtedness under our prior credit agreement and the payment of fees and expenses. The repayment of the term loan portion of our outstanding debt in the first quarter of 2013 is treated as extinguishment of debt, and, as a result, we recognized a loss on extinguishment in the first quarter of 2013, related to the write-off of unamortized net debt issuance costs of approximately $0.3 million.  The repayment of the revolver portion of our outstanding debt in the first quarter of 2013 is treated partially as extinguishment and partially as a modification. The fees related to the modified portion of $0.1 million relate to the continuation of credit provided by Bank of America, N.A. in its Loan Agreement. We wrote-off the remaining unamortized net debt issuance costs of approximately $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2013.
 
The revolving credit facility will be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries.  As of September 30, 2013, the interest rate spreads and fees under the Loan Agreement are based on LIBOR plus 1.5% or Base Rate plus 0.50%. The LIBOR and Base Rate margins are subject to performance pricing adjustments, pursuant to a pricing matrix based on our excess availability under the revolving credit facility, and could increase by 200 basis points if an event of default exists.

The Loan Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and affirmative covenants. The Loan Agreement also contains customary negative covenants; including covenants with respect to, among other things, (i) indebtedness, (ii) liens, (iii) investments, (iv) significant corporate changes, including mergers and acquisitions, (v) dispositions, (vi) dividend, distributions and other restricted payments, (vii) transactions with affiliates and (viii) restrictive agreements.  In addition, if our availability under the revolving credit facility is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Loan Cap, as defined, and (ii) $6.25 million, we are required to meet a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0, as defined in the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement also contains customary events of default, such as payment defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency, the occurrence of a defined change in control and the failure to observe covenants or conditions under the credit facility documents. Our obligations under the Loan Agreement are guaranteed by all material domestic subsidiaries of the Company that are not co-borrowers (Subsidiary Guarantors).  As collateral security for their obligations under the Loan Agreement and guarantees thereof, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have granted to Bank of America, N.A., a security interest in substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets.


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July 2012 Credit Agreement
 
We entered into July 2012 Credit Agreement on July 10, 2012 , by and among us, as borrower, a syndicate of lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agent. The July 2012 Credit Agreement provided for: (i) a five-year senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, and (ii) a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, which included a $10.0 million subfacility for swingline loans, and a $20.0 million subfacility for standby letters of credit. Swingline loans and letters of credit issued under the July 2012 Credit Agreement reduced available revolving credit commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Subject to certain conditions under the Credit Agreement, we were permitted, at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility, to increase its total revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million.
 
The revolving credit facility was to be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries. Through December 31, 2012, interest on the term loan and revolving credit portion of the July 2012 Credit Agreement was based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or Base Rate (as defined by the July 2012 Credit Agreement, as modified) plus a margin of 1.50%. In addition, we were required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on its average daily unused portion of the revolving loan facility of 0.50%. The interest rate spreads and fees fluctuated during the term of the July 2012 Credit Agreement based on the consolidated total leverage ratio at each calculation date, as defined.

Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2013.

In July 2013, we entered into an agreement to lease 41,607 square feet of space in Peachtree Corners, Georgia for our physician staffing business. The commitment is for ten years and eight months, subject to adjustment and earlier termination as provided in the lease, and totals approximately $4.2 million, excluding operating costs. The lease also contains certain lease incentives including a tenant improvement allowance of up to $1.5 million, or which any excess may be used for moving expenses. The commencement of the lease is expected to be in the first quarter of 2014.
Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates
 
Our critical accounting policies remain consistent with those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, we have updated the specific details within the critical accounting policy relating to legal matters as stated below.
 
