a50588680.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________
 
FORM 10-K
 
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
or
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from __________ to __________
 
Commission file number 0-33169
GRAPHIC
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
13-4066229
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 998-2232
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
The NASDAQ Stock Market
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes 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). Yes þ  No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act: Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o No þ
 
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of Common Stock on June 29, 2012 of $4.37 as reported on the NASDAQ National Market, was $131,163,868. This calculation does not reflect a determination that persons are affiliated for any other purpose.
 
As of February 28, 2013, 30,902,314 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, were outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which statement will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Report, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.



 
 
 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
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All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or “Cross Country” in this Report on Form 10-K means Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
In addition to historical information, this Form 10-K 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”, “appears”, “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. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Item 1A – Risk Factors.” Readers should also carefully review the “Risk Factors” section contained in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q to be filed by us in fiscal year 2013.
 
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.
 
PART I
 
Business.
 
Overview of Our Company
 
We are a leader in healthcare staffing with a primary focus on providing nurse, allied and physician (locum tenens) staffing services and workforce solutions to the healthcare market. 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 five 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 report our financial results according to three business segments: (1) nurse and allied staffing, (2) physician staffing, and (3) other human capital management services.
 
In February 2013, we sold our clinical trial services business. Accordingly, this business segment has been reclassified as discontinued operations on our consolidated financial statements contained in this Report. For additional information, see Footnote 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations contained elsewhere in this report.
 
Our operations reflect a diversified revenue mix across healthcare customers. For the full year 2012, our revenue from continuing operations was $442.6 million. Our nurse and allied staffing business segment was 63% of revenue and is comprised of travel nurse, per diem nurse and allied health staffing. Our physician staffing business segment was 28% of our revenue and consists of temporary physician staffing services with placements across multiple specialties. Our other human capital management services business segment was 9% of our revenue and consists of education and training, as well as retained search services related primarily to physicians, allied health and healthcare executives. On a company-wide basis, we have approximately 4,000 contracts with hospitals and healthcare facilities, and other healthcare organizations to provide our staffing services and workforce solutions. In 2012, no single client accounted for more than 3% of our revenue. Our fees are paid directly by our clients, and in certain instances, by third-party vendor managers. As a result, we have no direct exposure to Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements. For additional financial information concerning our business segments see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements - Segment Information, contained elsewhere in this report.
 
Healthcare and Demographic Influences on Our Business
 
Health Care Reform and the Health Workforce
 
Health care reform legislation known as the Affordable Care Act was enacted into law in March 2010, and incorporates the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The primary objective of the Affordable Care Act is to decrease the number of uninsured Americans and reduce the overall costs of health care by improving healthcare outcomes and streamlining the delivery of health care. A number of provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect over several years and began in 2010 and are directed at employers, individuals, insurance providers and the health workforce. One of the major aspects of the Affordable Care Act is providing health insurance coverage for uninsured nonelderly people. According to an NBC News report of the Congressional Budget Office’s Estimate of the Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Insurance Coverage (February 2013), the Congressional Budget Office projects approximately 27 million previously uninsured people will be covered by health insurance by 2017.  This number was revised from its March 2012 projection that 32 million to 34 million previously uninsured people would receive health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
 
 
1
 
 
 
The Affordable Care Act is expected to create a large demand for medical professionals to accommodate the significant number of new patients that will begin using their health benefits. With respect to healthcare workforce, provisions of the Affordable Care Act are intended to: improve access by increasing the supply of needed health workers, particularly primary care practitioners; increase efficiency and effectiveness by encouraging systems redesign; address problems of mal-distribution; and improve the quality of care through improved education and training. It also establishes an infrastructure to collect and disseminate better data and information to inform public and private decision making around the supply, education and training and use of healthcare workers (Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center for Workforce Studies, April 2010).
 
Demand Influences
 
The long-term macro drivers of our business are demographic in nature and consist of a growing and aging U.S. population demanding more healthcare services and an aging workforce of healthcare professionals. Additionally, there are projected shortages of healthcare professionals including registered nurses (RNs) and physicians.
 
According to the most recent report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in 2011 health spending in the U.S. grew by 3.9%, which was the slowest annual rate of increase in the 52 years that federal agencies have been tracking such data. In 2011, health expenditures increased to $2.7 trillion from $2.6 trillion in 2010 and from $2.5 trillion in 2009. The low rate of growth in overall health spending in 2011 largely reflects the lingering effects of the 2008 recession and the modest recovery that followed, which contributed to slower growth in the use of health care goods and services, lower medical inflation, reduced private health insurance enrollment, and employer efforts to control spending.
 
In 2011, Medicare spending grew 6.2% to $554 billion and Medicaid spending increased 2.5% to $408 billion over the prior year. Hospital spending grew 4.3% to $850 billion. Physician and clinical services spending grew 4.3% to $541 billion. The CMS analysis also noted that provisions of healthcare legislation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act had minimal effects on health spending growth in 2010 and 2011 as the main provisions – the individual mandate and health insurance exchanges – do not take effect until 2014.
 
In 2012 and 2013, health spending was estimated to continue to grow modestly at 4.2% and 3.8%, respectively. In 2014, national health spending is projected to accelerate to 7.4% primarily due to implementation or expansion of provisions under the Affordable Care Act. Longer-term, CMS expects national health spending over the period of 2015-2021 to grow at an average rate of 6.2% annually, reflecting greater demand for healthcare services due to both an increasing and aging population, several provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and generally improving economic conditions.
 
The U.S. population grew by 9.7% to 308.7 million people in the decade from 2000 to 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau data; and life expectancy for Americans is nearly 78 years, the highest in U.S. history, according to the most recent government data for 2007. Between 2010 and 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau projects the American population to grow 42% to 439 million people and also to grow older driven largely by the baby boomer generation moving into the ranks of the 65 and older population. The number of people age 65 and older is projected to more than double from 40.2 million in 2010 to 88.5 million in 2050, while over this same period the number of people age 85 and older is projected to grow from 5.8 million to 19 million, according to a May 2010 report by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
   
Utilization of healthcare services is significantly higher among older people. In 2007, people age 65 and older averaged seven doctor visits per year while people aged 45-65 average less than four visits annually, according to a 2010 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This report also found that approximately one-third of people age 65 and older were admitted to acute care hospitals for treatment, which is about three times the comparable rate for people under age 65. The American Hospital Association (AHA) projects the share of hospital admissions for the over-65 age group to rise from 38% in 2004 to 56% in 2030.
 
 
2
 
 
 
We believe demand for our nurse, allied and physician staffing services is primarily influenced by two factors: (1) national labor market dynamics that affect the number of hours worked by healthcare professionals, especially nurses, and (2) the strength or weakness in acute care hospital admissions relative to expectations, as well as the volume of patients at other medical facilities and physician offices. During 2012, demand (defined as open orders from clients) improved significantly for our nurse and allied staffing services and also improved for our physician staffing services. However, overall demand for our healthcare staffing services remains below levels prior to the economic downturn that began in the fall of 2008.
 
With respect to temporary healthcare professionals, a significant downturn in the national labor market following the recession of 2008 triggered RNs to offer more hours of service directly to hospital employers at wages hospitals were willing and able to pay. This resulted in a steep decline in the demand for our temporary nurse and allied staffing services, and to a lesser extent, our physician staffing services. Physicians have historically been revenue generators for hospitals, healthcare facilities and practice groups while nurses are not a specifically reimbursed cost in the delivery of care.
 
Supply Influences
 
Overlaid on an expected increase in demand for healthcare services is a projected shortage of RNs that is caused by an aging nurse workforce and a nurse education system constrained by both an aging faculty and lack of accredited teaching facilities. There is also a growing shortage of physicians in both hospitals and practice groups that is influenced by constraints in the number of graduates from U.S. medical schools combined with an aging workforce that is expected to experience substantial retirements over the next decade. Healthcare reform legislation is also expected to have a future impact on the shortage of RNs and physicians caused by adding tens of millions of new patients to the reimbursement system.
 
Despite a high national unemployment rate in 2012 and flat job growth compared to the prior year, the U.S. healthcare workforce continued to expand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that healthcare employers added 45,000 new jobs in December 2012, bringing the 2012 total of new jobs created in this sector to 338,000, a 7.3% increase from the prior year.
   
RNs are projected to be the top occupation in terms of job growth through 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its February 2012 report, Employment Projections 2010-2020, in which the number of employed nurses is expected to grow 26% from 2.74 million in 2010 to 3.45 million in 2020.  During the past several years, hospital employment of RNs increased significantly due to several factors related to the effects of the economic downturn and weak national labor market: full and part-time staff RNs increased the number of shifts working directly for hospital employers, many retired RNs returned to bedside care, older RNs contemplating retirement remained in the workforce longer to maintain household income, and there was an increase in younger RNs entering the workforce. In the last recession, in 2007 and 2008, hospital employment of RNs increased by an estimated 243,000 full-time equivalents – the largest increase during any 2-year period in the prior four decades. These factors served to substantially ease the shortage of RNs working in hospitals. Looking ahead, knowledgeable industry researchers believe that over the next several years, many RNs who entered the workforce during the economic downturn are likely to leave their jobs once the economy fully recovers, making it likely that growth in demand for RNs over the next few years will exceed the projected growth in the workforce, leading to renewed shortages of RNs in the near-term (New England Journal of Medicine, April 2012). And in the longer-term, large shortages of RNs are projected nationwide with the onset of a substantial shortfall of RNs expected to occur around 2018 and growing to approximately 260,000 by 2025 (Health Affairs, June 2009).
   
Physicians are expected to be in short supply as well. While the root cause of this shortage dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when medical schools capped enrollment, the U.S. is expected to face a shortage of more than 90,000 primary care, surgical and medical specialty physicians by 2020 – a number that will grow to more than 130,000 by 2025, according to analysis by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center for Workforce Studies (June 2010). This analysis factored in an expansion of health care insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act along with physician retirements. The AAMC expects nearly one-third of all physicians will retire in the next decade. Additionally, while the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools is increasing, it will not keep pace with expected future demand. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the physician supply will increase by only 7% in the next 10 years.
 
The supply of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the marketplace is dependent upon the number of HCPs entering or already active in their respective professions, less the number of professionals leaving or retiring from the workforce. The supply of RNs available for our staffing services is variable and impacted by national labor market dynamics and demand-related factors which influence RNs to gauge their willingness to work temporary assignments, be directly employed by hospitals as staff nurses or working in non-hospital settings such as insurance companies, health clinics and doctor offices. The supply of physicians available for our physician staffing services is variable and is influenced by several factors, including the desire of physicians to work temporary assignments, along with the desire of older physicians to work fewer hours, work-lifestyle balance among younger physicians, and the trend toward more female physicians in the workforce who traditionally work fewer hours than their male counterparts.
 
 
3
 
 
 
Influences on Our Customers
 
Hospital and healthcare facility customers comprise the majority of our revenue base. Typically, they provide medical care on a 24 hour/7 day a week basis, which requires RNs, physicians and other healthcare professionals to be staffed around the clock. Labor costs have historically been the largest component of a hospital’s operating budget with nursing care accounting for about half of this amount or a quarter of total expenditures. Hospitals are capital-intensive organizations that are paid for their services through reimbursements from the CMS, by insurance companies paying their members’ covered claims, and by private-pay individuals. Our fees are paid directly by our clients and in certain instances by vendor managers. As a result, we have no direct exposure to Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements.
 
Since the beginning of 2003, growth in hospital in-patient admissions has been relatively flat. In addition, hospitals, healthcare facilities and physician practice groups have had to contend with changes to government reimbursements for their services and changes in legislation and agency regulations, along with a large pool of uninsured patients. In addition, in 2011, uncompensated care (bad debt and charity care) by hospitals reached a record $41.1 billion and represented 5.9% of total expenses, which was relatively consistent with the prior 5-year period. Among other things, these factors have been compounded by high unemployment and higher deductibles and co-pays for those with health insurance coverage.
 
During 2012, hospitals and health systems continued to operate in an environment characterized by a slow recovering economy and emerging healthcare policy changes. These factors have turned up the pressure in the near- and longer-term to increase efficiency, devise new payment models and create new models of coordinated care across hospitals, health systems, other medical providers and the community with the result of improved quality of care and better health outcomes, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). More specifically, hospitals and other health care providers were reacting to and complying with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and subsequent changes.
 
In addition, many hospitals are currently undergoing electronic medical record (EMR) implementations aided by grants available to healthcare facilities under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Act (HITECH Act) – adopted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – to improve the quality of healthcare by reducing medical errors and lowering costs through the computerization of America’s health records by 2015. See Regulations Affecting Our Clients for more information about this Act. Hospitals are also going through ICD-10 implementation (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision), which is a new version of the medical procedure codes used for reimbursement, quality and patient safety reporting. Transitioning to the new coding system is a significant undertaking that requires not just technology upgrades, but also training of clinical, coding and financial staffs. As a comparison, the new ICD-10 coding system contains more than 141,000 codes and accommodates a host of new diagnoses and procedures, whereas the prior ICD-9 coding system contains approximately 17,000 codes.
 
Physicians are increasingly becoming employees of hospitals or health systems due to business pressures and costs of operating private practices. Hospitals seek to gain market share by increasing their referral base and capturing admissions while physicians are facing a combination of factors that include stagnant reimbursement rates, increased regulatory burden, rising costs, greater risk associated with operating a private practice, and an increased desire for a better work-life balance. We believe this shift has reduced the demand from hospitals for temporary physicians. In 2009, more than 50% of medical practices were hospital-owned as compared to about 26% in 2005, according to annual physician compensation surveys by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
 
Looking ahead, there are a number of key issues hospitals and health systems are expected to face in 2013, according to Becker’s Hospital Review (September 2012) including:
 
Hospital-hospital consolidation
   
Hospital-physician alignment
   
Payor-payor and payor-provider consolidation
   
Physician shortage and physician burnout
   
Sustainability of physician employment
   
Accountable care organizations
 
 
4
 
 
 
Nurse and Allied Staffing
 
We are a leading provider of nurse and allied staffing services in the U.S. Nurse and allied staffing is our largest business segment with revenue of $277.8 million in 2012. The majority of our revenue is generated from staffing RNs on long-term contract assignments (typically 13-weeks in length) at hospitals and health systems. We also staff allied health professionals on long-term contract assignments and staff RNs, licensed practical nurses and certified nurse assistants on short-term per diem assignments through our network of local offices. Our allied and other healthcare professionals represent a wide range of specialties that include operating room technicians, rehabilitation therapists, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, radiation therapy technicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
 
We market our nurse and allied staffing services primarily to acute care hospitals and health systems, and provide our clients with staffing solutions through our Cross Country Staffing (CCS) and Allied Health Group brands. Our clients provide health and medical services across a broad range of clinical settings in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors throughout the U.S., including acute care hospitals, physician practice groups, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and sports medicine clinics, and, to a lesser degree, non-clinical settings such as home care and schools.
 
Our nurse and allied staffing businesses are certified by The Joint Commission under its Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program.
 
CCS is our largest brand. The vast majority of our activities are designed to help a diverse customer base of hospitals and health system clients meet their ongoing staffing needs for temporary nurses and allied health professionals. During 2012, we worked with more than a thousand hospitals and health system clients. Additionally, as a part of its business strategy, CCS provides comprehensive Managed Service Provider (MSP) solutions to large hospitals and health systems throughout the U.S. to manage their temporary clinical staffing.  These MSP contracts are specifically tailored to each client based on their workforce goals and financial targets. Our MSP engagements typically incorporate one or more of our contract nurse, contract allied and/or per diem staffing solutions. Typically, such arrangements require CCS to:
 
negotiate contracts with subcontractors in order to help meet the client’s fill rate expectations
   
verify that all nurses provided both by CCS and subcontractors meet CCS’ credential requirements and other standards and testing requirements established by the client
   
verify insurance coverage of the subcontractors and their candidates
   
manage orders for open positions from the client and distribute those needs to subcontractors as required
   
interview candidates presented to ensure they meet the client’s specifications
   
consolidate and reconcile the timecard approval and invoicing process for services provided by CCS and all subcontractors
   
distribute payments to subcontractors for services provided to the client
   
capture and analyze data for the benefit of the client
 
These services are particularly beneficial to larger facilities and systems that require many healthcare professionals across a broad spectrum of medical disciplines and specialties. For the full year 2012, approximately 29% of our nurse and allied staffing volume was at MSP client facilities. In addition to directly supplying a large majority of client needs under these MSP programs, CCS has relationships with hundreds of subcontractors throughout the U.S. to ensure that clients have access to a large pool of candidates to meet their staffing needs.
 
Another component of our business is contract staffing for hospitals and health systems undergoing electronic medical record (EMR) technology implementations. In these situations, we supply contract temporary healthcare professionals to provide patient care while hospital staff RNs are away in classroom settings undergoing training and to provide support to the staff RNs in utilizing the EMR technology upon their return to bedside care. We expect that staffing related to EMR technology implementations will be one of the growth drivers of our nurse and allied staffing segment in 2013.
 
 
5
 
 
 
Overview of the Nurse and Allied Staffing Industry
 
Clients today select between contract and/or per diem staffing solutions in order to meet their temporary staffing needs. The term “contract staffing” is typically associated with travel nurse or travel allied health professionals. Contract staffing involves placement of nursing or allied healthcare professionals on a contract basis, typically for a 13-week assignment although assignments may range from several weeks or longer than three months. Contract assignments usually involve relocation to the geographic area of the assignment. Both the contract and per diem models provide our clients with a more flexible cost model to better manage variability in their staffing needs due to changes in demand. Often, the contract model is preferred because it also provides a pool of potential full-time job candidates from outside the local market, and enables healthcare facilities to provide their patients with a greater degree of continuity of care versus a per diem solution. The staffing company generally employs the healthcare professional and is responsible for providing them with customary employment benefits, including travel reimbursements, and for coordinating housing arrangements. Per diem nurse staffing comprises the majority of the outsourced temporary nurse staffing market and involves the placement of locally-based healthcare professionals on short-term assignments, often for daily shift work, with little advance notice by the hospital client. Consequently, housing and travel reimbursements are generally not required for this mode of staffing. In 2012, the market for travel nurse and allied staffing was estimated to be approximately $4.4 billion and the market for per diem staffing was estimated to be $2.8 billion, according to industry sources.
 
Recruiting
 
We operate differentiated brands – Cross Country TravCorps, MedStaff Healthcare Solutions, NovaPro, Cross Country Per Diem, CRU-48, Allied Health Group, MRA Search and Assignment America – to recruit nurses and allied healthcare professionals on a domestic and international basis. We believe RNs and allied health professionals are attracted to us because we offer a wide range of diverse assignments in attractive locations, competitive compensation and benefit packages, as well as a high level of customer service. In 2012, more than ten thousand healthcare professionals applied with us through our recruitment brands.
 
Historically, more than half of our field employees have been referred to us by other healthcare professionals. We market our brands on the Internet including extensive utilization of social media, which has become an increasingly important component of our recruitment efforts. We maintain a number of websites to allow potential applicants to obtain information about our brands and assignment opportunities, as well as to apply online. We also advertise in trade publications.
 
Our recruiters are an essential element of our staffing business, responsible for establishing and maintaining key relationships with candidates for the duration of their employment with our Company. Our recruiters work with candidates before, during and after their employment with us. We believe our retention rate of healthcare professionals is a direct result of these relationships. Recruiters match the supply of qualified candidates in our databases with the demand for open orders posted by our hospital clients. At year-end 2012, we had 96 recruiters in our nurse and allied staffing segment.
 
Our recruiters utilize proprietary computerized databases of positions to match assignment requirements with the experience, skills and geographic preferences of candidates. Once an assignment is selected, our account managers review the candidate’s application package before submitting it to a hospital client for consideration. Account managers are knowledgeable about the specific requirements and operating environment of the hospitals that they service.
 
Contracts with Field Employees and Hospital Clients
 
Each of our contracted field employees works for us under the terms of a written agreement. Contract assignments are typically 13-weeks in duration and can be shorter or longer. The vast majority of our field employees are hourly whose agreements with us specify the hourly rate they will be paid and any other benefits they are entitled to receive during the assignment period. We bill clients at an hourly rate and assume all employer costs, including payroll, withholding taxes, benefits, professional liability insurance and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as any travel and housing arrangements.
 
Operations
 
We operate our contract staffing business through a relatively centralized business model servicing all of the assignment needs of our field employees and client healthcare facilities through operation centers located in Boca Raton, Florida; Malden, Massachusetts; Tampa, Florida; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; and Norcross, Georgia. In addition to the key sales and recruitment activities, these centers also perform support activities such as coordinating housing, payroll processing, benefits administration, billing and collections, travel reimbursement processing, customer service and risk management. Our per diem staffing services are provided through a network of 19 branch offices serving major metropolitan markets predominantly located on the east and west coasts of the U.S.
 
 
6
 
 
 
Hours worked by field employees are recorded by our operations system, which then transmits the data directly to Automatic Data Processing, Inc. for payroll processing. Client billings are typically generated using time and attendance data captured by our payroll system. Our payroll department also provides customer support services for field employees.
 
During 2012, we had an average of approximately 1,100 apartments open under lease throughout the U.S. Our housing staff typically secures leases and arranges for furniture rental and utilities for field employees at their assignment locations. Apartment leases are typically three months in duration to match the assignment length of our field employees. Beyond the initial term, leases can generally be extended on a month-to-month basis. We typically provide accommodations at no cost to the healthcare professional on assignment with us based on our respective recruitment brand’s practices. We believe that our economies of scale help us secure competitive pricing and favorable lease terms.
 
Demand and Supply Drivers
 
Using temporary personnel enables healthcare providers to manage their total staffing levels of internal and external nursing resources to better match variability of in-patient admissions, seasonal fluctuations, and other factors such as facility expansion and staff training activities.
 
The market for our nurse staffing services is determined by the demand from hospital and health system clients and the available supply of RNs and other healthcare professionals. We believe demand is a function of both the dynamics of the national labor market and its impact on RNs and their spouses (approximately 75% of RNs in the U.S. are married), as well as hospital admission trends relative to expectations (Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) (September 2010)). Each of these factors influences the number of shifts or hours that full and part-time RNs are willing to work directly for hospitals at prevailing wages that hospitals are able to pay. In general, we believe nurses are more willing to seek contract assignments with us during relatively high levels of industry demand for contract employment, and conversely, are more reluctant to seek contract assignments during and immediately following periods of weak industry demand for contract employment. We also believe demand for contract nurse staffing services will be favorably impacted in the long-term by an expanding and aging population and an increasing shortage of nurses. From 2008 to 2010, RN turnover and vacancy rates at hospitals decreased year-over-year due primarily to economic conditions, according to a 2012 Advisory Board report. However, from 2010 to 2011, these metrics reversed the trend of the prior several years likely reflecting increasing confidence in the labor market. Exhibiting the greatest increase was the vacancy rate for bedside nurses, which the Advisory Board report states may be an early indicator of the return of nursing shortage conditions.
 
During 2012, while hospital admission trends continued to remain relatively flat and the U.S. economy achieved a slight improvement and national unemployment improved somewhat but remained high, we experienced an increase in demand for our nurse and allied staffing services that strengthened over the course of the year from a very weak start. The improvement in demand was broad-based and reflected staffing associated with hospital electronic medical record implementations and staffing needs at our MSP accounts.
 
Historically, high national unemployment typically results in RNs increasingly seeking employment as hospital staff nurses and those already employed as staff nurses become more willing to work more hours at prevailing wages, which combine to reduce the need for our outsourced staffing services. The reverse begins to occur as the economy and more specifically the labor markets improve, although there is a lag between the improvement in demand for our nurse and allied staffing services and the improvement in supply of RNs and other healthcare professionals.
 
In connection with a statement by the Tri-Council of Nursing (July 2010), Dr. Peter Buerhaus, Associate Dean of Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing, stated that he believes it is important to look beyond the short-term environment where hospitals have largely been able to employ all the RNs they want at prevailing wages due to the uncertainty over key economic factors. Buerhaus outlined that once the jobs recovery begins and RNs’ spouses rejoin the labor market, many currently employed RNs could leave the workforce where their exit could be swift and deep. This includes many of the more than 100,000 RNs over the age of 50 that re-entered the workforce during 2007 and 2008, who are a part of the nearly 900,000 working RNs over the age of 50, of which Buerhaus expects large numbers of them to retire in the years ahead – independent of the pace and intensity of a jobs recovery. More recently, Buerhaus found a 62% increase in the number of 23-26 year olds who entered the RN workforce between 2002 and 2009 (Health Affairs, December 5, 2011). Despite this increase in younger RNs, the study concluded that the nursing shortage is not over given the demand for nursing care by older adults, new opportunities for nurses through healthcare reform, and the need for more highly educated RNs.
 
 
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Educating Nurses
 
The most commonly reported initial nursing education of RNs in the U.S. is the Associate Degree in Nursing, representing 45.4% of nurses. Bachelor’s or graduate degrees were received by 34.2% of RNs, and 20.4% graduated from hospital-based diploma programs. More than 21% of RNs earned an academic degree prior to their initial nursing degree. More than two-thirds of RNs reported working in a health occupation prior to their initial nursing education (HRSA, September 2010). In contrast, 57% of the RNs we placed on our contract assignments in 2012 earned their bachelor’s or graduate degrees.
 
Enrollment in all types of professional nursing programs increased from 2011 to 2012, including a 3.5% increase in entry-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, according to preliminary survey data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) issued in December 2012. In addition, the AACN survey results showed a 22.2% increase in the number of students enrolled in baccalaureate degree completion programs – called RN to BSN programs – marking the 10th year of increased enrollment in these programs. Enrollment in master’s and doctoral degree nursing programs increased significantly in 2012, according to the AACN. Nursing schools with master’s programs reported an 8.2% increase in enrollment in 2012 and doctoral nursing programs enrollment increased 19.6% while enrollment in research-focused doctoral programs increased slightly by 1.3%.
 
Nursing schools continue to receive more qualified applications than can be accommodated. The AACN preliminary data reflects that 52,212 qualified applications for entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs in 2012 were turned away. The primary barriers to accepting all qualified students at nursing colleges and universities continue to be a shortage of clinical placement sites, faculty and funding.
 
According to the AACN, the national nursing school full-time faculty vacancy rate decreased slightly to 7.6% in 2012 from 7.7% in 2011, and represented a total of 1,181 faculty vacancies at nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs across the country. Most of the vacancies (88.3%) were faculty positions requiring or preferring a doctoral degree. The major reasons precluding schools from hiring additional faculty are insufficient funds to hire new faculty (64.1%), and unwillingness by school administrators to commit to hiring additional faculty (55.5%), and competition with practice for graduate-prepared nurses (35.9%).
 
Physician Staffing
 
The physician staffing or “locum tenens” industry most commonly refers to temporary physicians that contract with staffing agencies to perform medical services over a specified period of time as independent contractors at hospitals, group practices or other healthcare organizations. Physicians consider this way of practicing medicine an excellent alternative to traditional practice while healthcare organizations appreciate the value of this flexible staffing model.
 
In using temporary physicians, the staffing needs of healthcare facilities are met while physicians gain flexibility in their schedules and professional experience in multiple practice settings. Utilization of temporary physician coverage ranges from rural solo physician practices to major health systems and managed care organizations. Healthcare facilities have found that supplemental healthcare professionals are needed for a variety of reasons: to compensate for a physician shortage, to fill in for an absent staff member who may be ill, on vacation, on maternity leave or sabbatical, as well as to cover while physicians attend continuing medical education courses, to supplement regular staff during busy times, or to staff new facilities while permanent providers are recruited. Many healthcare facilities across the country use temporary physicians as an integral part of their master staffing plan. In many cases, it is less costly and more efficient for them to staff at a minimum level and use temporary physicians to supplement their permanent staff, rather than always trying to staff at the maximum level and having many periods of time when the staff are not fully utilized.
 
Physicians choose temporary assignments for a variety of reasons and at various points in their careers. For example, it is an especially appealing option for new physicians just out of residency training. It provides them with the opportunity to sample different practices and areas of the country before making a long-term commitment in any one spot. While medical schools and residency programs teach the art of practicing medicine, new physicians frequently emerge from training without knowing just what style of practice will suit them best and many report being unhappy with their first practice setting. With temporary physician staffing, there is no pressure to rush into a permanent decision, and there are no immediate financial burdens such as “buying in” to a practice or permanently locating to what could turn out to be the wrong place.
 
Temporary staffing is also the choice of many seasoned physicians who are not ready to retire, but who want to scale back from the rigors and administrative burdens of a full-time practice and/or supplement their income. These physicians enjoy the opportunity to keep more reasonable hours and combine work with travel and time spent with family and friends. Other physicians choose temporary physician staffing work while in mid-career as a way to find the right position in a new area, while they are in professional transition such as from military to civilian practice, or while in the process of starting their own business.
 
 
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Overview of the Physician Industry
 
The physician industry is characterized by several trends including: (1) growing demand for services from an aging population, (2) an aging of the physician workforce, and (3) increased direct employment by hospitals partly in response to anticipated effects of healthcare reform.
 
Demand for physicians is projected to grow 29.7% between 2008 and 2025, from 706,500 to 916,000, according to the AAMC Center for Workforce Studies (June 2010), which attributed the increase to the projected aging of the population and the passage of health care reform that will insure approximately 27-30 million Americans. On the supply side, the AAMC projects that over the same period the number of physicians will only increase 12.3% reflecting expectations that nearly one-third of all physicians will retire in the next decade and enrollments in medical schools will not be enough to meet demand just as more people will need health care. As a result, the AAMC projects by 2020 a shortage of more than 90,000 primary care, surgery physicians and medical specialists.
 
An earlier AAMC report (November 2008) concluded that the hospital inpatient setting is projected to experience the greatest increase in demand of 36.6%, while all the other settings are projected to grow by increases that exceed 20%.
 
Of the nearly 700,000 physicians practicing medicine today in the U.S., approximately one-third of physicians are over age 55. Approximately 38% of these physicians report they are considering retirement in the next one to three years, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). In absolute terms, the number of physician retirements is expected to rise to 23,000 per year in 2025 from approximately 9,000 in 2000, according to the AAMC.
 
Shortages exist for all types of physicians, especially for physicians specializing in emergency medicine, cardiology, family practice, general surgery, internal medicine, hospital medicine (hospitalists), oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry and urology. Of particular concern is the shortage of primary care physicians. The AAMC sites numerous reasons for the decline in interest in a career in primary care.
 
There is a significant income gap – and perception of status and prestige – between generalists and specialists.
   
Consequently, while primary care physicians have consistently comprised about one-third of all physicians over the past 30 years, the number of U.S. medical school graduates selecting a family medicine career fell nearly 27% from 5,746 in 2002 to 4,210 in 2007.
   
Medical education and training appear to have less impact on the career choice of new physicians than the practice environment for primary care. Medical students often cite factors such as an ability to control workload, flexibility in scheduling, and career satisfaction as elements in their decisions.
 
Since the recent economic downturn and in the face of health care reform, physicians have looked increasingly for stability in an environment of decreasing reimbursement for professional fees, as well as increased pressure and cost for physician practices to comply with new electronic health records standards. At the same time, selected hospitals are trying to manage rising costs and the CMS is moving to a coordinated care model via Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in an effort to enable healthcare providers to control costs and improve quality by working together with other providers and payers.
 
As hospitals and health systems position themselves for health care reform, including establishing ACOs, hospital employment of physicians has risen sharply in recent years in a quest to gain market share, revenue, shore up referral bases and capture admissions, according to the Center For Studying Health System Change report based on site visits to 12 nationally representative metropolitan communities in 2010. The American Hospital Association reported in its annual hospital survey that full and part-time physician hiring at hospitals accelerated from 88,384 in 2005 to 115,421 in 2010. In 2011, hospitals increased their hiring of physicians, according to a survey released in January 2012 by Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, in which nearly three-quarters of health care organizations reported they had increased physician staffing levels. More recently, a study by The Physician’s Foundation (September 2012) found that more than 50% of physicians will cut back on patients seen, switch to part-time, switch to concierge medicine, or retire. In reporting on this survey, HealthLeaders Media (September 2012) said that 75% of physicians don’t believe the migration to employment is a positive trend, including 62% of employed physicians who consider it a negative. Those physicians opting for employment are doing so for economic security and relief from an extreme regulatory environment.
 
 
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Educating Physicians
 
The root cause of the projected physician shortage dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when enrollment in medical schools was capped. Although medical school enrollments and graduations have increased somewhat since 2005, the education and training of more physicians will not be enough to address the shortage, according to the AAMC (December 2008). In 2012, the total number of applicants to U.S. medical schools increased 3.1% to 45,266, according to the AAMC, while enrollment in medical schools was at an all-time high and increased 1.5% to 19,517 students. Graduations from U.S. medical schools declined slightly to 17,338 in 2012 from 17,363 the prior year.
 
Temporary Physician Staffing Drivers
 
According to industry sources, the temporary physician staffing industry was estimated to be approximately $2.1 billion in revenue in 2012. Using temporary physicians enables healthcare providers to manage their resources to better match variability of in-patient admissions, seasonal fluctuations, and other factors such as vacations, facility expansion and staff training activities. Locum tenens gives a physician the opportunity to practice medicine and focus almost exclusively on patient care without the burden of the administrative aspects of managing a business, reimbursement concerns, hospital politics or malpractice costs. In addition, locum tenens can be an attractive career opportunity for physicians for other reasons depending on their age, financial situation and stage of career. Most recently, since the economic downturn, the demand for locum tenens has been influenced by the delay in retirement of many older physicians and increased direct employment of physicians by hospitals.
 
Our Physician Staffing Business
 
MDA is one of the largest providers of physician staffing services in the U.S. It was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. Segment revenue was $123.5 million in 2012. During 2012, MDA handled more than 5,000 assignments for 833 clients utilizing its database of over 400,000 providers who represent a wide range of medical specialties.
 
During 2012, our physician staffing revenue grew 4% from the prior year in a marketplace that reflected a modest improvement in the economy and continuing concerns by hospital administrators and practice group leaders with respect to changes in the delivery of health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Given these ongoing uncertainties, physicians have increasingly opted to become employees of hospitals and health care systems. While we expect this trend to continue in the short-term, we believe the future outlook for the physician staffing industry is positive as demand for physicians is projected to increase by 2025 due to the demographics of a growing and aging population along with healthcare reform that is expected to be directionally favorable to our business. The needs will be particularly strong in the primary care specialties due to recent decreases in medical school graduates entering the primary care field. Locum tenens should benefit from these shortage trends and demands particularly with an ever increasing aging population. We believe MDA is well positioned to respond to the current and future needs of its healthcare partners.
 
MDA is one of only four locum tenens companies with an in-house Credentials Verification Organization certified by the NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance), which verifies critical credentials prior to a physician’s assignment. This process uses an extensive proprietary database and interfaces with MDA’s professional liability carrier to obtain approvals of providers. It takes risk management decisions out of the sales process by verifying credentials of providers and approving specific assignments.
 
Additionally, MDA currently is one of the largest multi-specialty physician staffing companies that has procured an occurrence-based professional liability policy that provides coverage in all 50 states from a national insurance company, which is AA+-rated by Standard & Poor’s. We believe this is an important competitive advantage for MDA in the recruitment of physicians. The occurrence-based policy is of particular importance to physicians as it covers incidents occurring during the policy period regardless of when they are reported. The more common claims-made policy only covers physicians for claims “reported” during the policy period, which may leave a physician without coverage if the claim is not timely reported or if they fail to secure “tail” coverage. Quality medical malpractice liability insurance coverage is a critical component of the MDA business model. Clients usually require MDA to refer physicians with medical professional liability coverage, and physicians are attracted to MDA, in part, because it offers this malpractice coverage.
 
When it was initially founded, the locum tenens industry primarily served clinics, group practices and rural hospitals. As the physician staffing industry has matured, an increasing amount of business has been generated from serving hospitals in both urban and suburban settings. Large, nationwide hospital systems and associations continuously use MDA’s services due to its ability to respond quickly to the hospital’s needs, and offer quality physicians on a temporary basis. MDA also provides services to various U.S. government institutions, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Indian Health Services, the Army, Air Force and other agencies. In 2012, approximately 60% of MDA’s business was from hospitals and approximately 40% was from physician practice groups and other healthcare facilities.
 
 
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Recruiting
 
MDA successfully operates a multi-site business model with employees at several locations. Recruiters go through extensive training in both sales and recruitment of physician specialties in order to have continuity with providers and hospitals to facilitate quick and personal service to every customer. Each recruiter typically covers one specialty and one geographic region whereas competitors typically have separate sales and marketing personnel which can add confusion to the staffing process. Recruiters are also responsible for managing accounts, including the responsibility for collecting amounts due from customers, enabling MDA to have a single point of contact for customers. MDA currently employs approximately 83 physician staffing recruiters.
 
Contracts with Physicians and Healthcare Facility Customers
 
MDA contracts with physicians to provide medical services at MDA’s healthcare customers. Each physician is an independent contractor and enters into an agreement with MDA to provide medical services at a particular healthcare facility or physician practice group based on terms and conditions of the customer. Physicians are staffed on assignments that may last from a few days up to and including a year depending on client needs and on the willingness of a physician to agree to the duration required by a particular healthcare customer. 
 
Operations
 
We operate our physician staffing business from a relatively centralized business model servicing all of the assignment needs of the independent contractor physicians through operation centers located in Norcross, Georgia and Dallas, Texas. The support functions of credentials verification, accounts payable, billing and collections, and risk management are all performed from our Norcross, Georgia location. Assignment management is performed by recruiters in various locations. Hours worked by independent contractor physicians are reported to our office in Norcross, Georgia. We bill our clients for our management fee and hours worked by independent contractor physicians. We keep a recruitment fee and pass on an agreed amount to the independent contractor physician.
 
Other Human Capital Management Services
 
We provide education and training programs to the healthcare industry and we also provide retained search services for physicians and healthcare executives. Segment revenue was $41.3 million in 2012.
 
Education and Training Services
 
Our Cross Country Education (CCE) subsidiary, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, coordinates with various independent contractors in order to offer one-day seminars, conferences and e-learning to healthcare professionals on topics pertaining to healthcare. CCE is an approved provider of continuing education with more than 35 professional healthcare associations, and also works with national and state boards and associations. CCE offers one-day seminars and e-learning, as well as national and regional conferences on topics relevant to healthcare professionals. Since 1995, CCE has trained more than 1,200,000 licensed professionals in the fields of physical and occupational therapy, behavioral health, nursing, long-term care, coding and billing, regulatory compliance, dentistry, health information and healthcare administration. In 2012, CCE held approximately 5,330 seminars and conferences that were attended by more than 140,000 registrants in 175 cities in the U.S. and Canada. We extend these educational services to our field employees on favorable terms as a recruitment and retention tool.
 
In 2012, CCE’s live seminar attendance decreased approximately 7% from the prior year due to what we believe are several factors. First, significant budget cuts to both non-Medicaid and Medicaid-based mental health services negatively impacted employment for public mental health programs.  We believe this reduced demand for our programs as these professionals may have obtained to a greater degree continuing education credits via e-learning offerings. Second, the education industry is increasingly offering live webcasting and rebroadcasting of seminars. To address this shift, CCE has significantly expanded its offerings in this area while continuing to provide thousands of live seminars each year. CCE is also expanding its online presence and will continue to move toward a greater offering of blended learning opportunities for a professional that combines live seminar offerings with audio and e-learning products. CCE is also focusing greater efforts on developing strategic partnerships with provider organizations that can extend our learning programs to their licensed employees.
 
 
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Retained Search
 
Our Cejka Search subsidiary is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, a business district centered within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Cejka Search has been a leading physician, executive, advanced practice and allied health search firm for more than 30 years, recruiting top healthcare talent for organizations nationwide through a team of experienced professionals, advanced use of recruitment technology and commitment to service excellence. Serving clients nationwide, Cejka Search annually completes hundreds of search assignments for organizations spanning the continuum of healthcare, including physician group practices, hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, accountable care organizations (ACOs), managed care and other healthcare organizations.
 
In 2012, ongoing uncertainty about health care reform, Medicare reimbursement rules and the pace of economic recovery continued to limit or delay implementation of the industry’s medical staff and administrative leadership recruitment plans, which extended the challenging and competitive environment for retained search services. Despite these market conditions, Cejka Search experienced improved year-over-year growth in revenue and contribution income, particularly in the second half of the year, due to strong performance in executive search, the implementation of strategies to expand market reach and improve operating efficiency. We believe Cejka Search is well-positioned to benefit from further economic recovery, the intensifying shortage of physicians and midlevel providers, and the critical need for effective healthcare executive leadership, in particular physician executive leaders, to meet the challenges of health care reform.
 
Additional Information About Our Business
 
Growth and Investment Strategy
 
Our long-term corporate strategy for growth includes:
 
Expand and leverage sales efforts with high level consultative sales professionals focused on optimizing the total revenue potential of strategic accounts
   
Expand per diem capacity and market share; increase the number of branches in support of MSP services
   
Expand allied health placement settings and broaden mix of specialties
   
Create integrated temporary and permanent physician services solution in support of MSP and strategic healthcare facilities
   
Attract additional healthcare customers, healthcare professionals and providers
   
Seek additional MSP contracts and EMR engagements with hospitals and health systems
   
Strengthen our market position and margins in our businesses
   
Generate strong cash flow
   
Make strategic acquisitions in high growth, high margin businesses that will strengthen and broaden our market presence
   
Maintain a strong balance sheet to provide financial flexibility
 
Competitive Strengths
 
We are a leader in healthcare staffing with a primary focus on providing nurse, allied and physician (locum tenens) staffing services and workforce solutions to the healthcare market. 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 five 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. Since becoming a public company in 2001, we have expanded our revenue mix across sectors of healthcare staffing services and customers. In 2012, our nurse and allied staffing business segment was 63% of our revenue; our physician staffing business segment was 28% of our revenue and our other human capital management services business segment was 9% of our revenue. This compares to our 2001 revenue mix in which 87% was from our nurse and allied staffing business segment, 7% from our other human capital management services business segment, and 6% from our discontinued clinical trial services business segment.
 
 
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Within our business segments, we also believe we benefit from the following:
 
Brand Recognition. We have operated in the travel nurse staffing industry for more than 25 years. Our Cross Country Staffing brand is well-recognized among leading hospitals and healthcare facilities and our Cross Country TravCorps and MedStaff brands are well-recognized by RNs and other healthcare professionals. We believe that through our relationships with hospitals and healthcare facilities in supplying our travel nurse staffing services that we also are positioned to effectively market our allied health and per diem nurse staffing services to them. Our physician staffing business, Medical Doctor Associates, was founded in 1987 and has built a strong national brand reputation among hospital and physician practice group clients as well as physician providers. It has grown to become one of the largest physician staffing companies in the U.S. Our Cejka Search brand is ranked among the top five physician placement firms in the U.S.
   
Strong and Diverse Client Relationships. We provide healthcare staffing and outsourcing solutions to a national client base represented by approximately 4,000 contracts with hospitals and healthcare facilities, and other healthcare providers. No single client accounts for more than 3% of our revenue.
   