We are subject to various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of our business. Some of these matters include professional liability and employee-related matters. Our hospital and healthcare facility clients may also become subject to claims, governmental inquiries and investigations and legal actions to which we may become a party relating to services provided by our professionals. From time to time, and depending upon the particular facts and circumstances, we may be subject to indemnification obligations under our contracts with our hospital and healthcare facility clients relating to these matters. Material pending legal proceedings brought against the Company, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, is described in Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
 
●
In late 2012, Alice Ogues, a former employee of Travel Staff, LLC (then CC Staffing, Inc.) commenced a putative wage and hour class action against the company.  The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, under the caption Ogues v. CC Staffing, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-6135-JCS.  The Plaintiff seeks to represent a class of all individuals employed by the company as non-exempt workers from December 4, 2008 to the present and alleges that Travel Staff: (1) failed to provide meal periods; (2) failed to provide rest breaks; (3) failed to pay minimum and overtime wages; (4) failed to timely pay wages during employment; (5) made unlawful deductions from wages; (6) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (7) waiting time penalties; and (8) unfair competition.  In June 2013, the parties reached a settlement in principle for $0.75 million, and are negotiating the terms of the settlement agreement.   Preliminary and final approval hearing dates have not yet been set by the court.
 
●
On September 8, 2010, the Company's subsidiary, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. became the subject of an indemnity lawsuit (New Hanover Regional Medical Center vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., d/b/a Cross Country Staffing, and Christina Lynn White) filed in the New Hanover County Civil Superior Court, State of North Carolina.  Plaintiff alleged that a former employee of Cross Country TravCorps was negligent in caring for a patient which resulted in the


29


death of that patient.  New Hanover Regional Medical Center settled the claim pre-suit and subsequently brought an indemnity claim against the former nurse and Cross Country TravCorps for the actions of the nurse pursuant to the Staffing Agreement between Cross Country TravCorps and the hospital.

On April 19, 2013, an arbitration panel found the nurse negligently caused the death of the patient and that New Hanover Regional Medical Center had no active negligence contributing to that death. Furthermore, the arbitration panel found that the facility was entitled to recover compensatory damages from the nurse and Cross Country Staffing in the amount of approximately $2.0 million, plus pre-judgment interest (from September 8, 2010) at 8% per year. In addition, New Hanover Regional Medical Center was entitled to recover from Cross Country prejudgment interest on the compensatory damages from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 at the rate of 8% per year and approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees.  The panel also found that, but for the negligence of the nurse, Cross Country would have no liability to New Hanover Regional Medical Center; therefore, as a matter of equity Cross Country was entitled to recover indemnity from the former nurse to the full extent Cross Country actually paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center any portion of the award (other than the prejudgment interest from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 and the approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees). The nurse had insurance coverage for this claim with $2.0 million (individual)/$4.0 million (aggregate) limits and no deductible. In addition, the Company has excess coverage that was expected to cover the amount of loss over $2.0 million.
 
During the second quarter of 2013, the nurse's insurance carrier paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center $2,000,000 and Cross Country made an indemnity payment to the facility in the amount of $920,450. As of September 30, 2013, Cross Country had been reimbursed $883,450 from its excess carrier. Subsequent to September 30, 2013, Cross Country received the remaining reimbursement for the indemnity payment as well as a reimbursement for additional legal expenses related to this claim of $273,474, which was collected in October 2013.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The Company is in a net deferred tax asset position on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013.  We have determined that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will be realized in the future with the exception of a specific state portion of the net deferred tax asset for which a valuation allowance of $0.5 million has been recorded. Refer to our Management’s Discussion and Analysis – Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates in our Form 10-K for further information.

Other Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates

Our other critical accounting principles and estimates remain consistent with those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC.

Recent accounting pronouncements
 
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2013-02).  ASU 2013-02 adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), including (1) disaggregating and separately presenting changes in AOCI balances by component and (2) presenting significant items reclassified out of AOCI either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements.  It does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in the financial statements.  The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 (and interim periods within those years), and is to be applied prospectively.  We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2013.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2013-05).  The objective of ASU 2013-05 is to resolve the diversity in practice as to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) within a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 clarifies that a cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its


30

investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages (i.e., a step acquisition). This ASU is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance and released into earnings $2.3 million of cumulative currency translation related to the sale of clinical trial services business in the first quarter of 2013, which was included in the income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Income Taxes - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carry forwards Exists (ASU 2013-11). ASU 2013-11 requires entities to present the unrecognized tax benefits in the financial statements as a liability and not combine it with deferred tax assets to the extent a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. ASU 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. We are currently evaluating its impact on the financial statements and disclosures.