Managed Service Provider Capabilities. Our Cross Country Staffing brand offers its MSP services to large acute care hospitals and health systems. By leveraging technology and its single-point of contact service model, Cross Country Staffing can manage all job orders, credential verification, candidate testing, invoicing, and management reporting. In addition, Cross Country Staffing received the highest ranking overall and in each category among five leading MSP providers in a survey of subcontractors in the following key areas: Quality Service and Processes, Protection of Subcontractor Candidates, Fairness and Transparency of MSP Fees, Thoroughness of Credentialing Process, Responsiveness of the MSP to the needs of Subcontractor, and Technology Platform Usability (TMP Worldwide – December 2011).
   
Recruiting and Placement of Healthcare Professionals. We are a leader in recruiting and retaining highly qualified healthcare professionals from the U.S. and Canada. In 2012, thousands of healthcare professionals applied with us through our differentiated recruitment brands. We believe we offer appealing assignments, competitive compensation packages, attractive housing options and other valuable benefits. Our size and centralized staffing structure provide us with operating efficiencies in key areas such as recruiting, marketing and advertising, training, housing and insurance. Our proprietary information systems enable us to manage our recruitment and placement operations. Our systems are scalable and designed to accommodate significant future growth. At year-end 2012, the databases for our travel nurse and allied staffing business included more than 345,000 RNs and other healthcare professionals who completed job applications with us. Similarly, the database for our physician staffing business included more than 400,000 physicians representing dozens of specialties.
   
Joint Commission Certification. The staffing businesses of our Cross Country Staffing, MedStaff and Allied Health Group brands are certified by The Joint Commission under its Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program.
   
Quality Assurance. MDA’s Credent credential verification subsidiary is NCQA certified, one of only a handful of competitors to achieve such certification.
   
Continuing Education. We have internal educational and training capabilities through Cross Country University (CCU), a division of CCS, that we believe give us a competitive advantage by enhancing both the quality of our working nurses and the effectiveness of our recruitment efforts. CCU is the first educational program in the travel nurse industry to be accredited by the American Nurse Credentialing Center, and enables us to provide continuing education credits to our RN field employees, as well as to provide accredited continuing education to healthcare professionals not on an assignment with us. CCU offers our RNs and other healthcare professionals additional training, professional development and assistance in completing continuing education for state licensing requirements.
   
Strong Management Team with Extensive Healthcare Staffing and Acquisition Experience. Our management has played a key role in the growth and development of the healthcare staffing industry. Our management averages more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
 
 
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Competitive Environment
 
All of our businesses operate in highly competitive and regulated markets. In our nurse, allied and physician staffing businesses, the principal competitive factors in attracting and retaining healthcare clients include the ability to fill client needs on a timely basis, price, customer service, quality assurance and screening capabilities, having an understanding of the client’s work environment, risk management policies and coverages, and general industry reputation. The level of demand for our temporary staffing and outsourcing services is influenced by, among other things, the number and acuity of patients requiring medical care in hospitals and physician offices, availability and affordability of healthcare insurance coverage, national healthcare spending and reimbursement for medical care, general economic conditions and their impact on labor markets and healthcare employment, and the corresponding supply of healthcare professionals available to us for placement on assignments.
 
The principal competitive factors in attracting qualified candidates for temporary employment include a large national pool of desirable assignments based on geographic location and clinical setting, pay and benefits, speed of placements, customer service to both healthcare professionals and client facilities, quality of accommodations, and overall industry reputation. We believe that healthcare professionals seeking temporary assignments through us are also pursuing assignments through other means, including other temporary staffing firms. Therefore, the ability to respond more quickly than our competitors to candidate inquiries and submit candidates for consideration, are important factors in our ability to fill assignments. In our nurse and allied staffing segment, we focus on retaining healthcare professionals by providing high-quality customer service as well as providing long-term benefits, such as 401(k) plans and bonuses for field employees. Although we believe that the size and efficiencies of our operations make us attractive for healthcare professionals seeking assignment opportunities, we expect competition for candidates to continue.
 
Nurse and Allied Staffing
 
The nurse and allied staffing market is highly competitive. While barriers to entry historically had been relatively low, they have increased significantly and the achievement of substantial scale is very challenging. We believe the utilization of temporary nurse staffing services by hospitals has historically been approximately one-quarter to one-third travel nurse staffing and approximately two-thirds to three-quarters per diem nurse staffing. We compete with a relatively small number of national travel nurse staffing companies, as well as hundreds of smaller and more localized staffing firms that have the capabilities to relocate nurses. We also compete in per diem nurse staffing with a small number of national or regional staffing firms along with hundreds of small local providers. National competitors include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., CHG Healthcare Services, and Medical Staffing Network Holdings, Inc.
 
Physician Staffing
 
Our physician staffing business competes in the healthcare staffing market on a national, regional and local basis with other staffing companies that offer comprehensive and or specialized services providing hospitals, physician practice groups, healthcare facilities and systems, and government agencies with temporary physicians to fill assignments across a wide range of specialties. We also compete in the recruitment for qualified physicians with other staffing companies as well as hospitals, physician practice groups, and healthcare facilities and systems that have their own internal recruitment capabilities to attract and retain healthcare providers. Competitors include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., CHG Healthcare Services, On Assignment, Inc., Jackson Healthcare, Team Health and several other privately-held companies providing locum tenens.
 
Systems
 
Our placement and support operations are enhanced by sophisticated information systems that facilitate smooth interaction between our recruitment and support activities. Our proprietary information systems enable us to manage virtually all aspects of our operations. These systems can accommodate significant future growth of our business. In addition, their scalable design allows further capacity to be added to the existing hardware platform. We have proprietary software that handles most facets of our business, including contract pricing and profitability, contract processing, job posting, housing management, billing/payroll and insurance. Our systems provide support to our facility clients, field employees and independent contractors, and enable us to efficiently fulfill and renew job assignments. Our systems also provide detailed information on the status and skill set of each registered field employee and independent contractor. In addition to our domestic information systems team, certain software development and information technology support is provided by our employees based in Pune, India.
 
 
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Our financial, management reporting and human resources systems are managed on PeopleSoft, a leading enterprise resource planning software suite that provides modules used to manage our accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, billing and human resources. This system is designed to accommodate significant future growth in our business.
 
Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Professional Liability Coverage and Health Care Benefits
 
We provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage, professional liability coverage and health care benefits for our eligible temporary healthcare professionals. We record our estimate of the ultimate cost of, and reserves for workers compensation and professional liability benefits based on actuarial models prepared or reviewed by an independent actuary using our loss history as well as industry statistics. In determining our reserves, we include reserves for estimated claims incurred but not reported. The health care insurance accrual is for claims that have occurred but have not been reported and is based on our historical claim submission patterns. The ultimate cost of workers’ compensation, professional liability and health insurance claims will depend on actual amounts incurred to settle those claims and may differ from the amounts reserved by us for those claims.
 
Workers’ compensation benefits are provided under a partially self-insured plan. We have a letter of credit structure to guarantee payments of claims. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, we had outstanding approximately $6,899,096 and $7,049,096 standby letters of credit as collateral to secure the self-insured portion of this plan.
 
In October 2009, we purchased an occurrence-based primary professional liability policy that provides each working nurse and each allied healthcare professional with coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Those individual limits are shared with the healthcare provider’s employer (e.g., Cross Country TravCorps or MedStaff, our wholly-owned subsidiaries) in the event of vicarious liability and/or negligent hiring allegations on a claim. This policy does not have a deductible. In addition, in October 2009, we purchased an excess layer of professional liability insurance having limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses and allied healthcare professionals of Cross Country Travcorps and $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses of MedStaff. Those limits are also shared with the corporations on applicable claims. MedStaff also secured insurance coverage having the same terms as the primary and excess coverage described above for acts occurring on or after October 25, 2002.
 
Since October 2009, all primary professional liability insurance has been provided under occurrence-based plans. Prior to that period, primary professional liability coverage was provided under various self-insured, claims-made and occurrence-based plans depending on the subsidiary and the applicable policy year. In October 2004, we secured individual occurrence-based primary professional liability insurance policies with no deductible for virtually all of our working nurses and allied professionals, except those employed through our MedStaff, Inc. (Medstaff) subsidiary.
 
In October 2012 we merged the separate primary professional liability policies for Cross Country TravCorps and MedStaff into one occurrence-based primary policy that provides each working nurse and each allied healthcare professional with coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Those limits are also shared with the corporations on applicable claims. We also merged the excess layer of professional liability insurance having limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses and allied healthcare professionals of both Cross Country TravCorps and MedStaff. Those limits are also shared with the corporations on applicable claims.
 
These occurrence-based individual policies replaced a $2,000,000 per-claim layer of self-insured exposure. We continued to provide primary coverage through a $2,000,000 self-insured retention for nurses and allied professionals who did not qualify for the individual occurrence-based coverage, as well as for our independent liabilities (such as negligent hiring) during these policy years. Effective October 1, 2008, the individual primary professional liability insurance policies were replaced with one policy that insured each individual nurse for $2,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 in the aggregate, as well as the corporation which shared those limits. This policy had no deductible and did not cover healthcare professionals working through MedStaff or MDA Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries (collectively, MDA). Separately, prior to October 1, 2009, our MedStaff subsidiary had a claims-made professional liability policy with a limit of $2,000,000 per occurrence, $4,000,000 in the aggregate and a $25,000 deductible per claim.
 
MDA has an occurrence-based professional liability policy with a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate and a $500,000 deductible for MDA, its independent contractor physicians, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and allied health professionals. MDA’s $500,000 deductible is insured by Jamestown Indemnity Ltd., a Cayman Island company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of MDA Holdings, Inc. (the Captive). Under the terms of the Captive’s reinsurance policy there is a requirement to guarantee the payment of claims to its insured party’s primary medical malpractice insurance carrier via a letter of credit. The value of the letter of credit was secured by $5,000,000 of cash held by the Captive as restricted cash at December 31, 2008. During 2009, the cash was released from restriction and replaced by a letter of credit under our credit facility. Currently, the value of the letter of credit is $5,000,000.
 
 
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Subject to certain limitations, we also have $5,000,000 per occurrence and $10,000,000 in the aggregate in umbrella liability coverage after $2,000,000 is exhausted under the primary and excess professional liability policies covering the working nurses and allied healthcare professionals. While this umbrella coverage does not extend to professional liability claims against MDA, its independent contractor physicians, CRNAs and allied health professionals, it does cover claims brought against all of our subsidiaries for non-patient general liability ($250,000 deductible), employee liability ($1,000,000 deductible), non-owned hired auto ($1,000,000 deductible) and errors and omissions ($500,000 deductible and a cap of $5,000,000 in coverage under the umbrella policy).  The Company purchased tail insurance for its former clinical trials business with a $500,000 deductible and a $5,000,000 cap in coverage under the umbrella policy.
 
Professional Licensure
 
Nurses and most other healthcare professionals employed by us and physicians contracted by us are required to be individually licensed or certified under applicable state law. Our comprehensive compliance and credentials verification programs are designed to ensure that employed and contracted providers possess all necessary licenses and certifications, and we endeavor to ensure that our employees (including nurses and therapists) and contractors (including physicians and other mid-level providers), comply with all applicable state laws.
 
Business Licenses
 
A number of states require state licensure for businesses that, for a fee, employ and assign personnel, including healthcare personnel, to provide services on-site at hospitals and other healthcare facilities to support or supplement the hospitals’ or healthcare facilities’ workforces. A number of states also require state licensure for businesses that operate placement services for individuals attempting to secure employment. Failure to obtain the necessary licenses can result in injunctions against operating, cease and desist orders, and/or fines. We endeavor to maintain in effect all required state licenses.
 
Regulations Affecting Our Clients
 
Many of our clients are reimbursed under the federal Medicare program and state Medicaid programs for the services they provide. In recent years, federal and state governments have made significant changes in these programs that have reduced reimbursement rates. In addition, insurance companies and managed care organizations seek to control costs by requiring that healthcare providers, such as hospitals, discount their services in exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. Future federal and state legislation or evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce, or change conditions for, our clients’ reimbursement. Such limitations on reimbursement could reduce our clients’ cash flows, hampering their ability to pay us.
 
The HITECH Act was adopted on February 17, 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and it became effective on February 17, 2010. Among other things, this legislation established a process for the development of standards for the secure electronic exchange and use of health information by hospitals, physicians, and others. The general purpose of the HITECH Act is to improve the quality of healthcare by reducing medical errors and lowering costs through the computerization of America’s medical records by 2015. Approximately $20 billion was allocated to the HITECH Act incentives to encourage and accelerate the widespread adoption of EMR technology by physicians, hospitals and others. The Medicare and Medicaid EMR/EHR incentive programs provide incentives payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate the meaningful use of certified EMR/EHR technology. To further promote the timely adoption of EMR/EHR, the HITECH Act penalizes eligible healthcare providers and hospitals that do not adopt and use EMR/EHR that meets the federal requirements by 2015. For example, under the Medicare EMR/EHR Incentive Program, Medicare eligible professionals, hospitals and critical access hospitals that do not successfully show meaningful use of EMR/EHR will have a payment adjustment in their Medicare reimbursement. The Medicaid EMR/EHR Incentive Program is being voluntarily offered by individual states and states can receive a 90% federal funding match for incentive payments distributed to Medicaid providers who adopt EMR/EHRs under the meaningful use criteria. As a result, many eligible hospitals are implementing new or enhanced EMR/EHR technology to capitalize on these incentives and avoid the penalties and their staff must undergo training of the new technology systems out of the clinical setting, which creates an opportunity for our healthcare professionals to fill positions on a temporary basis while full-time staff is receiving such training.
 
 
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Regulations Applicable to Our Business
 
Our business is subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the United States and the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. In the U.S., complex federal and state laws and regulations govern, among other things, the licensure of professionals, the payment of our employees (e.g., wage and hour laws, employment taxes and income tax withholdings, etc.) and the operations of our business generally. We conduct business primarily in the U.S. and are subject to the laws and regulations applicable to our business in such states, which may be amended from time to time. Future federal and state legislation or interpretations thereof may require us to change our business practices. Compliance with all of these applicable rules and regulations require a significant amount of resources. We endeavor to be in compliance with all such rules and regulations.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 1,150 corporate employees. During 2012, we maintained an average of 2,446 full-time equivalent field employees in our nurse and allied staffing segment. We utilized approximately 1,500 independent contractor physicians and approximately 175 independent contractors related to non-physician staffing. We are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement with any of our employees. We consider our relationship with employees to be good.
 
Available Information
 
Financial reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC, on or through our corporate website at www.crosscountryhealthcare.com.
 
 
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Risk Factors.
 
You should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Decreases in demand by our clients may adversely affect the profitability of our business.
 
Among other things, changes in the economy which result in higher unemployment and low job growth, a decrease or stagnation in the general level of in-patient admissions at our clients’ facilities, uncertainty regarding federal healthcare law and the willingness of our hospital, healthcare facilities and physician group clients to develop their own temporary staffing pools and increase the productivity of their permanent staff may, individually or in the aggregate, significantly affect demand for our temporary healthcare staffing services and hamper our ability to attract, develop and retain clients. When a hospital’s admissions increase, temporary employees or other healthcare professionals are often added before full-time employees are hired. As admissions decrease, clients typically reduce their use of temporary employees or other healthcare professionals before undertaking layoffs of their permanent employees. In a down market, healthcare professionals may be less likely to leave a full-time position to work on temporary assignments and clients are also more likely to focus on internal solutions for their temporary staffing needs. In addition, we also may experience more competitive pricing pressure during periods when in-patient admissions are stagnant for periods of time or declining. In addition, if the trend towards providing healthcare in alternative settings, as opposed to acute care hospitals intensifies, it could result in a decline in in-patient admissions at our clients’ facilities. These events individually or in the aggregate may cause a reduction in admissions that could negatively affect the demand for our services. Decreases in demand for our services may affect our ability to provide attractive assignments to our healthcare professionals thereby reducing our profitability.
 
Our clients may terminate or not renew their contracts with us.
 
Our arrangements with hospitals, healthcare facilities and physician group clients are generally terminable upon 30 to 90 days’ notice. These arrangements may also require us to, among other things, guarantee a percentage of open positions that we will fill, and if we are unable to meet those obligations a client may terminate our contract which could have a negative impact on our profitability. We may have fixed costs, including housing costs, associated with terminated arrangements that we will be obligated to pay post-termination.
 
We may be unable to recruit enough healthcare professionals to meet our clients’ demands.
 
We rely significantly on our ability to attract, develop and retain healthcare professionals who possess the skills, experience and, as required, licensure necessary to meet the specified requirements of our healthcare clients. We compete for healthcare staffing personnel with other temporary healthcare staffing companies, as well as actual and potential clients such as healthcare facilities and physician groups, some of which seek to fill positions with either permanent or temporary employees. Currently, there is a shortage of certain qualified nurses and physicians in many areas of the United States and competition for these professionals remains intense. The current economic conditions may make these healthcare professionals less willing to travel to temporary assignments, thus further intensifying the competition with other temporary healthcare staffing companies to recruit these healthcare professionals. Although demand is below historically normal levels, at this time we still do not have enough nurses and physicians to meet all of our clients’ demands for these staffing services. This shortage of healthcare professionals generally and their willingness to leave stable full-time jobs to travel on temporary assignments in the current environment may limit our ability to increase the number of healthcare professionals that we successfully recruit, decreasing our ability to grow our business.
 
 
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The costs of attracting and retaining healthcare professionals may rise more than we anticipate.
 
We compete with hospitals, healthcare facilities, physician groups and other healthcare staffing companies for qualified healthcare professionals. Because there is currently a shortage of certain qualified healthcare professionals, competition for them is intense. Our ability to recruit and retain healthcare professionals depends on our ability to, among other things, offer assignments that are attractive to healthcare professionals and offer them competitive wages and benefits or payments, as applicable. Our competitors might increase hourly wages or the value of benefits to induce healthcare professionals to take assignments with them. If we do not raise wages or increase the value of benefits in response to such increases by our competitors, we could face difficulties attracting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals. If we raise wages or increase benefits in response to our competitors’ increases and are unable to pass such cost increases on to our clients, our margins could decline.
 
Our costs of providing housing for our healthcare professionals may be higher than we anticipate and, as a result, our margins could decline.
 
We provide housing for certain of our healthcare professionals when on an assignment with us. At any given time, we have over a thousand apartments on lease throughout the U.S. Typically, the length of an apartment lease is coterminous with the length of the assignment of a nurse or allied healthcare professional. If the costs of renting apartments and furniture for these healthcare professionals increase more than we anticipate and we are unable to pass such increases on to our clients, our margins may decline. To the extent the length of a nurse’s housing lease exceeds the term of the nurse’s staffing contract, we bear the risk that we will be obligated to pay rent for housing we do not use. To limit the costs of unutilized housing, we try to secure leases with term lengths that match the term lengths of our staffing contracts, typically 13 weeks. In some housing markets we have had, and believe we will continue to have, difficulty identifying short-term leases. If we cannot identify a sufficient number of appropriate short-term leases in regional markets, or, if for any reason, we are unable to efficiently utilize the apartments we do lease, we may be required to pay rent for unutilized housing, or, to avoid such risk, we may have to forego otherwise profitable opportunities.

We are dependent on the proper functioning of our information systems.
 
We are dependent on the proper functioning of our information systems in operating our business. Critical information systems used in daily operations identify and match staffing resources and client assignments and perform billing and accounts receivable functions. Additionally, we rely on our information systems in managing our accounting and financial reporting. If these systems are damaged or disrupted and unable to function properly in order to support our business operations or require significant costs to repair, maintain or further develop, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Our information systems are protected through a secure hosting facility and additional backup remote processing capabilities also exist in the event our primary systems fail or are not accessible. However, the business is still vulnerable to fire, storm, flood, power loss, telecommunications failures, physical or software break-ins and similar events which may prevent personnel from gaining access to systems necessary to perform their tasks in an automated fashion. In the event that critical information systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, these functions would have to be accomplished manually, which could impact our ability to identify business opportunities quickly, to maintain billing and clinical records reliably, to bill for services efficiently and to maintain our accounting and financial reporting accurately.
 
Losses caused by natural disasters, such as hurricanes could cause us to suffer material financial losses.
 
Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including, but not limited to, hurricanes and other severe weather. The incidence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure and the severity of the event. We do not maintain business interruption insurance for these events. We could suffer material financial losses as a result of such catastrophes.
 
If applicable government regulations change, we may face increased costs that reduce our revenue and profitability.
 
The temporary healthcare staffing industry is regulated in many states. For example, in some states, firms such as our nurse staffing companies must be registered to establish and advertise as a nurse-staffing agency or must qualify for an exemption from registration in those states. If we were to lose any required state licenses, we could be required to cease operating in those states. The introduction of new regulatory provisions could substantially raise the costs associated with hiring temporary employees. For example, some states could impose sales taxes or increase sales tax rates on temporary healthcare staffing services. These increased costs may not be able to be passed on to clients without a decrease in demand for temporary employees. In addition, if government regulations were implemented that limited the amounts we could charge for our services, our profitability could be adversely affected.
 
 
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If certain of our healthcare professionals are reclassified from independent contractors to employees our profitability could be materially adversely impacted.
 
Federal or state taxing authorities could re-classify our locum tenens physicians and certified registered nurse anesthetists as employees, despite both the general industry standard to treat them as independent contractors and many state laws prohibiting non-physician owned companies from employing physicians (e.g., the “corporate practice of medicine”). If they were re-classified as employees, we would be subject to, among other things, employment and payroll-related tax claims, as well as any applicable penalties and interest. Any such reclassification would have a material adverse impact on our business model for that business segment and would negatively impact our profitability.
 
We are exposed to increased costs and risks associated with complying with increasing and new regulation of corporate governance and disclosure standards.
 
We spend significant time and resources to comply with changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosures. Compliance requires management’s annual review and evaluation of our internal control systems and attestations of the effectiveness of these systems by our independent auditors. We may encounter problems or delays in completing the review and evaluation, the implementation of improvements and the receipt of a positive attestation by our independent auditors. If we are not able to timely comply with the requirements set forth in Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we might be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities. Any such action could adversely affect our business and financial results.