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ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes to our market risks as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon the evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports required under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in order to allow timely decisions regarding any required disclosure.
 
The evaluation has not identified any changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected or that are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. – OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In late 2012, Alice Ogues, a former employee of Travel Staff, LLC (then CC Staffing, Inc.) commenced a putative wage and hour class action against the company.  The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, under the caption Ogues v. CC Staffing, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-6135-JCS.  The Plaintiff seeks to represent a class of all individuals employed by the company as non-exempt workers from December 4, 2008 to the present and alleges that Travel Staff: (1) failed to provide meal periods; (2) failed to provide rest breaks; (3) failed to pay minimum and overtime wages; (4) failed to timely pay wages during employment; (5) made unlawful deductions from wages; (6) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (7) waiting time penalties; and (8) unfair competition.  In June 2013, the parties reached a settlement in principle for $0.75 million, and are negotiating the terms of the settlement agreement.   Preliminary and final approval hearing dates have not yet been set by the court.

On September 8, 2010, the Company's subsidiary, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. became the subject of an indemnity lawsuit (New Hanover Regional Medical Center vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., d/b/a Cross Country Staffing, and Christina Lynn White) filed in the New Hanover County Civil Superior Court, State of North Carolina.  Plaintiff alleged that a former employee of Cross Country TravCorps was negligent in caring for a patient which resulted in the death of that patient.  New Hanover Regional Medical Center settled the claim pre-suit and subsequently brought an indemnity claim against the former nurse and Cross Country TravCorps for the actions of the nurse pursuant to the Staffing Agreement between Cross Country TravCorps and the hospital.

On April 19, 2013, an arbitration panel found the nurse negligently caused the death of the patient and that New Hanover Regional Medical Center had no active negligence contributing to that death. Furthermore, the arbitration panel found that the facility was entitled to recover compensatory damages from the nurse and Cross Country Staffing in the amount of approximately $2.0 million, plus pre-judgment interest (from September 8, 2010) at 8% per year. In addition, New Hanover Regional Medical Center was entitled to recover from Cross Country prejudgment interest on the compensatory damages from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 at the rate of 8% per year and approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees.  The panel also found that, but for the negligence of the nurse, Cross Country would have no liability to New Hanover Regional Medical Center; therefore, as a matter of equity Cross Country was entitled to recover indemnity from the former nurse to the full extent Cross Country actually paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center any portion of the award (other than the prejudgment interest from March 31, 2008 through September 7, 2010 and the approximately $41,000 in attorneys' fees). The nurse had insurance coverage for this claim with $2.0 million (individual)/$4.0 million (aggregate) limits and no deductible. In addition, the Company has excess coverage that was expected to cover the amount of loss over $2.0 million.
 
During the second quarter of 2013, the nurse's insurance carrier paid New Hanover Regional Medical Center $2,000,000 and Cross Country made an indemnity payment to the facility in the amount of $920,450.  As of September 30, 2013, Cross Country had been reimbursed $883,450 from its excess carrier. Subsequent to September 30, 2013, Cross Country received the remaining reimbursement for the indemnity payment as well as a reimbursement for additional legal expenses related to this claim of $273,474, which was collected in October 2013.

We are also subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these other matters will not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
 
There are no material changes to our Risk Factors as previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
 
See Exhibit Index immediately following signature page.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
 
 
 
Date: November 7, 2013
By:
/s/ Emil Hensel
 
 
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)



 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
 
 
 
Date: November 7, 2013
By:
/s/ Nicholas Buscemi III
 
 
Nicholas Buscemi III
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)




34

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
No.
 
Description
 
 
 
*31.1
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14 (a) by William J. Grubbs, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
*31.2
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14 (a) by Emil Hensel, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
*32.1
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by William J. Grubbs, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
*32.2
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by Emil Hensel, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
**101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
**101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
**101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
**101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
**101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
**101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
*
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
**
 
Furnished herewith


35