Our financial results could be adversely impacted by the loss of key management
 
If members of our senior management team become unable or unwilling to continue their present positions, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
 
Substantial changes in healthcare reform or reimbursement trends could hinder our clients’ ability to pay us.
 
While in most cases our fees are paid directly by our clients rather than by governmental or third-party payers, many of our clients are reimbursed under the federal Medicare program and state Medicaid programs for the services they provide. Changes made by federal and state governments could reduce reimbursement rates. In addition, insurance companies and managed care organizations seek to control costs by requiring that healthcare providers, such as hospitals, discount their services in exchange for participation in their benefit plans. Future federal and state legislation or evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce, or change conditions for, our clients’ reimbursement. Limitations on reimbursement could reduce our clients’ cash flows, hampering their ability to pay us.
 
Competition for acquisition opportunities may restrict our future growth by limiting our ability to make acquisitions at reasonable valuations and lack of liquidity in the credit markets may restrict our ability to make certain acquisitions.
 
Our business strategy includes strategic acquisitions of companies that complement or enhance our business. We have historically faced competition for acquisitions. In the future, this could limit our ability to grow by acquisition or could raise the prices of acquisitions and make them less accretive to our earnings. In addition, even if we are able to negotiate acceptable terms at reasonable valuations, there can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity available on terms favorable to us to complete acquisitions. If we are unable to secure necessary financing under our credit facility or otherwise, we may be unable to complete desirable acquisitions. Certain restrictive covenants in our credit facility may also limit our ability to complete acquisitions.
 
We may face difficulties integrating our acquisitions into our operations and our acquisitions may be unsuccessful, involve significant cash expenditures or expose us to unforeseen liabilities.
 
We continually evaluate opportunities to acquire companies that would complement or enhance our business and at times have preliminary acquisition discussions with some of these companies.
 
 
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These acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:
 
Potential loss of key employees or clients of acquired companies;
 
Difficulties integrating acquired personnel and distinct cultures into our business;
 
Difficulties integrating acquired companies into our operating, financial planning and financial reporting systems;
 
Diversion of management attention from existing operations; and
 
Assumptions of liabilities and exposure to unforeseen liabilities of acquired companies, including liabilities for their failure to comply with healthcare and tax regulations.
 
These acquisitions may also involve significant cash expenditures, debt incurrence and integration expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any acquisition may ultimately have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.
 
We operate our business in a regulated industry and modifications, inaccurate interpretations or violations of any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements may result in material costs or penalties to our Company as well as litigation and could reduce our revenue and earnings per share.
 
Our industry is subject to many complex federal, state, local and international laws and regulations related to, among other things, the licensure of professionals, the payment of our field employees (e.g., wage and hour laws, employment taxes and income tax withholdings, the HITECH Act, etc.) and the operations of our business generally (e.g., federal, state and local tax laws). If we do not comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business (both domestic and foreign), we could incur civil and/or criminal penalties as well as litigation or be subject to equitable remedies.
 
Impairment in the value of our goodwill or other intangible assets could adversely affect us.
 
We are required to test goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives annually, including the goodwill associated with acquisitions, to determine if impairment has occurred. 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, we are required to record 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. During 2012, we recorded impairment charges of $52.7 million, pursuant to these assessments. The testing of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment requires us to make significant estimates about our future performance and cash flows, as well as other assumptions. These estimates can be affected by numerous factors, including changes in economic, industry or market conditions, changes in business operations, changes in competition or potential changes in our stock price and market capitalization. Changes in these factors, or changes in actual performance compared with estimates of our future performance, could affect the fair value of goodwill or other intangible assets, which may result in an impairment charge. We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets. Should the value of goodwill or other intangible assets become impaired, there could be an adverse effect on us. At December 31, 2012, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets (net of amortization) represented 60% of our stockholders’ equity.
 
Significant legal actions could subject us to substantial uninsured liabilities.
 
In recent years, healthcare providers have become subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging malpractice, vicarious liability, violation of certain consumer protection acts, negligent hiring, product liability or related legal theories. We may be subject to liability in such cases even if the contribution to the alleged injury was minimal. Many of these actions involve large claims and significant defense costs. In addition, we may be subject to claims related to torts or crimes committed by our corporate employees or healthcare professionals. In most instances, we are required to indemnify clients against some or all of these risks. A failure of any of our corporate employees or healthcare professionals to observe our policies and guidelines intended to reduce these risks, relevant client policies and guidelines or applicable federal, state or local laws, rules and regulations could result in negative publicity, payment of fines or other damages.
 
A key component of our business is the credentialing process. Ultimately, any hospital or other health care provider is responsible for its own internal credentialing process, and the provider typically makes the decision to allow a healthcare professional to provide services on its behalf. Nevertheless, in many situations, the provider will be relying upon the reputation and screening process of our Company. Errors in this process or failure to detect a poor or incorrect history could have a material effect on our reputation. In addition, we may not have access to all of the resources that are available to hospitals to check credentials.
 
To protect ourselves from the cost of these types of claims, we maintain professional malpractice liability insurance and general liability insurance coverage in amounts and with deductibles that we believe are appropriate for our operations. Our coverage is, in part, self-insured, and significant claims could adversely impact our profitability. In addition, our insurance coverage may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost. If we are unable to maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to substantial liabilities.
 
 
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If our insurance costs increase significantly, these incremental costs could negatively affect our financial results.
 
We purchase various insurance policies to limit or transfer certain risks inherent in our operations. The costs related to obtaining and maintaining professional and general liability insurance and health insurance for healthcare providers has generally been increasing. If the cost of carrying these insurance policies continues to increase significantly, we will recognize an associated increase in costs, which may negatively affect our margins. This could have an adverse impact on our financial condition.
 
If we become subject to material liabilities under our self-insurance programs, our financial results may be adversely affected.
 
We provide workers compensation coverage through a program that is partially self-insured. In addition, we provide medical coverage to our employees through a partially self-insured preferred provider organization. A portion of our medical malpractice coverage is also through a partially self-insured program. If we become subject to substantial uninsured workers compensation, medical coverage or medical malpractice liabilities, our financial results may be adversely affected.
 
We are subject to litigation, which could result in substantial judgment or settlement costs.
 
We are party to various litigation claims and legal proceedings. We evaluate these litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these assessments and estimates, if any, we establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. These assessments and estimates are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of management judgment. We may not have sufficient business insurance to cover these risks. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from those estimated by our current assessments which would impact our profitability. Adverse developments in existing litigation claims or legal proceedings involving our Company or new claims could require us to establish or increase litigation reserves or enter into unfavorable settlements or satisfy judgments for monetary damages for amounts in excess of current reserves, which could adversely affect our financial results for future periods.
 
Registration statements under the Securities Act covering resale of stock held by one of our initial investors as well as stock issuable under our stock option plans are presently in effect and sales of this stock could cause our stock price to decline.
 
We presently maintain an effective shelf registration under the Securities Act covering the resale of stock held by one of our initial investors. These shares represent approximately 8% of our outstanding common stock and sales of the stock could cause our stock price to decline. In addition, we registered 4,398,001 shares of common stock for issuance under our 1999 stock option plans and 3,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under our 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. Fully vested options to purchase 355,687 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2013. In addition, 1,486,719 stock appreciation rights were issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2013, 788,468 of which were vested. Shares of restricted stock outstanding as of February 28, 2013, were 661,648. Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock, under our benefit plans, is eligible for resale in the public market without restriction. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of shares held by any stockholder or the availability of these shares for future sale will have on the market price of our common stock.
 
If provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware law delay or prevent a change in control of our Company, we may be unable to consummate a transaction that our stockholders consider favorable.
 
Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition involving us that our stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. Without stockholder approval, the Board of Directors has the authority to attach special rights, including voting and dividend rights, to this preferred stock. With these rights, preferred stockholders could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Delaware law may also discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us.
 
 
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Terrorist attacks or armed conflict could adversely affect our normal business activity and results of operations.
 
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, we experienced a temporary interruption of normal business activity. Similar events in the future or armed conflicts involving the United States could result in additional temporary or longer-term interruptions of our normal business activity and our results of operations. Future terrorist attacks could also result in reduced willingness of nurses to travel to staffing assignments by airplane or otherwise.
 
Market disruptions may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
 
Economic conditions and volatility in the financial markets may have an adverse impact on the availability of credit to us and to our customers and businesses generally. To the extent that disruption in the financial markets occurs, it has the potential to materially affect our and our customers’ ability to tap into debt and/or equity markets to continue ongoing operations, have access to cash and/or pay debts as they come due. These events could negatively impact our results of operations and financial conditions. Although we monitor our credit risks to specific clients that we believe may present credit concerns, default risk or lack of access to liquidity may result from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee. Conditions in the credit markets and the economy generally could adversely impact our business and frustrate or prohibit us from refinancing our credit facility on terms favorable to us when it comes due in January 2016.

We could fail to generate sufficient cash to fund our liquidity needs and/or fail to satisfy the financial and other restrictive covenants to which we are subject under our existing indebtedness.
 
We currently have sufficient liquidity to operate our business in the normal course.  However, if we were to make an acquisition or enter into a similar type of transaction, our liquidity needs may exceed our current capacity. In addition, our existing credit facility currently contains financial covenants that require us: (1) under certain conditions, to operate above a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, and (2) to maintain a certain level of accounts receivables in order to draw down funds on the loan. Further deterioration in our operating results could result in our inability to comply with these covenants which would result in a default under our credit facility.   If an event of default exists, our lenders could call the indebtedness and we may be unable to renegotiate or secure other financing.

If our healthcare facility clients increase the use of intermediaries it could impact our profitability.
 
We have seen an increase in the use of intermediaries by our clients, including both vendor management companies (who solely provide technology) and managed service providers (who provide staffing services). These intermediaries typically enter into contracts with our clients and then subcontract with us and other agencies to provide staffing services, thus interfering to some extent in our relationship with our clients. Each of these intermediaries charges an administrative fee. If managed service providers win business with our current customers, the number of professionals we have on assignment at those clients could decrease. If we are unable to negotiate hourly rates with intermediaries for the services we provide at these clients which are sufficient to cover administrative fees charged by those intermediaries, it could impact our profitability. If those intermediaries become insolvent or fail to pay us for our services, it could impact our bad debt expense and thus our overall profitability.
 
We also provide comprehensive managed service provider (MSP) solutions directly to certain of our clients. While such contracts typically improve our market share at these facilities, they could result in less diversification of our customer base, increased liability and reduced margins. The loss of one or more of our large MSP accounts could materially affect our profitability.
 
We are subject to business risks associated with international operations.
 
We have international operations in India where our Cross Country Infotech, Pvt Ltd. (Infotech) subsidiary is located. Infotech provides in-house information systems development and support services as well as some back-office processing services. We have limited experience in supporting our services outside of North America. Operations in certain markets are subject to risks inherent in international business activities, including: fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in regulations, varying economic and political conditions; overlapping or differing tax structures; and regulations concerning compensation and benefits, vacation and the termination of employment. Our inability to effectively manage our international operations could result in increased costs and adversely affect our results of operations.
 
 
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The delay or cancellation of any EMR implementations could adversely impact our operational results.

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, or the ARRA, representing the largest government-driven investment in electronic healthcare technologies. Within ARRA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, provisioned more than $19 billion in incentives to healthcare organizations that modernize their medical records systems.  This legislation provides $2 billion in discretionary spending, primarily for grants and loans, and set a goal of utilization of a certified electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014. Starting in 2015, physicians and hospitals that do not use certified products in a meaningful way will be penalized under the current legislation.  Based on this legislation, we have seen a surge in the utilization of our nurse and allied healthcare staffing services as facilities train their staff on new electronic healthcare technologies being implemented (EMR Implementations).  If a healthcare facility contracts with us for staffing services while it is undergoing an EMR Implementation and then that facility delays or cancels those staffing services, it could have a significant adverse impact on our operational and financial results.   In addition, the revenue stream we derive by staffing hospitals undergoing EMR Implementations is not indefinite and based on current legislation is expected to lessen as we near 2015.
 
Cyber security risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect our business and disrupt operations.

Cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, disrupted operations, misstated financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cyber security protection costs, litigation and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence.  We do not have insurance to cover any of these potential incidents.
 
Changes to Healthcare Delivery in the United States may impact our business.
 
The Patient Protective Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and later amended on March 30, 2010 (PPACA).  It is a very complex law that regulates a wide range of components in our healthcare system. The sweeping healthcare reforms outlined in the PPACA are scheduled to take effect on various dates from 2010 through 2020.  Additional guidance on the PPACA is expected to be forthcoming from the IRS, the Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor and the states.
 
The PPACA reforms the way Americans buy health insurance and creates a number of issues for employers that sponsor group health plans.  Beginning in 2014, individual mandates, corporate “pay or play” mandates and other health insurance reforms will become effective.  The PPACA could result in increased costs to us without the ability to increase our prices to customers to cover those costs.
 
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.
 
None.
 
 
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Properties.
 
We do not own any real property. Our principal leases as of March 1, 2013 are listed below.
 
Location
   
Function
   
Square
Feet
   
Lease Expiration
 
Boca Raton, Florida
   
Headquarters and nurse and allied staffing
    administration
    70,406    
May 1, 2018
 
Norcross, Georgia
   
Temporary physician staffing and allied
    staffing offices
    33,494    
February 28, 2013 and
    February 28, 2014
 
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
   
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
    general office use
    16,304    
December 31, 2018
 
Creve Coeur, Missouri
   
Retained search headquarters
    27,051    
June 14, 2017
 
Malden, Massachusetts
   
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
    general office use
    22,767    
June 30, 2017
 
Pune, India
   
In-house information systems and
    development support
    20,700    
November 30, 2015
 
Brentwood, Tennessee
   
Education training headquarters
    16,884    
August 31, 2017
 
Tampa, Florida
   
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
    general office use
    15,698    
February 15, 2015
 
 
Legal Proceedings.

On December 4, 2012, the Company’s subsidiary, CC Staffing, Inc. (now known as Travel Staff, LLC) became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Alice Ogues, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, vs. CC Staffing, Inc., a Delaware corporation; and DOES 1-50, inclusive, Defendants) filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of California. Plaintiff alleges that travelling employees were denied meal periods and rest breaks, that they should have been paid overtime on reimbursement amounts, and that they are entitled to associated penalties.  At this early stage, the Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.

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 alleges that Christina White, a former employee of Cross Country TravCorps was negligent in caring for a patient on September 12, 2007 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 Ms. White and against Cross Country TravCorps for the actions of Ms. White pursuant to the Staffing Agreement between Cross Country TravCorps and the hospital.  During the first quarter 2013, the Company was advised by Ms. White’s insurance carrier that if Ms. White is found to be a joint tortfeasor, the carrier will contest any liability attributable to Ms. White in excess of 50%.  Historically, this insurance carrier has incurred the total loss for negligence of its insured.   All of the parties to this litigation have been mandated to arbitration to be held in April.
 
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.
 
 
25
 
 
 
PART II
 
Mine Safety Disclosures.
 
 
This item is not applicable to the Company.

Item 5.       Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our common stock currently trades under the symbol “CCRN” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ). Our common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “CCRN” on October 25, 2001. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per share of common stock reported on; such prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions.

   
Sale Prices
 
Calendar Period
 
High
   
Low
 
             
2012
           
Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
  $ 6.73     $ 4.40  
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
  $ 5.64     $ 3.87  
Quarter Ended September 30, 2012
  $ 5.12     $ 3.90  
Quarter Ended December 31, 2012
  $ 4.98     $ 3.80  
                 
2011
               
Quarter Ended March 31, 2011
  $ 9.26     $ 6.52  
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
  $ 7.89     $ 6.34  
Quarter Ended September 30, 2011
  $ 8.00     $ 3.82  
Quarter Ended December 31, 2011
  $ 5.99     $ 3.76  
 
 
26
 
 
 
The graph below compares the Company to the cumulative 5-year total return of holders of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.'s common stock with the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Composite index and the Dow Jones US Business Training & Employment Agencies index. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the company's common stock and in each of the indexes (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on 12/31/2007 and tracks it through 12/31/2012.
 
GRAPHIC
      12/07       12/08       12/09       12/10       12/11       12/12  
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
    100.00       61.73       69.59       59.48       38.97       33.71  
NASDAQ Composite
    100.00       59.03       82.25       97.32       98.63       110.78  
Dow Jones US Business Training & Employment Agencies
    100.00       61.65       94.09       113.32       74.55       84.28  
 
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

As of March 1, 2013, there were 128 stockholders of record of our common stock. In addition, there are approximately 2,149 beneficial owners of our common stock held by brokers or other institutions on behalf of stockholders.
 
We have never paid or declared cash dividends on our common stock. Covenants in our credit agreement limit our ability to repurchase our common stock and declare and pay cash dividends on our common stock. On February 28, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized our most recent stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to 1.5 million of our common shares, subject to the terms of our current credit agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and the repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at our discretion. At December 31, 2012, we had 942,443 shares of common stock left remaining to repurchase under this authorization, subject to the limitations of the Company’s Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was restricted from purchasing additional shares of its common stock under its July 2012 Credit Agreement.  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 $5,000,000 of its Equity Interests. See Note 8- Long-term Debt, to our consolidated financial statements for further information. See also – Liquidity and Capital Resources in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Statements of Financial Condition and Results of Operation section of this report.
 
 
27
 
 
 
Item 6.                      Selected Financial Data.
 
 
The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., included elsewhere in this Report. The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, are derived from the consolidated financial statements of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., that have been audited but not included in this Report.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2012, we decided to divest our clinical trial services business. Accordingly, we classified clinical trial services segment as a disposal group held for sale as of December 31, 2012 and its results of operations as discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008. We completed the sale of this segment on February 15, 2013.
 
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other financial information included elsewhere in this Report.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008 (a)
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
                             
Revenue from services
  $ 442,635     $ 439,377     $ 406,604     $ 506,559     $ 635,118  
Operating expenses:
                                       
Direct operating expenses
    331,050       319,989       292,333       374,043       480,391  
Selling, general and administrative
    expenses
    109,417       104,544       97,379       106,875       114,235  
Bad debt expense
    786       574       248       107       972  
Depreciation
    4,905       5,965       7,122       7,713       6,637  
Amortization
    2,263       2,394       2,568       2,701       1,460  
Impairment charges (b)
    18,732             10,764             241,000  
Legal settlement charge (c)
                      345        
Total operating expenses
    467,153       433,466       410,414       491,784       844,695  
Income (loss) from operations
    (24,518 )     5,911       (3,810 )     14,775       (209,577 )
Other (income) expenses:
                                       
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
    (62 )     (264     68       61       (134 )
Interest expense
    2,341       2,856       4,244       6,243       4,276  
Loss on modification of debt
    82                          
Other (expense) income, net
    16       (298     (172 )     (69 )     375  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
   before income taxes
    (26,895 )     3,617       (7,950 )     8,540       (214,094 )
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (6,150 )     2,069       (2,693 )     3,598       (64,733 )
Net (loss) income from continuing operations
    (20,745 )     1,548       (5,257 )     4,942       (149,361 )
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (21,476 )     2,550       2,482       1,752       6,416  
Net (loss) income
  $ (42,221 )   $ 4,098     $ (2,775 )   $ 6,694     $ (142,945 )
                                         
Net (loss) income per common share –
  basic:
                                       
    Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.16     $ (4.85 )
    Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08       0.06       0.21  
    Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )   $ 0.22     $ (4.64 )
                                         
Net (loss) income per common share –
  diluted (e):
                                       
    Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.16     $ (4.85 )
    Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08       0.06       0.21  
    Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )   $ 0.22     $ (4.64 )
                                         
Weighted average common shares
  outstanding:
                                       
Basic
    30,842,723       31,146,165       31,060,426       30,824,660       30,825,099  
Diluted (d)
    30,842,723       31,192,016       31,060,426       30,999,446       30,825,099  
 
 
28
 
 
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008 (a)
 
Other Operating Data
                             
                               
Nurse and allied staffing statistical data:
                             
FTEs (e)
    2,446       2,472       2,185       2,735       4,463  
Days worked (f)
    895,236       902,280       797,525       998,275       1,633,458  
Average revenue per FTE per day (g)
  $ 310     $ 309     $ 304     $ 314     $ 322  
                                         
Physician staffing statistical data (a) (h):
                                       
Days filled (i)
    85,001       85,416       89,421       95,253       34,863  
Revenue per day filled (j)
  $ 1,453     $ 1,391     $ 1,360     $ 1,594       1,622  
Cash flow data ($000):
                             
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 10,146     $ 18,296     $ 31,522     $ 72,400     $ 51,085  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  $ 175     $ (4,196 )   $ (16,199 )   $ (11,713 )   $ (129,561 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
  $ (10,583 )   $ (14,236 )   $ (11,191 )   $ (64,217 )   $ 79,985  
                                         
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data ($000)
                                 
Working capital (k)
  $ 72,782     $ 58,457     $ 67,511     $ 71,177     $ 107,505  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,463     $ 10,648     $ 10,957     $ 6,861     $ 10,173  
Total assets (k)
  $ 305,924     $ 347,942     $ 343,658     $ 355,115     $ 424,951  
Total debt
  $ 33,859     $ 42,046     $ 53,513     $ 62,514     $ 133,080  
Stockholders’ equity
  $ 209,123     $ 249,300     $ 246,009     $ 246,071     $ 234,023  
 

(a)
On September 9, 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 a subsidiary of MDA Holdings, Inc. (collectively, MDA). Our 2008 results include results from the acquisition of MDA from September 1, 2008, the agreed upon effective date for accounting purposes. Refer to further discussion in our notes to the consolidated financial statements (Note 4 -Acquisitions).
 
 (b)
Impairment charges include goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges pursuant to the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets subsection of the Property, Plant and Equipment Topic of the FASB ASC. In the year ended December 2012, the Company recorded noncash impairment charges of $18.7 million related to the impairment of goodwill in the Company's nurse and allied staffing reporting unit. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded noncash pretax impairment charges of $10.8 million, related to the impairment of specific trademarks in its physician and nurse and allied staffing business segments related to its acquisition of MDA. As a result of its annual goodwill impairment analysis, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a $241.0 million, pretax, goodwill impairment related to its nurse and allied staffing business segment. Refer to further discussion of some of these impairment charges in our notes to the consolidated financial statements (Note4 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets).
 
(c)
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company reached an agreement in principle to settle a class action lawsuit, Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc., which the court granted preliminary approval in October 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company accrued a pretax charge of $0.3 million ($0.2 million after taxes) related to this lawsuit.
 
(d)
For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per common share in 2012, 2010 and 2008, the Company excluded potentially dilutive shares from the calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive, due to the Company’s net loss from continuing operations in those years.
 
(e)
FTEs represent the average number of nurse and allied contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.
 
(f)
Days worked is calculated by multiplying the FTEs by the number of days during the respective period.
 
(g)
Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE per day is calculated by dividing the nurse and allied staffing revenue by the number of days worked in the respective periods. Nurse and allied staffing revenue includes revenue from permanent placement of nurses.
 
(h)
Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, the Company refined its statistical methodology related to its physician staffing days filled metrics. Accordingly, historical 2010 data for these metrics has been revised to conform to the 2011 presentation. Historical data for years 2009 and 2008 has not been reclassified due to excessive cost of applying the methodology, which, the Company believes outweighs the benefit of the additional information. In addition, the 2008 days filled is from the date of acquisition.
 
(i)
Days filled is calculated by dividing the total hours filled during the period by 8 hours.
 
(j)
Revenue per day filled is calculated by dividing the applicable revenue generated by the Company’s physician staffing segment by days filled for the period presented.
 
(k)
The Company’s balance sheets have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. Working capital as of December 31, 2012 includes the net assets held for sale related to our discontinued clinical trial services staffing business.  See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. Total assets presented include estimated insurance recoveries for all periods presented.  See Note 7 – Accrued Compensation and Benefits.
 
29
 
 
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Selected Financial Data, Risk Factors, Forward-Looking Statements and our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes and other data, all of which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Certain prior year information has been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
 
Overview
 
We are a leader in healthcare staffing with a primary focus on providing nurse, allied and physician (locum tenens) staffing services and workforce solutions to the healthcare market. 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 five 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 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 have a diversified revenue mix across healthcare customers. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our nurse and allied staffing business segment represented approximately 63% of our revenue and is comprised of travel nurse and per diem nurse staffing, and allied health staffing. Travel nurse staffing represented approximately 48% of our total revenue and 76% of our nurse and allied staffing business segment revenue. Other nurse and allied staffing services include the placement of per diem nurses and allied healthcare professionals, such as radiology technicians, rehabilitation therapists, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists. Our physician staffing business segment represented approximately 28% of 2012 revenue and consists of temporary physician staffing services (locum tenens). Our other human capital management services business segment represented approximately 9% of our revenue and consists of education and training and retained search services.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2012, we decided to sell our clinical trial services business segment as 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 December 31, 2012, our clinical trial services segment is classified as a disposal group held for sale and the results of operations have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
 
The long-term macro drivers of our business are demographic in nature and consist of a growing and aging U.S. population demanding more healthcare services and an aging workforce of healthcare professionals. Additionally, there are projected shortages of healthcare professionals including registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. We believe demand for our nurse, allied and physician staffing services is primarily influenced by two factors: (1) national labor market dynamics that affect the number of hours worked by healthcare professionals, especially nurses, and (2) the strength or weakness in acute care hospital admissions relative to expectations and the volume of patients at medical facilities and physician offices. During 2012, demand substantially improved for our nurse and allied staffing services and improved for our physician staffing services. However, overall demand for our healthcare staffing services remains somewhat reduced from levels prior to the economic downturn that began in the fall of 2008.
 
The supply of healthcare professionals in the marketplace is dependent upon the number of RNs and physicians entering their respective professions versus retiring from the workforce. The supply of RNs available for our staffing services is variable and influenced by current labor market dynamics, as well as dependent upon the desire of RNs to work temporary assignments versus being directly employed by hospitals as staff nurses or working in non-hospital settings such as insurance companies, health clinics and doctor offices. The supply of physicians available for our physician staffing services is variable and is influenced by several factors, including the desire of physicians to work temporary assignments versus being in private practice or directly employed at healthcare facilities, the desire of older physicians to work fewer hours, work-lifestyle balance among younger physicians, and the trend toward more female physicians in the workforce working fewer hours than their male counterparts.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012, our revenue from continuing operations was $442.6 million, and we had a net loss from continuing operations of $20.7 million, or $(0.67) per diluted share, which included a non-cash goodwill impairment charge in the second quarter of 2012 of $18.7 million ($12.1 million after-tax) or $(0.39) per diluted share, related to the nurse and allied staffing business segment.  During 2012, we generated $10.1 million in cash flow from operations and reduced our total debt by $8.7 million. We ended the year with total debt of $33.9 million and $10.5 million of cash, resulting in a ratio of debt, net of cash, to total capitalization of 9.6%.
 
 
30
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012, discontinued operations, net of income taxes were a loss of $21.5 million. Discontinued operations includes non-cash goodwill and trademark impairment charges of $35.4 million ($24.2 million after-tax), or $(0.79) per diluted share related to this business segment.
 
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 orders, contract bookings, number of FTEs, days filled and price.
 
Nurse and Allied Staffing
 
Our nurse and allied staffing services business segment is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. We operate our staffing business through a relatively centralized business model servicing all of the assignment needs of our field employees and client facilities through operation centers located in Boca Raton, Florida; Malden, Massachusetts; Tampa, Florida; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; and Norcross, Georgia. In addition to the key sales and recruitment activities, these centers also perform support activities such as coordinating housing, payroll processing, benefits administration, billing and collections, travel reimbursement processing, customer service and risk management. Our per diem staffing services are provided through a network of 19 branch offices serving major metropolitan markets predominantly located on the east and west coasts of the U.S.
 
Our nurse and allied staffing revenue and earnings are impacted by the relative supply of nurses and demand for our contract staffing services at healthcare facilities. Demand for our healthcare staffing services is primarily influenced by the strength or weakness of national acute care hospital admissions relative to expectations and the volume of patients at other medical facilities, as well as labor market dynamics that influence the number of hours worked by healthcare professionals. We believe demand for travel nurse staffing services will be favorably impacted in the long-term by an aging population, along with the anticipated increases in utilization of healthcare services resulting from the Affordable Care Act, and an increasing shortage of nurses. We rely significantly on our ability to recruit and retain nurses and other healthcare professionals who possess the skills, experience and, as required, licensure necessary to meet the specified requirements of our clients. Shortages of qualified nurses and other healthcare professionals could limit our ability to fill open orders and grow our revenue and net income. In general, we believe nurses are more willing to seek travel assignments during relatively high levels of demand for contract employment, and conversely, are more reluctant to seek travel assignments during and immediately following periods of weak demand for contract employment.
 
We market our nurse and allied staffing services primarily to acute care hospitals and health systems, and provide our clients with staffing solutions through our Cross Country Staffing (CCS) and Allied Health Group brands. Our clients provide health and medical services across a broad range of clinical settings in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors throughout the U.S., including acute care hospitals, physician practice groups, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and sports medicine clinics, and, to a lesser degree, and non-clinical settings such as home care and schools.
 
CCS is our largest brand. The vast majority of our activities are designed to help a diverse customer base of hospitals and health system clients meet their ongoing staffing needs for temporary nurses and allied health professionals. During 2012, we worked with more than a thousand hospitals and health system clients. Additionally, as a part of its business strategy, CCS provides comprehensive Managed Service Provider (MSP) solutions to large hospitals and health systems throughout the U.S. to manage their temporary clinical staffing.  These MSP contracts are specifically tailored to each client based on their workforce goals and financial targets. Our MSP engagements typically incorporate one or more of our contract nurse, contract allied and/or per diem staffing solutions. Typically, such arrangements require CCS to:
 
negotiate contracts with subcontractors in order to help meet the client’s fill rate expectations,
 
verify that all nurses provided both by CCS and subcontractors meet CCS’ credential requirements and other standards and testing requirements established by the client,
 
verify insurance coverage of the subcontractors and their candidates,
 
manage orders for open positions from the client and distribute those needs to subcontractors as required,
 
interview candidates presented to ensure they meet the client’s specifications,
 
 
31
 
 
 
consolidate and reconcile the timecard approval and invoicing process for services provided by CCS and all subcontractors,
 
distribute payments to subcontractors for services provided to the client, and
 
capture and analyze data for the benefit of the client.
 
These services are particularly beneficial to larger facilities and systems that require many healthcare professionals across a broad spectrum of medical disciplines and specialties. For the full year 2012, approximately 29% of our nurse and allied staffing volume was at MSP client facilities. In addition to directly supplying a large majority of client needs under these MSP programs, CCS has relationships with hundreds of subcontractors throughout the U.S. to ensure that clients have access to a large pool of candidates to meet their staffing needs.
 
Another component of our business is contract staffing for hospitals and health systems undergoing electronic medical record (EMR) technology implementations. In these situations, we supply contract temporary healthcare professionals to provide patient care while hospital staff RNs are away in classroom settings undergoing training and to provide support to the staff RNs in utilizing the EMR technology upon their return to bedside care. We expect that staffing related to EMR technology implementations will be one of the growth drivers of our nurse and allied staffing segment in 2013.
 
During 2012, while hospital admission trends continued to remain relatively flat and the U.S. economy achieved a slight improvement and national unemployment improved somewhat but remained high, we experienced an increase in demand for our nurse and allied staffing services that strengthened over the course of the year from a very weak start. The improvement in demand was broad-based and reflected staffing associated with hospital electronic medical record implementations and staffing needs at our MSP accounts.
 
In 2012, over ten thousand healthcare professionals applied with us through our recruitment brands. Historically, high national unemployment typically results in RNs increasingly seeking employment as hospital staff nurses and those already employed as staff nurses become more willing to work more hours at prevailing wages, which combine to reduce the need for our outsourced staffing services. The reverse begins to occur as the economy and more specifically the labor markets improve, although there is a lag between the improvement in demand for our nurse and allied staffing services and the improvement in supply of RNs and other healthcare professionals.
 
Typically, as admissions increase for our hospital customers, temporary employees are often added before full-time employees are hired. As admissions decline, clients tend to reduce their use of temporary employees before undertaking layoffs of their staff employees. In general, we evaluate the nurse and allied staffing business segment’s financial condition and operating results by revenue and contribution income (see Segment Information). In addition, we monitor several key volume and profitability indicators such as number of open orders, contract bookings, number of FTEs and bill rate per hour of service provided.
 
 
32
 
 
 
Physician Staffing
 
We added the physician staffing business segment in 2008 with the acquisition of MDA Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, MDA) as described in the Acquisitions section, that follows. MDA is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia and offers multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states.
 
Our physician staffing business revenue and earnings are impacted by the demand for temporary physician staffing services and the supply of qualified physicians. When there are not enough physicians to fill the number of vacancies at hospitals, practice groups or other healthcare facilities, demand increases for our services. In general, we believe that in periods when physicians are looking for more flexibility, have concerns with cost and availability of malpractice insurance, or want to avoid managing a practice, supply increases. In periods where the physicians are looking for more stability, supply decreases. Demand and supply constraints may vary based on the specialty of the physician. We monitor several key volume and profitability indicators for each specialty area of this business, such as physician staffing days filled and revenue per days filled. In addition, we monitor this segment’s revenue, contribution income and contribution income as a percentage of revenue.
 
During 2012, our physician staffing revenue grew 4% from the prior year in a marketplace that reflected a modest improvement in the economy and continuing concerns by hospital administrators and practice group leaders with respect to changes in the delivery of health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Given these ongoing uncertainties, physicians have increasingly opted to become employees of hospitals and health care systems. While we expect this trend to continue in the short-term, we believe the future outlook for the physician staffing industry is positive as demand for physicians is projected to increase by 2025 due to the demographics of a growing and aging population along with healthcare reform that is expected to be directionally favorable to our business. The needs will be particularly strong in the primary care specialties due to recent decreases in medical school graduates entering the primary care field. Locum tenens should benefit from these shortage trends and demands particularly with an ever increasing aging population and the anticipated increase in utilization of healthcare services. MDA is well positioned to respond to the current and future needs of its healthcare partners.
 
Other Human Capital Management Services
 
Education and Training Services
 
Our Cross Country Education (CCE) subsidiary, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, provides regulatory and clinical skill-based continuing education development for healthcare professionals. CCE is an approved provider of continuing education with more than 35 professional healthcare associations, and also works with national and state boards and associations. CCE coordinates with various independent contractors in order to offer one-day seminars, conferences and eLearning to healthcare professionals on topics pertaining to healthcare. Since 1995, CCE has trained over 1,200,000 licensed professionals in the fields of physical and occupational therapy, behavioral health, nursing, long-term care, coding and billing, regulatory compliance, dentistry, health information and healthcare administration. In 2012, CCE held approximately 5,330 seminars and conferences that were attended by more than 140,000 registrants in 175 cities in the U.S. and Canada. We extend these educational services to our field employees on favorable terms as a recruitment and retention tool.
 
In 2012, CCE’s live seminar attendance decreased approximately 7% from the prior year due to what we believe are several factors. First, significant budget cuts to both non-Medicaid and Medicaid-based mental health services negatively impacted employment for public mental health programs.  We believe this reduced demand for our programs as these professionals may have obtained to a greater degree continuing education credits via e-learning offerings. Second, the education industry is increasingly offering live webcasting and rebroadcasting of seminars. To address this shift, CCE has significantly expanded its offerings in this area while continuing to provide thousands of live seminars each year. CCE is also expanding its online presence and will continue to move toward a greater offering of blended learning opportunities for professionals that combine live seminar offerings with audio and e-learning products. CCE is also focusing greater efforts on developing strategic partnerships with provider organizations that can extend our learning programs to their licensed employees.
 
 
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Retained Search
 
Our Cejka Search subsidiary is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, a business district centered within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Cejka Search has been a leading physician, executive, advanced practice and allied health search firm for more than 30 years, recruiting top healthcare talent for organizations nationwide through a team of experienced professionals, advanced use of recruitment technology and commitment to service excellence. Serving clients nationwide, Cejka Search annually completes hundreds of search assignments for organizations spanning the continuum of healthcare, including physician group practices, hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, accountable care organizations (ACOs), managed care and other healthcare organizations.
 
In 2012, ongoing uncertainty about health care reform, Medicare reimbursement rules and the pace of economic recovery continued to limit or delay implementation of the industry’s medical staff and administrative leadership recruitment plans, which extended the challenging and competitive environment for retained search services. Despite these market conditions, Cejka Search experienced improved year-over-year growth in revenue and contribution income, particularly in the second half of the year, due to strong performance in executive search, the implementation of strategies to expand market reach and improve operating efficiency. We believe Cejka Search is well-positioned to benefit from further economic recovery, the intensifying shortage of physicians and midlevel providers, and the critical need for effective healthcare executive leadership, in particular physician executive leaders, to meet the challenges of health care reform.
 
History
 
In July 1999, an affiliate of Charterhouse Group, Inc (Charterhouse) and certain members of management acquired the assets of Cross Country Staffing, our predecessor, from W. R. Grace & Co. Upon the closing of this transaction, we changed from a partnership to a C corporation form of ownership. In December 1999, we acquired TravCorps Corporation (TravCorps), which was owned by investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Private Equity (Morgan Stanley) and certain members of TravCorps’ management and subsequently changed our name to Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. Subsequent acquisitions and dispositions were made. In 2001, we changed our name to Cross Country, Inc., and in October 2001, we completed our initial public offering. Subsequently, in May 2003, we changed our name to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
 
In March 2002, and November 2004, Charterhouse and Morgan Stanley sold a portion of their ownership through secondary offerings. Subsequently, in 2005, Morgan Stanley completed the sale of its investment in the Company. During 2006, Charterhouse sold a majority of its remaining ownership in Cross Country Healthcare but still owns approximately 2.5 million shares as of December 31, 2012. We maintain an effective registration statement for the sale of such remaining shares.
 
Revenue
 
Our travel and per diem nurse staffing revenue is received primarily from acute care hospitals. Revenue from allied staffing services is received from numerous sources, including providers of radiation, rehabilitation and respiratory services at hospitals, nursing homes, physician practice groups, sports medicine clinics and schools. Our physician staffing services revenue is primarily received from hospitals and group practices. Revenue from our retained search and our education and training services is received from numerous sources, including hospitals, physician group practices, insurance companies and individual healthcare professionals. Our fees are paid directly by our clients and, in certain instances, by vendor managers. As a result, we have no direct exposure to Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements.
 
Revenue is recognized when services are rendered. Accordingly, accounts receivable includes an accrual for employees’ and independent contractors’ estimated time worked but not yet invoiced. Similarly, accrued expenses include an accrual for employees’ and independent contractors’ time worked but not yet paid. Each of our field employees and independent contractors on travel assignment works for us under a contract. The contract period is typically 13 weeks for our nurse and allied staffing employees with a shorter duration for physician independent contractors. Our staffing employees are hourly employees whose contracts specify the hourly rate they will be paid, and any other benefits they are entitled to receive during the contract period. We typically bill clients at an hourly rate and assume all employer costs for our staffing employees, including payroll, withholding taxes, benefits, professional liability insurance and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as any travel and housing arrangements.
 
We have also entered into certain contracts with acute care facilities to provide comprehensive managed service provider (MSP) solutions. Under these contract arrangements, we use our nurses primarily, along with those of third party subcontractors, to fulfill customer orders. If a subcontractor is used, we invoice our customer for these services, but revenue is recorded at the time of billing, net of any related subcontractor liability. The resulting net revenue represents the administrative fee charged by us for our MSP services.
 
 
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Acquisition Earnout
 
MDA Holdings, Inc.
 
In September 2008, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of privately-held MDA Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries and all the outstanding stock of a subsidiary of MDA Holdings, Inc. (collectively, MDA). Part of the cash paid at closing was held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities (Indemnification Escrow). During the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately $3.5 million was released to the seller from the Indemnification Escrow account leaving a balance of approximately $3.6 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. This transaction also included an earnout provision based on 2008 and 2009 performance criteria. This contingent consideration is not related to the sellers’ employment. In the second quarter of 2009, we paid $6.7 million, related to 2008 performance. In the second quarter of 2010, we paid $12.8 million related to the 2009 performance, satisfying all earnout amounts potentially due to the seller in accordance with the asset purchase agreement. Earnout payments were allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with the Business Combinations Topic of the Financial Standards Accounting Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC).
 
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets represented 60.0% of our stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2012. Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets were $62.7 million and $63.2 million, respectively, net of accumulated amortization, at December 31, 2012. 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. Other identifiable intangible assets, which are subject to amortization, are being amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 15 years.
 
The Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Asset subsection of the Property, Plant and Equipment Topic of the FASB ASC, requires us to test the recoverability of long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets with definite lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In testing for potential impairment, if the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the expected undiscounted cash flows, we must then determine the amount by which the fair value of those assets exceeds the carrying value and determine the amount of impairment, if any.
 
See Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates and our consolidated financial statements Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, for a detailed description of the results of our impairment reviews in 2012, 2011 and 2010 that resulted in total impairment charges for continuing operations of $18.7 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $10.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, and total impairment charges for discontinued operations of $35.4 million in our third and fourth quarter of 2012.
 
 
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Results of Operations
 
The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected consolidated statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of revenue. Our historical results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue from services
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Direct operating expenses
    74.8       72.8       71.9  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    24.7       23.8       23.9  
Bad debt expense
    0.2       0.1       0.1  
Depreciation and amortization
    1.6       1.9       2.4  
Impairment charges
    4.2             2.6  
(Loss) income from operations
    (5.5 )     1.4       (0.9 )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
    0.0       (0.0 )     0.0  
Interest expense
    0.6       0.7       1.1  
Loss on modification of debt
    0.0              
Other expense (income), net
    0.0       (0.1 )     (0.0 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income
   taxes
    (6.1 )     0.8       (2.0 )
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (1.4 )     0.5       (0.7 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (4.7 )     0.3       (1.3 )
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (4.8 )     0.6       0.6  
Net (loss) income
    (9.5 )%     0.9     (0.7 ) %
 
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 all period presented. See Note 4- Assets Held for Sale and 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 services primarily to acute care hospitals. Nurse and allied staffing services are marketed to public and private healthcare and for-profit and not-for-profit facilities throughout the U.S. We aggregate the different brands that we markets to our 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 our education and training and retained search businesses that both have operations within the U.S.
 
 
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Information on operating segments and reconciliation to (loss) income from operations for the periods indicated are as follows:
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011 (c)
   
2010 (c)
 
   
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Revenue from services:
                 
Nurse and allied staffing
  $ 277,754     $ 278,793     $ 242,160  
Physician staffing
    123,545       118,781       121,599  
Other human capital management services
    41,336       41,803       42,846  
    $ 442,635     $ 439,377     $ 406,605  
                         
Contribution income (a):
                       
Nurse and allied staffing
  $ 13,202     $ 22,441     $ 21,383  
Physician staffing
    10,652       11,320       13,052  
Other human capital management services
    1,944       3,172       3,768  
      25,798       36,933       38,203  
                         
Unallocated corporate overhead
    24,416       22,663       21,560  
Depreciation
    4,905       5,965       7,121  
Amortization
    2,263       2,394       2,568  
Impairment charges (b)
    18,732             10,764  
(Loss) income from operations
  $ (24,518 )   $ 5,911     $ (3,810 )
 
_______________
(a)
We define contribution income as income from operations before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges, and other corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a measure used by management to assess operations and is provided in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC.
 
(b)
During 2012 and 2010, we recognized pretax impairment charges of $18.7 million and $10.8 million, respectively. Refer to Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates and our consolidated financial statements Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, for a detailed description of the results of our impairment reviews.

(c)
Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the 2012 presentation of the Company’s clinical trial services business segment from continuing operations to discontinued operations.  See Note 4 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
Comparison of Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Revenue from services
 
Revenue from services increased $3.3 million, or 0.7%, to $442.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to $439.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase was due to higher revenue from our physician staffing segment offset by decreases in revenue from our nurse and allied staffing and other human capital management services business segments.
 
Nurse and allied staffing
 
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment decreased $1.0 million, or 0.4%, to $277.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $278.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to lower staffing volume, partially offset by slightly higher average bill rates.
 
The average number of nurse and allied staffing FTEs on contract during the year ended December 31, 2012, decreased 1.1% from the year ended December 31, 2011. Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE increased approximately 0.3% in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, reflecting an increase in hours provided by our healthcare professionals.
 
Physician staffing
 
Revenue from our physician staffing business increased $4.8 million, or 4.0% to $123.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $118.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The revenue increase reflects higher bill rates. Physician staffing days filled decreased 0.5% to 85,001 in the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 85,416 in the year ended December 31, 2011. Revenue per day filled for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $1,453, a 4.5% increase from the year ended December 31, 2011, reflecting a favorable change in the mix of specialties.
 
 
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Other human capital management services
 
Revenue from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2012, decreased $0.5 million, or 1.1%, to $41.3 million from $41.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in revenue from our education and training business, primarily as a result of lower average seminar attendance. Revenue from our retained search business increased reflecting an increase in demand that was more than offset by the decline in our education and training 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 increased $11.1 million, or 3.5%, to $331.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to $320.0 million for year ended December 31, 2011.
 
As a percentage of total revenue, direct operating expenses represented 74.8% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012, and 72.8% for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase was primarily due to higher field compensation and independent contractor expenses as a percentage of revenue combined with higher insurance expenses for our field staff.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $4.9 million, or 4.7%, to $109.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to $104.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 24.7% and 23.8% for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increase is primarily due to an increase in state non-income tax expenses, investments in our nurse and allied staffing selling capacity and higher unallocated corporate overhead. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012 included $1.0 million of estimated state non-income taxes ($0.3 million related to our estimates for the 2005-2011 tax years as discussed in Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements) and $0.7 million expense for an immaterial correction in calculating deferred rent which primarily accumulated from 2002 to 2010.
 
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is unallocated corporate overhead of $24.4 million for year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $22.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. This increase in unallocated corporate overhead was primarily due to an increase in consulting and accounting fees.  Included in unallocated corporate overhead are $2.6 million and $2.9 million of share-based compensation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 5.5% for the year ended December 31, 2012, and 5.2% for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
Bad debt expense
 
Bad debt expense as a percentage of total revenue was 0.2%, or $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Bad debt expense as a percentage of total revenue was 0.1%, or $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The calculation and methodology remain consistent.
 
Contribution income
 
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2012, decreased $9.2 million or 41.2%, to $13.2 million from $22.4 million in year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of nurse and allied staffing revenue, segment contribution income was 4.8% for the year ended December 31, 2012, and 8.0% for the year ended December 31, 2011. This decrease was due to a combination of higher field insurance expenses, a decrease in our bill pay spread due to changes in geographic mix, and higher selling, general and administrative expenses. The higher selling, general and administrative expenses were primarily due to investments we made in 2011 to our infrastructure to support anticipated revenue growth, particularly from new MSP accounts, that was slower than expected throughout the second half of 2012.
 
Contribution income from our physician staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2012, decreased $0.7 million or 5.9% to $10.7 million compared to $11.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of physician staffing revenue, contribution income was 8.6% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 9.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011. The margin decline was due to higher physician compensation and professional liability expenses, partially offset by favorable operating leverage.
 
 
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Contribution income from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2012, decreased by $1.2 million, or 38.7%, to $1.9 million, from $3.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 due to a decrease in contribution income from the education and training business, partially offset by an increase in contribution income from our retained search business. Contribution income as a percentage of other human capital management services revenue was 4.7% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 7.6% for the year ended December 31, 2011. Lower seminar attendance and higher program costs in our education and training business were partially offset by revenue and operating improvements in our retained search business.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
 
Depreciation and amortization expense in the year ended December 31, 2012, totaled $7.2 million as compared to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was 1.6% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 1.9% for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
Impairment charges
 
Impairment charges of $18.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 represents impairment of goodwill related to the nurse and allied staffing segment due to the results of an interim impairment analysis 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 second quarter 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. See Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates and Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
Foreign exchange gains of $0.1 million were realized in the period ended December 31, 2012, compared to $0.3 million of losses realized in the year ended December 31, 2011. Foreign currency gains and losses are realized upon the settlement of cash flows from transactions denominated in different currencies.
 
Interest expense
 
Interest expense totaled $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2012 included debt financing costs of $0.3 million that were not capitalized. Lower interest expense was due to lower average borrowings in the year ended December 31, 2012. The effective interest rate on our borrowings was 2.3% for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
 
Other expense (income), net
 
Other expense (income), net includes interest income on our cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term cash investments, and other income and expense. During the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, other expense (income), net is primarily interest income.
 
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
Income tax benefit totaled $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to an income tax expense of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The effective tax rate was 22.9% in the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 57.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011.  The lower effective tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2012 was partly due to an adjustment of $2.5 million to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2012 related to the reversal of the Company’s permanent reinvestment of foreign earnings position and the effect of losses due to impairment charges incurred in 2012.  Excluding the adjustment relating to the foreign earning position, the effective tax rate was 32.2% in the year ended December 31, 2012.  The higher effective tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2011 was partly due to an adjustment of $0.3 million to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 related to an overstatement of deferred tax assets in prior periods.  Excluding this adjustment, the effective tax rate was 48.9% in the year ended December 31, 2011.

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
 
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes includes the results from our clinical trial services business segment which was reclassified as discontinued in our fourth quarter of 2012.  The loss from discontinued operations in the year ended December 31, 2012 includes total impairment charges of $35.4 million ($24.2 million, net of income taxes) related to goodwill and other intangible assets.  Excluding the impairment charges, the clinical trial service business had income from operations before income taxes of $4.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $4.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.  See Note 4 - Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Asset and Note 4 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
 
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Comparison of Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2010
 
Revenue from services
 
Revenue from services increased $32.8 million, or 8.1%, to $439.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $406.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue from our nurse and allied staffing segment offset by decreases in revenue from our physician staffing and other human capital management services business segments.
 
Nurse and allied staffing
 
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment increased $36.6 million, or 15.1%, to $278.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, from $242.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to higher volume. The higher staffing volume in 2011 reflects significant improvement in demand, as measured by the number of open orders, throughout 2011, aided by an increase in applicants applying for assignments with us.
 
The average number of nurse and allied staffing FTEs on contract during the year ended December 31, 2011, increased 13.1% from the year ended December 31, 2010. Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE increased approximately 1.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010, reflecting an increase in our average hourly bill rate and an increase in hours provided by our healthcare professionals.
 
Physician staffing
 
Revenue from our physician staffing business decreased $2.8 million, or 2.3% to $118.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $121.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The revenue decline reflects lower volume and a less favorable mix of specialties. Physician staffing days filled decreased 4.5% to 85,416 in the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to 89,421 in the year ended December 31, 2010. Revenue per day filled for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $1,391, a 2.3% decrease from the year ended December 31, 2010, reflecting an unfavorable change in the mix of specialties.
 
Other human capital management services
 
Revenue from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2011, decreased $1.0 million, or 2.4%, to $41.8 million from $42.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to a decrease in revenue from our education and training business, primarily as a result of lower average seminar attendance. Revenue from our retained search business increased reflecting an increase in demand that was more than offset by the decline in our education and training 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 increased $27.7 million, or 9.5%, to $320.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $292.3 million for year ended December 31, 2010.
 
As a percentage of total revenue, direct operating expenses represented 72.8% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011, and 71.9% for the year ended December 31, 2010. This increase was due to a combination of factors including a shift in our business mix towards the nurse and allied staffing segment, higher physician expenses as a percent of revenue, lower professional liability expenses and lower permanent placement revenue in our physician staffing segment, along with a contraction in our bill-pay spread and higher housing costs in our nurse and allied staffing segment. These factors were partially offset by lower workers’ compensation expenses in our nurse and allied staffing business segment.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $7.2 million, or 7.4%, to $104.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $97.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Selling, general and administrative expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011 included $0.5 million resulting from an increase in our accrual for sales and other state non-income taxes, as a result of a determination made in the fourth quarter of 2011 that it was probable we would be assessed in certain states for tax years 2008-2011. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies for more information.
 
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is unallocated corporate overhead of $22.7 million for year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Included in unallocated corporate overhead are $2.9 million and $2.7 million of share-based compensation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 5.2% for the year ended December 31, 2011, and 5.3% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
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As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 23.8% and 23.9% for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Bad debt expense
 
Bad debt expense as a percentage of total revenue was 0.1%, or $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Bad debt expense as a percentage of total revenue was 0.1%, or $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The calculation and methodology remain consistent.
 
Contribution income
 
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2011, increased $1.1 million or 5.0%, to $22.4 million from $21.4 million in year ended December 31, 2010. As a percentage of nurse and allied staffing revenue, segment contribution income was 8.0% for the year ended December 31, 2011, and 8.8% for the year ended December 31, 2010. This decrease is primarily due to a contraction in our bill-pay spread and higher housing costs partially offset by lower workers’ compensation expenses.
 
Contribution income from our physician staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2011, decreased $1.7 million or 13.3% to $11.3 million compared to $13.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. As a percentage of physician staffing revenue, contribution income was 9.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 10.7% for the year ended December 31, 2010. This decrease was primarily due to a change in specialty mix resulting in higher physician expense as a percentage of revenue, an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses related to a portion of the aforementioned increase in our accrual for sales and other state non-income taxes, and lower permanent placement revenue. Partially offsetting these decreases were lower professional liability expenses as a percentage of revenue in this segment in the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010, based on better than expected loss development.
 
Contribution income from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2011, decreased by $0.6 million, or 15.8%, to $3.2 million, from $3.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 due to a decrease in contribution income from the education and training business, partially offset by an increase in contribution income from our retained search businesses. Contribution income as a percentage of other human capital management services revenue was 7.6% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 8.8% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
 
Depreciation and amortization expense in the year ended December 31, 2011, totaled $8.4 million as compared to $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was 1.9% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2.4% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Impairment charges
 
Impairment charges of $10.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 resulted from the impact lower locum tenens usage had on our long-term revenue forecast. Thus, our calculation of estimated fair value using the projected revenue stream indicated the carrying amount of the trademarks acquired with the MDA acquisition in September 2008 might not have been fully recoverable. Based on these circumstances, we recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge, of which $10.0 million related to our physician staffing segment and $0.7 million related to our nurse and allied staffing segment. See Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates and our consolidated financial statements Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, for more information.
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
 
Foreign exchange gains of $0.3 million were realized in the period ended December 31, 2011, compared to $0.1 million of losses realized in the year ended December 31, 2010. Foreign currency gains and losses are realized upon the settlement of cash flows from transactions denominated in different currencies.
 
Interest expense
 
Interest expense totaled $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 and $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Lower interest expense was due to a lower effective interest rate on our borrowings and lower average borrowings in the year ended December 31, 2011. The effective interest rate on our borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2011, was 2.3% compared to a rate of 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2010. The decrease in the effective interest rate on our borrowings was primarily a result of the expiration of interest rate swaps in the fourth quarter of 2010. Interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2010 included an estimate of $0.2 million ineffectiveness on our interest rate swaps caused by significant prepayments on our term loan borrowings. See Note 8- Interest Rate Swap Agreements in our notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our interest rate swap agreements.
 
 
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Other expense (income), net
 
Other expense (income), net includes interest income on our cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term cash investments, and other income and expense. During the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, other expense (income), net is primarily interest income, and was $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
 
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
Income tax expense totaled $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to an income tax benefit of $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The effective tax rate was 57.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to 33.9% in the year ended December 31, 2010. The higher effective tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2011 was partly due to an adjustment of $0.3 million to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 related to an overstatement of deferred tax assets in prior periods.  Excluding this adjustment, the effective tax rate was 48.9% in the year ended December 31, 2011. The lower effective tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2010 resulted from the impact of the deferred tax benefit on impairment charges of $10.8 million.
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes includes the results from our clinical trial services business segment which was reclassified as discontinued in our fourth quarter of 2012.  The clinical trial service business had income from operations before income taxes of $4.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $4.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.  See Note 4 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
Transactions with Related Parties
 
We provide services to hospitals which are affiliated with certain Board of Director members. Revenue related to these transactions amounted to approximately $3.8 million, $2.1 million and $1.0 million in aggregate for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Accounts receivable due from these hospitals at December 31, 2012 and 2011 were approximately $0.6 million in aggregate. Pricing for our services is consistent with our other hospital customers. In the year ended December 31, 2010, we entered into an exclusive MSP arrangement with one of the hospital systems.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
As of December 31, 2012, we had a current ratio, defined as the amount of current assets divided by current liabilities, of 2.0 to 1. Working capital increased by $14.3 million to $72.8 million as of December 31, 2012, compared to $58.5 million as of December 31, 2011, due to the reclassification of clinical trial services business segment as assets held for sale. Days’ sales outstanding including discontinued operations increased by 1 day to 54 days as of December 31, 2012, compared to 53 days at December 31, 2011, consistent with historical ranges.
 
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 including our commitments as described in the Commitments table which follows. We believe that our capital resources are sufficient to meet our working capital needs for the next twelve months. We expect to meet our future needs for working capital, capital expenditures, internal business expansion and debt service from a combination of operating cash flows and funds available through the revolving loan portion of our current credit agreement. We continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities that may require additional funding.
 
The modification to our Credit Agreement (see Credit Agreement section which follows) reduced our available incremental borrowing capacity to approximately $3.0 million, thus reducing our liquidity. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2012, in order to increase our liquidity we repatriated cash from foreign subsidiaries of approximately $4.3 million including a one-time distribution from our Indian subsidiary. A foreign tax impact relating to these repatriations of approximately $0.5 million has been reflected in our full year tax rate. There was no U.S. tax impact of these repatriations.
 
Credit Agreements
 
July 2012 Credit Agreement
 
On July 10, 2012, we entered into a new senior secured credit agreement (July 2012 Credit Agreement), 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 provides 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 includes 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 reduce available revolving credit commitments on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Subject to certain conditions under the July 2012 Credit Agreement, we are permitted, at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility, to increase our total revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million.
 
 
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Upon closing of the July 2012 Credit Agreement, we borrowed $25.0 million under the term loan and $11.0 million from the revolving credit facility. The proceeds were used to repay the indebtedness on our prior credit agreement and for the payment of fees and expenses. During 2012, $1.0 million of financing fees were deferred and included in debt issuance costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The deferred costs related to the revolving credit facility are being amortized on a straight-line basis, and the deferred costs related to the term loan facility are being amortized using the effective interest method, both over the life of the July 2012 Credit Agreement. In addition, $0.3 million of third party debt financing costs relating to the July 2012 Credit Agreement were expensed as incurred as required by the Debt Topic of the FASB ASC, and included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.
 
The revolving credit facility was 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) plus a margin of 1.50%. In addition, we were required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on our average daily unused portion of the revolving loan facility of 0.50%. The interest rate spreads and fees fluctuate during the term of the July 2012 Credit Agreement based on the consolidated total leverage ratio at each calculation date, as defined.

Modification of July 2012 Credit Agreement

On September 28, 2012, we entered into a First Modification Agreement with the lenders of our July 2012 Credit Agreement, which, for the third quarter ending September 30, 2012, modified the maximum consolidated total leverage ratio to 2.75 to 1.00 and modified the minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio to 1.25 to 1.00. In addition, the aggregate amount of new revolving credit loans and swingline loans made to under the credit agreement may not exceed $3.0 million (above the $10.0 million outstanding) at any time, and new Letters of Credit issued on behalf of us may not exceed $1.0 million (above the $12.4 million outstanding), during the period commencing on September 28, 2012 and ending upon the delivery of the Officer’s Compliance Certificate to the administrative agent for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 (which would have occurred in March 2013). Further, during this modification period, we were also prohibited from making investments and purchasing, redeeming, retiring or otherwise acquiring any shares of its capital stock as otherwise permitted under the credit agreement. Due to our change in lenders’ participations as a result of the July 2012 Credit Agreement and subsequent modification agreement, the Company wrote off debt issuance costs of approximately $82,000 as loss on modification of debt on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Covenants of July 2012 Credit Agreement
 
Under the July 2012 Credit Agreement, we were required to make certain mandatory prepayments of our outstanding term and revolving loans in connection with receipt by us or any of our subsidiaries of net proceeds from the sale of assets, insurance recoveries, the issuance of equity or securities, or the incurrence or issuance of other debt. In addition, if our consolidated total leverage ratio (as defined in the July 2012 Credit Agreement) was greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 in any fiscal year, we were required to make mandatory prepayments of 50% of our excess cash flow (if any), as defined, for that fiscal year.
 
The July 2012 Credit Agreement contained customary representations, warranties, and affirmative covenants. The July 2012 Credit Agreement also contained customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions, including with respect to (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, we were required to meet certain financial covenants, including a maximum total leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a limit on aggregate capital expenditures in each fiscal year. The July 2012 Credit Agreement also contained 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 commitments under the July 2012 Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all of our assets.
 
 
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As of December 31, 2012, we would not have complied with the financial covenants in our July 2012 Credit Agreement, specifically, the Maximum Leverage Ratio or the Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
 
Loan Agreement- January 2013
 
On January 9, 2013, we terminated our commitments under the 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. 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 existing indebtedness under our prior credit agreement and the payment of fees and expenses.  The repayment of the term loan portion of our debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012 is expected to be treated as extinguishment of debt.  The repayment of the revolver portion of our debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012 is expected to be treated partially as extinguishment and partially as a modification. The modified portion relates to the continuation of credit provided by Bank of America, N.A. in its Loan Agreement.  We expect to write-off debt issuance costs related to the debt extinguishment of approximately $1,300,000.
 
The revolving credit facility will be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes by us and our subsidiaries.  The initial interest rate spreads and fees under the Loan Agreement are based on LIBOR plus 1.50% or Base Rate plus 0.50%. The LIBOR and Base Rate margins are subject to performance pricing adjustments, commencing September 1, 2013, pursuant to a pricing matrix based on our excess availability under the revolving credit facility, and would 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 our excess 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 1.0x, 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 of our material domestic subsidiaries 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.
 
Stock Repurchase Programs
 
In February 2008, our Board of Directors authorized our most recent stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to 1.5 million shares of our common stock, subject to the terms of our credit agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and the repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at our discretion. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we repurchased under this program, 71,653 shares of our common stock at an average price of $5.22 per share. The cost of such purchases was approximately $0.4 million. All of the common stock was retired.
 
 
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During the year ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased under this program, 427,043 shares of our common stock at an average price of $5.23 per share. The cost of such purchases was approximately $2.2 million. All of the common stock was retired. During year ended December 31, 2010, we did not repurchase shares.
 
At December 31, 2012, we were restricted from purchasing additional shares of our common stock under our July 2012 Credit Agreement. However, we had 942,443 shares of common stock left remaining to repurchase under our February 2008 authorization. See Credit Agreement section below and consolidated financial statements Note 7- Long-term Debt.
 
Cash Flow Comparisons
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2012 was $10.1 million compared to $18.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to lower profitability and timing of income tax payments and receipts in year ended December 31, 2012.  During the year ended December 31 2011, we received $4.8 million in income tax refunds, primarily due to the utilization of a net operating loss carryback.
 
Investing activities provided $0.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $4.2 million used in the year ended December 31, 2011. We used $2.2 million and $4.0 million, respectively for capital expenditures during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. In addition, other investing activities provided $2.7 million in year ended December 31, 2012 related to the liquidation of our foreign long-term and short-term cash investments. Other investing activities used $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. Other investing activities reflect our investments in short and long term cash investments that are highly liquid with underlying maturities greater than 90 days, the balance of which was $0 as of December 31, 2012.
 
Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2012, was $10.6 million, compared to $14.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. We repaid total debt, net of borrowings, in the amounts of $8.7 million and $11.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily using cash flow from operations. We used $0.2 million to repurchase shares of common stock to cover withholding liabilities related to the vesting of restricted stock in 2012 and 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we paid $1.4 million related to debt issuance costs related to debt refinancing.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2010
 
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2011 was $18.3 million compared to $31.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2010. The decrease is primarily due to an increase in our accounts receivable in the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to a decrease in accounts receivable in the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase in accounts receivable in the year ended December 31, 2011 is reflective of the increase in revenue we have experienced in 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2010 we experienced sequential declines in revenue with relatively similar days’ sales outstanding.
 
Investing activities used $4.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $16.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we used $12.8 million to pay an earnout related to the MDA acquisition. The earnout payment was based on MDA’s 2009 performance. We used $4.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively for capital expenditures during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. In addition, other investing activities used $0.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Other investing activities reflect our investments in short and long term cash investments that are highly liquid with underlying maturities greater than 90 days.
 
Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2011, was $14.2 million, compared to $11.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2010. We repaid total debt, net of borrowings, in the amounts of $11.8 million and $9.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, primarily using cash flow from operations. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we also paid debt issuance costs of $1.5 million related to our credit agreement amendment previously described. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we used $0.2 million to repurchase shares of common stock to cover withholding liabilities related to the vesting of restricted stock.
 
 
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Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
 
The following table reflects our contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2012:
 
Commitments
 
Total
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
2016
   
2017
   
Thereafter
 
   
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
 
Senior secured credit facility (a)
  $ 33,125     $ 33,125     $     $     $     $     $  
Capital lease obligations
    544       368       83       65       28              
Operating leases obligations (b)
    19,163       4,726       3,962       3,498       3,490       2,598       889  
Purchase obligations (c)
    950       646       246       58                    
    $ 53,782     $ 38,865     $ 4,291     $ 3,621     $ 3,518     $ 2,598     $ 889  
_______________
(a)
Under our credit facility, we are required to comply with certain financial covenants. Our inability to comply with the required covenants or other provisions could result in default under our credit facility. In the event of any such default and our inability to obtain a waiver of the default, all amounts outstanding under the credit facility could be declared immediately due and payable.
 
(b)
Represents future minimum lease payments associated with operating lease agreements with original terms of more than one year.
 
(c)
Other contractual obligations include contracts for information systems consulting services.
 
In addition to the above disclosed contractual obligations, we have accrued uncertain tax positions, pursuant to the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC of $5.2 million at December 31, 2012. Based on the uncertainties associated with the settlement of these items, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of potential settlements, if any, with the taxing authorities.

Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates
 
We have identified the following critical accounting policies that affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis, including those related to asset impairment, accruals for self-insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts, taxes and other contingencies and litigation. We state our accounting policies in the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012, contained herein. These estimates are based on information that is currently available to us and on various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could vary from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:
 
1)
We have recorded goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets resulting from our acquisitions through December 31, 2012. In accordance with the Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC, goodwill and 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.
 
Impairment review policy
 
In accordance with the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC, we evaluate goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, in our fourth quarter, for impairment at the reporting unit level and whenever circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. We evaluated four reporting units: 1) nurse and allied staffing; 2) physician staffing; 3) retained search; and 4) education and training.  We determined the fair value of our reporting units based on a combination of inputs including Level 3 inputs such as discounted cash flows which are not observable from the market, directly or indirectly, as well as inputs such as pricing multiples from publicly traded guideline companies and our market capitalization.
 
 
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The first step in the impairment assessment requires us to determine the fair value of each of our reporting units and compare it to the reporting unit’s carrying amount. Generally, we estimate the fair value based on a weighting of both the income approach and the market approach (blended fair value) for each of our reporting units.

First quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

At the end of the first quarter of 2012, our stock price declined from December 31, 2011. In addition, a slowdown in demand and booking activity in our nurse and allied staffing segment resulted in a downward revision to this segment’s near-term forecast. Additionally, we were closely monitoring performance in our clinical trial services and physician staffing businesses due to a thin margin between the carrying amount and fair value of those respective reporting units as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing.  These factors warranted impairment testing in the first quarter of 2012, which, based on its results, we concluded that there was no impairment at March 31, 2012.

Second quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

During the second quarter of 2012, our stock price declined further from December 31, 2011. In addition, slower than expected booking momentum and reduced contribution income in our nurse and allied staffing segment resulted in a downward revision to this segment’s forecast. Additionally, we were closely monitoring the performance of the clinical trial services and physician staffing businesses due to a small margin between the carrying amount and fair value of those respective reporting units as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing and the small margin between the carrying amount and fair value of the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit as of the March 31, 2012 interim impairment testing. These factors warranted impairment testing in the second quarter of 2012.

As a result of the June 30, 2012 interim impairment testing, we determined that the fair value of the 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 the second quarter 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 wrote off the remaining goodwill which resulted in a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of $18.7 million as of June 30, 2012. 

Third quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

During the third quarter of 2012, we continued to experience a sustained decrease in stock price compared to December 31, 2011. We continued to monitor the performance of the clinical trial services and physician staffing businesses due to the thin margin between the carrying amount and fair value as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing and subsequent interim impairment tests.

Upon completion of the third quarter 2012 interim impairment testing, we determined that the estimated fair value of our reporting units, with the exception of clinical trial services (see Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations), exceeded their respective carrying values.

Fourth quarter 2012 annual impairment testing results

We performed our annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2012.  Upon completion of the fourth quarter 2012 impairment testing, we determined that the estimated fair value of our reporting units exceeded their respective carrying values as follows: nurse and allied staffing – 13.5%, physician staffing – 28.6%, retained search – 25.6% and education and training– 92.0%. Accordingly, no impairment charges were warranted for these reporting units as of December 31, 2012.
 
 
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The total fair value of our reporting units was reconciled to its December 31, 2012 market capitalization. The reasonableness of the resulting control premium was assessed based on a review of comparative market transactions and other qualitative factors that might have influenced the Company’s stock price. The fair value under the blended fair value approach implied a control premium of 78%, which is within the range of amounts we estimate a buyer would be willing to pay in excess of the December 31, 2012 market price of $4.80 in order to acquire a controlling interest.  Our market capitalization was also considered in assessing the reasonableness of the cumulative fair values of the reporting units. Our market capitalization as of December 31, 2012 was approximately $148.3 million. In performing the reconciliation of our market capitalization to fair value, we considered both quantitative and qualitative factors which supported the implied control premium. We believe that a reasonable buyer would offer a control premium for the business that would adequately cover the difference between its market price at December 31, 2012 and its book value.

The discounted cash flows for each reporting unit that served as the primary basis for the income approach were based on discrete financial forecasts developed by us for planning purposes and consistent with those distributed within the Company and externally. A number of significant assumptions and estimates were involved in the application of the income methodology including forecasted revenue, margins, operating cash flows, discount rate, and working capital changes. Cash flows beyond the discrete forecast period of ten years were estimated using a terminal value calculation. A terminal value growth rate of 2.5% was used for each reporting unit. The income approach valuations included reporting unit cash flow discount rates, representing each of the reporting unit’s weighted average cost of capital, ranging from 11.0% to 18.7%.

The market approach generally applied pricing multiples derived from publicly-traded guideline companies that are comparable to our respective reporting units, and other specific data points, to determine their value. We utilized total enterprise value/revenue multiples ranging from 0.5 to 1.0, and total enterprise value/Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) multiples ranging from 5.0 to 10.3.

The reporting units’ values based on the market approach were determined assuming a 50% weighting to revenue multiples and a 50% weighting to EBITDA multiples for all of its reporting units. We estimated the fair value of the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit based entirely on the income approach as of December 31, 2012, September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 and the fair value of its education and training reporting entirely on the income approach as of December 31, 2012. Had we applied the market approach to the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit or the education and training reporting unit, as it had done historically, it would have resulted in a very wide disparity between the revenue-based and EBITDA-based implied market enterprise values. Accordingly, we concluded that the income approach was more appropriate in determining the fair value during each respective quarter.
  
The estimated fair value of our reporting units is highly sensitive to changes in projections and assumptions; therefore, in some instances minor changes in these assumptions could impact whether the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value.
 
The table below provides a sensitivity analysis related to the impact of changes in certain key assumptions, on a standalone basis, on the percentage variance between fair value and carrying value for each of the reporting units with goodwill, with the exception of clinical trial services, recorded on our balance sheet:

         
Sensitivity Analysis
Fair Value Variance versus Carrying Value
 
   
December 31, 2012
Fair value Variance versus Carrying
Value
   
100 basis point
increase in
WACC
   
100 basis point
decrease in
Terminal
Growth Rate
   
10% reduction in After-Tax Cash
Flows
 
  Physician staffing
   
28.6
%  
21.4
%    
25.4
%  
22.3
%
  Education and training
   
92.0
%  
75.4
%    
84.1
%  
75.4
%
  Retained search
   
25.6
%  
20.0
%    
23.9
%  
17.1
%
 
 
48
 
 
 
In addition, an increase in the assumed weighted average cost of capital of 100 basis points could cause the fair value of our physician staffing trademark to be 7% below its carrying value, or a reduction of $4.5 million. As of December 31, 2012, other indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization on our consolidated balance sheets totaled $48.7 million.
 
There can be no assurance that the estimates and assumptions made for purposes of the annual goodwill impairment test will prove to be accurate predictions of the future. Although management believes the assumptions and estimates made are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact the reported financial results.
 
Fourth quarter 2011 impairment testing results

Upon completion of the first step in our annual impairment assessment as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we determined that no impairment was indicated.

In addition, the Property, Plant and Equipment/Impairment of Disposal of Long-Lived Assets Topic of the FASB ASC, requires us to test the recoverability of long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets with definite lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In testing for potential impairment, if the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the expected undiscounted cash flows, we must then determine the amount by which the fair value of those assets exceeds the carrying value and determine the amount of impairment, if any.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, in conjunction with our annual testing of other indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization, no impairments were identified. As of December 31, 2011, other indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization on our consolidated balance sheets totaled $52.1 million.
 
Fourth quarter 2010 impairment testing results
 
In the fourth quarter of 2010, in conjunction with our annual testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization, we recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of approximately $10.8 million of which $10.0 million related to the physician staffing segment and $0.7 million related to the nurse and allied staffing segment. The assessment was impacted by a then recent reduction in locum tenens usage and the overall physician staffing needs of our customers. Based on the impact those trends had on the long term revenue forecast, our calculation of estimated fair value using the projected revenue stream indicated the carrying amount of the trademark may not have been fully recoverable.

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets related to discontinued operations

We used a consistent income approach and market approach to evaluate the potential impairment of goodwill related to the clinical trial services staffing reporting unit. Discounted cash flows served as the primary basis for the income approach. Pricing multiples derived from publicly-traded guideline companies that are comparable served as the basis for the market approach. Pursuant to the second step of our third quarter interim impairment testing, we were required to calculate an implied fair value of goodwill based on a hypothetical purchase price allocation. As of the date of its third quarter filing, we had not finalized its second step of impairment testing due to the limited time period from the first indication of potential impairment to the date of filing and the complexities involved in estimating the fair value. We recorded a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of approximately $22.1 million as of September 30, 2012.  This impairment analysis was finalized in the fourth quarter and did not result in any adjustment.  In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2012, in conjunction with our evaluation of our assets held for sale, an additional impairment charge was recorded of approximately $11.9 million. The Company considered the sale price from the buyer as its best indication of fair value as of December 31, 2012 (See Note 19 – Subsequent Events).

Risk and uncertainties
 
The calculation of fair value used in these impairment assessments included a number of estimates and assumptions that required significant judgments, including projections of future income and cash flows, the identification of appropriate market multiples and the choice of an appropriate discount rate. Changes in these assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit. Specifically, further deterioration of demand for our services, further deterioration of labor market conditions, reduction of our stock price for an extended period, or other factors as described in Item 1.A. Risk Factors, may affect our determination of fair value of each reporting unit. This evaluation can also be triggered by various indicators of impairment which could cause the estimated discounted cash flows to be less than the carrying amount of net assets. If we are required to record an impairment charge in the future, it could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Under the current credit agreement an impairment charge will not have an impact on our liquidity. As of December 31, 2012, we had total goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization of $111.4 million.
 
 
49
 
 
 
2)
We maintain accruals for our health, workers’ compensation and professional liability claims that are partially self-insured and are classified as accrued compensation and benefits on our consolidated balance sheets. We determine the adequacy of these accruals by periodically evaluating our historical experience and trends related to health, workers’ compensation and professional liability claims and payments, based on actuarial models, as well as industry experience and trends. If such models indicate that our accruals are overstated or understated, we will reduce or provide for additional accruals as appropriate. Healthcare insurance accruals have fluctuated with increases or decreases in the average number of temporary healthcare professionals on assignment as well as actual company experience and increases in national healthcare costs. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had $2.0 million and $1.6 million accrued, respectively, for incurred but not reported health insurance claims. Corporate and field employees are covered through a partially self-insured health plan. Workers’ compensation insurance accruals can fluctuate over time due to the number of employees and inflation, as well as additional exposures arising from the current policy year. As of December 31, 2012, we had $3.4 million accrued for case reserves and for incurred but not reported workers’ compensation claims, net of insurance receivables, an increase of $0.5 million over the amount accrued at December 31, 2011. The accrual for workers’ compensation is based on an actuarial model which is prepared or reviewed by an independent actuary. As of December 31, 2012, and 2011, we had $8.9 million and $9.2 million accrued, respectively, for case reserves and for incurred but not reported professional liability claims, net of insurance receivables. The accrual for professional liability is based on an actuarial model which is prepared or reviewed by an independent actuary.
 
3)
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments, which results in a provision for bad debt expense. We determine the adequacy of this allowance by continually evaluating individual customer receivables, considering the customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. We write off specific accounts based on an ongoing review of collectability as well as our past experience with the customer. Historically, losses on uncollectible accounts have not exceeded our allowances. As of December 31, 2012, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $1.8 million.
 
4)
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 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 healthcare facility clients relating to these matters. Material pending legal proceedings brought against us, if any, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business are described in Legal Proceedings.
 
5)
We account for income taxes in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and other loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. As of December 31, 2012, we have deferred tax assets related to certain federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $23.6 million for which we have recorded a valuation allowance of $3.6 million. The state carryforwards will expire between 2013 and 2032. The federal carryforwards expire between 2030 and 2032. The majority of the foreign carryforwards are in a jurisdiction with no expiration. In addition, the tax effect resulting from our goodwill impairment charges recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2008 caused the net deferred tax liability position to change to a net deferred tax asset position at that time. We have determined that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset related to goodwill impairment charges of $102.4 million 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.
 
In considering whether or not a valuation allowance is appropriate we consider several sources of taxable income, including, but not limited to the following items:
 
 
50
 
 
 
 
The reversal of taxable temporary differences to offset deductible temporary differences in the future.
 
 
Carryback potential to support the utilization of the deferred tax asset.
 
 
Projections of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.
 
In our determination at December 31, 2012, we relied partially on projections of future taxable income, exclusive of reversing temporary differences, to reach our conclusion that no valuation allowance is necessary on the net deferred tax asset, except as otherwise discussed. However, if the levels of future taxable income we have projected are not achieved, there is a risk that we could not recover this entire net deferred tax asset. We will continue, in the future, to evaluate whether or not the net deferred tax assets will be fully realized prior to expiration.
 
In calculating the provision for income taxes on an interim basis, we use an estimate of the annual effective tax rate based upon the facts and circumstances known at each interim period. On a quarterly basis, the actual effective tax rate is adjusted as appropriate based upon the actual results as compared to those forecasted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
 
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our consolidated provision for income taxes and recording the related deferred tax assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Accruals for unrecognized tax benefits are provided for in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC. An unrecognized tax benefit represents the difference between the recognition of benefits related to exposure items for income tax reporting purposes and financial reporting purposes. The current portion of the unrecognized tax benefit is classified as a component of other current liabilities, and the non-current portion is included within other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2012, total unrecognized tax benefits recorded was $5.2 million. We have a reserve for interest and penalties on exposure items, if applicable, which is recorded as a component of the overall income tax provision. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, we believe that we have appropriate support for the positions taken on our tax returns and that our annual tax provision includes amounts sufficient to pay any assessments. Nonetheless, the amounts ultimately paid, if any, upon resolution of the issues raised by the taxing authorities may differ materially from the amounts accrued for each year.
 
6)
Our sales and other non-income tax filings are subject to routine audits by authorities in the jurisdictions where we conduct business, which may result in assessments of additional taxes. As a result of a state administrative ruling, we determined that additional sales and non-income taxes were probable of being assessed for certain states. The total amount accrued is based on our best estimate of our probable liability and is based on current available information and interpretation of relevant tax regulations.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2011, we estimated an incremental sales and non-income tax liability, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, of approximately $0.5 million pretax. Approximately $0.4 million of the estimated liability relates to 2008-2010 tax years. Given the nature of the our business, significant subjectivity exists as to both whether sales and other non-income tax can be assessed on the activity and how the sales tax will ultimately be measured by the relevant jurisdictions. We make a determination each reporting period whether the estimates for sales and other non-income taxes in certain states should be revised.
 
During the year ended December 2012, based on revised estimates of probable settlement, an expected state non-income tax audit assessment, and additional estimates for current year activity, we accrued an additional pretax liability related to these non-income tax matters of approximately $1.0 million, of which $0.3 million related to the 2005-2011 tax years. The expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations and the liability is reflected in other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. We are working with professional tax advisors and state authorities to resolve these matters.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, (ASU 2012-02), which is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. This ASU adds an optional qualitative assessment for determining whether an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. Companies have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If a company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of such an asset exceeds its carrying amount, it would not need to calculate the fair value of the asset in that year. However, if a company concludes otherwise, it must calculate the fair value of the asset, compare that value with its carrying amount and record an impairment charge, if any. We elected not to use this option in our review of intangible assets in 2012, as we determined there were indicators which triggered additional testing.
 
 
51
 
 
 
Seasonality
 
The number of healthcare professionals on assignment with us is subject to moderate seasonal fluctuations which may impact our quarterly revenue and earnings. Hospital patient census and staffing needs of our hospital and healthcare facilities fluctuate which impact our number of orders for a particular period. Many of our hospital and healthcare facility clients are located in areas that experience seasonal fluctuations in population during the winter and summer months. These facilities adjust their staffing levels to accommodate the change in this seasonal demand and many of these facilities utilize temporary healthcare professionals to satisfy these seasonal staffing needs. Likewise, the number of nurse and allied professionals on assignment may fluctuate due to the seasonal preferences for destinations of our temporary nurse and allied professionals. In addition, we expect our physician staffing business to experience higher demand in the summer months as physicians take vacations. This historical seasonality of revenue and earnings may vary due to a variety of factors and the results of any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other quarter or for any year. In addition, typically, our first quarter results are negatively impacted by the reset of payroll taxes.
 
Inflation
 
During the last several years, the rate of inflation in healthcare related services has exceeded that of the economy as a whole. Our direct costs are affected by fluctuations in housing costs and healthcare and workers’ compensation insurance. During 2012, our direct costs increased as a result of rising housing costs. Depending on the demand environment, we may be able to recoup the negative impact of such fluctuations by increasing our billing rates. We may not be able to continue increasing our billing rates and increases in our direct operating costs may adversely affect us in the future. In addition, our clients are impacted by payments for healthcare reimbursements by federal and state governments as well as private insurers.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
 
We are exposed to interest rate changes, primarily as a result of our revolving loan and term loans under our Credit Agreement, which bears interest based on floating rates. Our term loan bears interest at a rate of, at our option, either: (i) LIBOR plus a leverage-based margin or (ii) Base Rate plus a leverage-based margin. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources – Credit Agreement included in Item 7. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis above for further discussion about our Credit Agreement and related interest rate swaps. A 1% change in interest rates on variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $0.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012. Excluding the impact of our interest rate swap agreements, a 1% change in interest rates on variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $0.6 million in 2010 and $0.9 million in 2009. Considering the effect of our interest rate swap agreements a 1% change in interest rates on our variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating less than $0.1 million in 2010 and $0.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
We are exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates impact translations of foreign denominated assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars and future earnings and cash flows from transactions denominated in different currencies. Our international operations generated less than 1% of our consolidated revenue during the years ending December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and were primarily from the United Kingdom. In addition, approximately 2% of selling, general and administrative expenses are related to certain software development and information technology support provided by our employees in Pune, India. We have not entered into any foreign currency hedges.
 
Our international operations transact business in their functional currency. As a result, fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar have an impact on reported results. Revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Consequently, as the value of the U.S. dollar changes relative to the currencies of our non-U.S. markets, our reported results vary.
 
Fluctuations in exchange rates also impact the U.S. dollar amount of stockholders’ equity. The assets and liabilities of our non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the end of a reporting period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded in stockholders’ equity, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, included in other stockholders’ equity on our consolidated balance sheet.
 
 
52
 
 
 
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
 
See Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules of Part IV of this Report.
 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
 
None.

Controls and Procedures.
 
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based upon the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2012, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, using the criteria set forth in the Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 was effective. An assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 has been performed by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Ernst & Young LLP’s attestation report is included below.
 
 
53
 
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
 
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
 
We have audited Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012 of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and our report dated March 18, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
 
Certified Public Accountants
 
Boca Raton, Florida
March 18, 2013
 
 
54
 
 
 
Other Information.
 
None.
PART III
 
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
 
Information with respect to directors, executive officers and corporate governance is included in our Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Proxy Statement) to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Executive Compensation.
 
Information with respect to executive compensation is included in our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters.
 
Information with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock is included in our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
With respect to equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2012, see table below:
 
Plan Category
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights (a)
   
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and
rights (b)
   
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a)) (c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by
   security holders
1,922,756
   
$
 
9.67
   
718,586
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by
  security holders
None
       
N/A
   
N/A
 
Total
1,922,756
   
$
 
9.67
   
718,586
 
 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
 
Information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence is included in our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
 
Information with respect to the fees and services of our principal accountant is included in our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
55
 
 
 
PART IV
 
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
 
(a)
Documents filed as part of the report.
 
 
(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements
     
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2012,
   2011 and 2010
     
   
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and
   2010
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010
     
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     
 
(2)
Financial Statements Schedule
     
   
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and
   2010
     
 
(3)
Exhibits
     
   
See Exhibit Index immediately following signatures.
 
 
56
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
     
 
By:
/s/ Joseph A. Boshart
   
Name: Joseph A. Boshart
   
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
   
Date: March 18, 2013
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated:
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
         
/s/ Joseph A. Boshart  
President, Chief Executive Officer,
 
March 18, 2013
Joseph A. Boshart
 
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
   
         
/s/ Emil Hensel  
Chief Financial Officer and Director
 
March 18, 2013
Emil Hensel
 
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
   
         
/s/ Thomas C. Dircks  
Director
 
March 18, 2013
Thomas C. Dircks
       
         
/s/ W. Larry Cash  
Director
 
March 18, 2013
W. Larry Cash
       
         
/s/ Richard M. Mastaler  
Director
 
March 18, 2013
Richard M. Mastaler
       
         
/s/ Gale Fitzgerald  
Director
 
March 18, 2013
Gale Fitzgerald
       
         
/s/ Joseph Trunfio  
Director
 
March 18, 2013
Joseph Trunfio
       
 
 
57
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
No.
 
Description
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (1)
3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant 
4.1
 
Form of specimen common stock certificate (1)
4.2
 
Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated August 23, 2001, among the Registrant, a Delaware corporation, the CEP Investors and the Investors (1)
4.3
 
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 29, 1999, among the Registrant, a Delaware corporation, and the CEP Investors and the MSDWCP Investors (1)
4.4
 
Amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2001, among the Registrant, a Delaware corporation, and the CEP Investors and the MSDWCP Investors (1)
4.5
 
Shareholders Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2001, among the Registrant, Joseph Boshart and Emil Hensel and the Financial Investors (1)
10.1
 
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1999, between Joseph Boshart and the Registrant (1)(13)
10.2
 
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1999, between Emil Hensel and the Registrant (1)(13)
10.3
 
222 Building Standard Office Lease between Clayton Investors Associates, LLC and Cejka & Company (1)
10.4
 
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan adopted April 5, 2007 (3)(19)
10.5
 
Cross Country, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (3)(13)
10.6
 
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Joseph A. Boshart (3)(13)
10.7
 
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Emil Hensel (3)(13)
10.8
 
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Vickie Anenberg (3)(13)
10.9
 
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Jonathan Ward (3)(13)
10.10
 
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (7) (13)
10.11
 
First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated February 24, 2005, between Blevens Family Storage, L.P., and Cross Country Seminars, Inc. (9)
10.12
 
Lease Agreement, dated February 15, 2006, between MedStaff, Inc. and Campus Investors D Building, L.P. (12)
10.13
 
Lease Guaranty Agreement by and between Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and Campus Investors D Building, L.P. dated February 17, 2006. (12)
10.14
 
Lease Agreement between Cornerstone Opportunity Ventures, LLC and Cejka Search, Inc., dated February 2, 2007 (14)
10.15
 
Lease Agreement between Self Service Mini Storage, L.P. and Cross Country Education, LLC, dated February 2, 2007 (14)
10.16
 
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Meridian Commercial Properties Limited Partnership and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., dated February 17, 2007 (14)
10.17
 
Lease Agreement dated as of September 21, 2004, by and between TGS American Realty Limited Partnership and Medical Doctor Associates, Inc. (25)
10.18
 
First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of September 1, 2007, by and between Cornerstone Opportunity Ventures, LLC and Cejka Search, Inc. (25)
10.19
 
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2008, by and between Jim Ginter and StoneCo H, Inc. (13)(28)
10.20
 
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2008, by and between Mike Pretiger and StoneCo H, Inc. (13)(28)
10.21
 
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2008, by and between Anne Anderson and StoneCo H, Inc. (13)(28)
 
 
58
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX (CONTINUED)
 
No.
 
Description
10.22
 
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (13)(27)(28)
10.23
 
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (13)(20)(28)
10.24
 
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Policy of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2008 (13)(28)
10.25
 
Lease Agreement, dated July 1, 2010, between Goldberg Brothers Real Estate LLC and MCVT, Inc. (29)
10.26
 
Leave and License Agreement dated October 15, 2010 between Cross Country InfoTech, Ltd. And ShriSubhashDattatrayaAngal (30)
10.27
 
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (31)
10.28
 
First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated April 22, 2011, between Self Service Mini Storage, L.P. and Cross Country Education, LLC, dated February 2, 2007(32)
10.29
 
Loan and Security Agreement, dated January 9, 2013, by and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries, as Borrowers, the Lenders referenced therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Agent (37)
10.30
 
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 2, 2013, by and among ICON Clinical Research, Inc. and ICON Clinical Research UK Limited, as Buyers, and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Local Staff, LLC and Cross Country Healthcare UK Holdco Ltd., as Sellers (38)
10.31
 
Lease Agreement, dated March 1, 1999 by and between Medical Doctor Associates, Inc. and ADKS Realty Corporation (25)
14.1
 
Code of Ethics (7)
*21.1
 
List of subsidiaries of the Registrant
*23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 *31.1
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) and pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer
*31.2
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) and pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Emil Hensel, Chief Financial Officer
*32.1
 
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Joseph A. Boshart, Chief Executive Officer
*32.2
 
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 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
 
PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
________________
*           Filed herewith
**         Furnished herewith
 
(1)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, Commission File No. 333-83450, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(2)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q during the year ended December 31, 2002, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
59
 
 
 
(3)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(4)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 6, 2003, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(5)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(6)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(7)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(8)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(9)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(10)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(11)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(12)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(13)
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
(14)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(15)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 12, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(16)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 15, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(17)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 13, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(18)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(19)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated May 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(20)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(21)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 25, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(22)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(23)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(24)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 11, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(25)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(26)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 25, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(27)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s S-8 dated August 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
 
60
 
 
 
(28)
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(29)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(30)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(31)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated May 28, 2010 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(32)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 and incorporated by reference herein.

(33)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.

(34)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-KdatedJuly 13, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.

(35)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K for dated October 3, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.

(36)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.

(37)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated January 11, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.

(38)
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-Kdated February 5 and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
61
 
 
 
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
Page
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
   
 
F-2
 
F-3
 
F-4
 
F-5
 
F-6
    
F-7
 
F-8
Financial Statement Schedule
   
 
II-1
 
Schedules not filed herewith are either not applicable, the information is not material or the information is set forth in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 
 
F-1
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. at December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 18, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
 
Certified Public Accountants
 
 
Boca Raton, Florida
March 18, 2013
 
 
F-2
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,462,692     $ 10,648,035  
   Short-term cash investments
          1,690,740  
   Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,841,136 in 2012 and $2,180,125 in 2011
    62,674,176       71,802,263  
   Deferred tax assets
    12,560,907       10,644,689  
   Income taxes receivable
    585,709       1,878,923  
   Prepaid expenses
    5,580,473       7,440,632  
   Other current assets
    1,049,275       701,244  
   Insurance recovery receivable
    5,483,889       4,741,529  
   Assets held for sale
    46,970,964        
Total current assets
    145,368,085       109,548,055  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $41,917,771 in 2012 and $41,657,234 in 2011
    8,234,812       12,018,389  
Trademarks, net
    48,701,331       52,053,211  
Goodwill
    62,712,109       143,343,521  
Other identifiable intangible assets, net
    14,491,982       21,195,362  
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3,594,511 in 2012 and $3,317,299 in 2011
    1,609,954       1,198,611  
Non-current deferred tax assets
    16,182,628        
Other long-term assets
    8,622,654       8,584,659  
Total assets
  $ 305,923,555     $ 347,941,808  
                 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 10,129,605     $ 9,018,156  
   Accrued compensation and benefits
    21,650,233       21,073,676  
   Current portion of long-term debt
    33,682,348       16,997,533  
   Other current liabilities
    4,289,403       4,001,874  
   Liabilities related to assets held for sale
    2,834,516        
Total current liabilities
    72,586,105       51,091,239  
Long-term debt
    176,309       25,047,986  
Non-current deferred tax liabilities
          58,111  
Other long-term liabilities
    24,038,352       22,444,175  
Total liabilities
    96,800,766       98,641,511  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
   Common stock—$0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 30,902,314 and 30,812,023
       shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively
    3,090       3,081  
   Additional paid-in capital
    244,924,076       243,170,554  
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (3,082,704 )     (3,373,162 )
   (Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
    (32,721,673 )     9,499,824  
Total stockholders’ equity
    209,122,789       249,300,297  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 305,923,555     $ 347,941,808  
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
F-3
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue from services
  $ 442,635,146     $ 439,377,460     $ 406,604,239  
Operating expenses:
                       
   Direct operating expenses
    331,050,041       319,988,729       292,333,509  
   Selling, general and administrative expenses
    109,416,687       104,544,116       97,378,980  
   Bad debt expense
    786,107       574,457       248,126  
   Depreciation
    4,904,845       5,965,002       7,121,712  
   Amortization
    2,263,556       2,393,722       2,567,804  
   Impairment charges
    18,732,407             10,764,000  
   Total operating expenses
    467,153,643       433,466,026       410,414,131  
                         
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (24,518,497 )     5,911,434       (3,809,892 )
                         
Other (income) expenses:
                       
   Foreign exchange (gain) loss
    (62,231 )     (263,967 )     67,863  
   Interest expense
    2,341,299       2,856,043       4,243,924  
   Loss on modification of debt
    81,503              
   Other expense (income), net
    15,790       (297,728 )     (171,945 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes
    (26,894,858 )     3,617,086       (7,949,734 )
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (6,149,889 )     2,069,447       (2,693,059 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (20,744,969 )     1,547,639       (5,256,675 )
(Loss) income  from discontinued operations, net of income tax
    (21,476,528 )     2,550,210       2,481,812  
Net (loss) income
  $ (42,221,497 )   $ 4,097,849     $ (2,774,863 )
                         
Basic (loss) income per common share from:
                       
      Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )
      Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08  
      Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )
                         
Diluted (loss) income per common share from:
                       
      Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )
      Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08  
      Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
    30,842,723       31,146,165       31,060,426  
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
    30,842,723       31,192,016       31,060,426  
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
F-4
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net (loss) income
  $ (42,221,497 )   $ 4,097,849     $ (2,774,863 )
                         
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax:
                       
   Foreign currency translation adjustments
    267,809       (939,000 )     (109,885 )
   Net change in fair value of hedging transactions
                1,197,247  
   Write-down of marketable securities
    38,515              
   Net change in fair value of marketable securities
    (915 )     (55,815 )     (63,752 )
       Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
    305,409       (994,815 )     1,023,610  
                         
   Income tax on net change in fair value of hedging transactions
                470,880  
   Income tax expense (benefit) on net change in fair value of marketable securities
    14,951       (22,384 )     (25,436
Total income tax expense (benefit) on items of other comprehensive income (loss)
    14,951       (22,384 )     445,444  
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    290,458       (972,431 )     578,166  
Comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (41,931,039 )   $ 3,125,418     $ (2,196,697 )
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
F-5
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-In
   
Accumulated
Other
Total
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Stockholders’
 
   
Shares
   
Dollars
   
Capital
   
Income (Loss)
   
Earnings
   
Equity
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
    31,009,404     $ 3,101     $ 240,869,496     $ (2,978,897 )   $ 8,176,838     $ 246,070,538  
   Repurchase of stock for tax withholdings
    (27,727 )     (3 )     (226,291 )                 (226,294 )
   Vesting of restricted stock
    121,005       12       (12 )                  
   Tax deficit of share-based compensation
                (295,575 )                 (295,575 )
   Equity compensation
                2,656,904                   2,656,904  
   Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      (109,885 )           (109,885 )
   Net change in fair value of hedging transactions
                      726,367             726,367  
   Net change in fair value of marketable securities
                      (38,316 )           (38,316 )
   Net loss
                            (2,774,863 )     (2,774,863 )
Balance at December 31, 2010
    31,102,682       3,110       243,004,522       (2,400,731 )     5,401,975       246,008,876  
   Repurchase of stock for tax withholdings
    (31,263 )     (3 )     (221,593 )                 (221,596 )
   Vesting of restricted stock
    167,647       17       (17 )                  
   Tax deficit of share-based compensation
                (272,828 )                 (272,828 )
   Equity compensation
                2,895,012                   2,895,012  
   Stock repurchase and retirement
    (427,043 )     (43 )     (2,234,542 )                 (2,234,585 )
   Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      (939,000 )           (939,000 )
   Net change in fair value of marketable securities
                      (33,431 )           (33,431 )
   Net income
                            4,097,849       4,097,849  
Balance at December 31, 2011
    30,812,023       3,081       243,170,554       (3,373,162 )     9,499,824       249,300,297  
   Vesting of restricted stock
    161,944       16       (152,446 )                 (152,430 )
   Tax deficit of share-based compensation
                (314,314 )                 (314,314 )
   Equity compensation
                2,594,523                   2,594,523  
   Stock repurchase and retirement
    (71,653 )     (7 )     (374,241 )                 (374,248 )
   Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      267,809             267,809  
   Net change in fair value of marketable securities
                      22,649             22,649  
   Net loss
                            (42,221,497 )     (42,221,497 )
Balance at December 31, 2012
    30,902,314     $ 3,090     $ 244,924,076     $ (3,082,704 )   $ (32,721,673 )   $ 209,122,789  
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
F-6
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating activities
                 
Net (loss)  income
  $ (42,221,497 )   $ 4,097,849     $ (2,774,863 )
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)  income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
    Bad debt expense
    870,715       578,805       293,795  
    Depreciation
    5,566,184       6,790,677       8,043,548  
    Amortization
    3,381,743       3,493,408       3,850,867  
    Impairment charges
            54,132,407             10,764,000  
    Loss on modification of debt
    81,503              
    Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
    (18,520,360 )     3,052,909       5,378,275  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs
    605,558       913,509       867,363  
    Equity compensation
    2,594,523       2,895,012       2,656,904  
    Debt financing costs
    279,005              
    Other noncash charges
    543,296       22,832       (192,898 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
    Accounts receivable
    (4,255,411 )     (7,973,162 )     5,456,796  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (444,351 )     1,878,943       (4,581,381 )
    Income taxes
    1,748,750       4,310,626       (858,628 )
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    4,128,000       (1,327,040     2,056,585  
    Other liabilities
    1,656,065       (438,168 )     561,210  
Net cash provided  by (used by) operating activities
    10,146,130       18,296,200       31,521,573  
                         
Investing activities
                       
Purchases of property and equipment, net
    (2,218,877 )     (3,998,129 )     (2,391,101 )
Acquisition of MDA Holdings, Inc.
                (12,826,184 )
Liquidation of foreign cash investments
    2,652,335              
Other investing activities
    (258,832 )     (197,907 )     (981,324 )
Net cash  provided by (used in) investing activities
    174,626       (4,196,036 )     (16,198,609 )
                         
Financing activities
                       
Debt issuance costs
    (1,377,410 )           (1,480,098 )
Repurchase of stock for tax withholdings
    (152,430 )     (221,596 )     (226,294 )
Stock repurchase and retirement
    (374,248 )     (2,234,585 )      
Proceeds from borrowing on term loan
    25,000,000              
Principal payments on term loan
    (43,326,056 )     (14,088,284 )      
Borrowings on revolving credit facility
    26,900,000       2,500,000       4,000,000  
Repayments of revolving credit facility
    (16,900,000 )           (13,069,937 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations and note payable
    (352,776 )     (191,755 )     (414,986
Net cash used in financing activities
    (10,582,920 )     (14,236,220 )     (11,191,315 )
                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    76,821       (172,573 )     (35,812 )
Change in cash and cash equivalents
    (185,343 )     (308,629 )     4,095,837  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    10,648,035       10,956,664       6,860,827  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 10,462,692     $ 10,648,035     $ 10,956,664  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
                       
Equipment purchased through capital lease obligations
  $ 302,316     $ 312,562     $ 483,440  
Insurance premium financing
  $ 189,654     $     $  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
                       
Interest paid
  $ 1,467,233     $ 2,134,575     $ 3,520,664  
Income taxes paid
  $ 1,681,992     $ 1,559,424     $ 936,768  
Income tax refunds
  $ (564,430 )   $ (4,792,495 )   $ (6,452,303 )
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
F-7
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
 
On July 29, 1999, Cross Country Staffing, Inc. (CCS), a Delaware corporation, was established through an acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of Cross Country Staffing, a Delaware general partnership (the Partnership). The acquisition included certain identifiable intangible assets, primarily proprietary databases and contracts. The Partnership was engaged in the business of providing travel nurse and allied health staffing services to healthcare providers primarily on a contract basis. CCS recorded the assets and certain assumed liabilities, as defined in the asset purchase agreement, at fair market value. The purchase price of approximately $189,000,000 exceeded the fair market value of the assets less the assumed liabilities by approximately $167,537,000, which, was originally recorded as goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. See Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.
 
Subsequent acquisitions and dispositions were made and as of December 31, 2012, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the Company) was a leading provider of nurse and allied staffing services in the United States, a national provider of multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) services, as well as a provider of other human capital management services focused on healthcare.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company decided to sell its clinical trial services business segment as a result of an extensive review of its business and the changing competitive landscape in the pharmaceutical outsourcing industry. As of December 31, 2012, this segment is classified as a disposal group held for sale, and the results of its operations have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 3 - Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the 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 (See Note 7 - Accrued Compensation and Benefits in the consolidated balance sheets), legal contingencies, income taxes and sales and other non-income tax liabilities. Accrued insurance 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.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Cash Investments
 
The Company considers all investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. The Company invests its excess cash in highly rated overnight funds and other highly rated liquid accounts. The Company is 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 does not currently anticipate nonperformance by any of its significant counterparties.
 
Short-term cash investments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets relate to foreign investments in highly liquid time deposits with original maturities less than one year but greater than three months. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, other long-term assets included approximately $0 and $820,000, respectively, of foreign investments in highly liquid time deposits with original maturities greater than one year.
 
Interest income on cash and cash equivalents and cash investments is included in other expense (income), net, on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
 
Accounts Receivable and Concentration of Credit Risk
 
Accounts receivable potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company’s customers are primarily healthcare providers and accounts receivable represent amounts due from them. 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 the customer. 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, primarily throughout the United States and its territories, the Company believes the concentration of credit risk is limited. No single customer accounted for more than 3% of the Company’s revenue during 2012, 4% of revenue during 2011 and 5% of revenue during 2010. An aggregate of approximately 12% and 11% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were due from five customers.
 
 
F-8
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Prepaid Rent and Deposits
 
The Company leases apartments for its field employees under short-term agreements (typically three to six months), which generally coincide with each employee’s staffing contract. Costs relating to these leases are included in direct operating expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As a condition of these agreements, the Company places security deposits on the leased apartments. Prepaid rent and deposits on field employees’ apartments related to these short-term agreements is included in prepaid expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
 
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is determined on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their useful life or the term of the individual lease. Depreciation related to assets recorded under capital lease obligations is included in depreciation expense on the consolidated statements of operations and calculated using the straight-line method over the term of the related capital lease.
 
Certain software development costs have been capitalized in accordance with the provisions of the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other/Internal-Use Software Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). Such costs include charges for consulting services and costs for personnel associated with programming, coding and testing such software. Amortization of capitalized software costs begins when the software is ready for use and is included in depreciation expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Software development costs are being amortized using the straight-line method over three to five years.
 
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price and related costs over the fair value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired. Other identifiable intangible assets with definite lives are being amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives which range from 5 to 15 years. Goodwill and certain intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Instead, in accordance with the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC, these assets are reviewed for impairment annually with any related losses recognized in earnings.

The Company performs a goodwill impairment analysis, using the two-step method, on an annual basis at December 31 of each year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The first step in its annual impairment assessment requires the Company to determine the fair value of each of its reporting units and compare it to the reporting unit’s carrying amount. The Company determines its reporting units by identifying components of its operating segments that constitute a business for which discrete financial information is available and management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. The Company has four reporting units that it reviewed for impairment: 1) nurse and allied staffing, 2) physician staffing, 3) retained search and 4) education and training.  During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company decided to divest its clinical trial services business.  The clinical trials services segment is classified as a disposal group held for sale as of December 31, 2012, and its results of operations have been classified as discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
 
In its impairment analysis, the Company determines the fair value of its reporting units based on a combination of inputs including Level 3 inputs such as discounted cash flows which are not observable from the market, directly or indirectly, as well as inputs such as pricing multiples from publicly traded guideline companies and the market capitalization of the Company, including an estimated premium an investor would pay for a controlling interest. If the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, the Company then determines the amount of the impairment charge, if any. The Company recognizes an impairment charge if the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. Management considers historical experience and all available information at the time the fair values of its reporting units are estimated. However, fair values that could be realized in an actual transaction may differ from those used to evaluate the impairment of goodwill.
 
 
F-9
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets with definite lives are evaluated for impairment in accordance with the Property, Plant, and Equipment Topic of the FASB ASC. In accordance with this Topic, long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flow that is expected to be generated by those assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment charge recognized is the amount by which the carrying amounts of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. See Note 4 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information.

The Company adopted Update No. 2011-08, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Goodwill for Impairment, (ASU 2011-08) for its consolidated financial statements effective January 1, 2012. ASU 2011-08 allows the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after considering the totality of events and circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, performing the two-step impairment test is not necessary.  The Company elected not to use this option in its review of its goodwill and other intangible assets in 2012 as the Company determined there were indicators which triggered additional testing.
 
Debt Issuance Costs
 
Deferred costs related to the issuance of the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility (see Note 8 – Long-term Debt) in 2012 and  2011 have been capitalized and amortized using the straight line method, over the term of the related credit agreement.
 
Deferred costs related to the Company’s senior secured term loan facility have been capitalized and amortized using the effective interest method over the respective five-year term of the related debt.
 
Sales & Other State Non-income Tax Liabilities
 
The Company accrues sales and other state 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.
 
Reserves for Claims
 
The Company provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage, professional liability coverage and health care benefits for its eligible employees and temporary healthcare professionals. The Company records its estimate of the ultimate cost of, and reserves for workers compensation and professional liability benefits based on actuarial models prepared or reviewed by an independent actuary using the Company’s loss history as well as industry statistics. Furthermore, in determining its reserves, the Company includes reserves for estimated claims incurred but not reported. Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company determined that its professional liability and workers’ compensation liabilities were inappropriately presented net of the related insurance recovery receivable. The Company has corrected the 2011 information on its consolidated balance sheets. Management does not believe such correction is material to the previously issued consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-10
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Other Expenses/Insurance Costs Topic of the FASB ASC (ASC 720), codified previously issued authoritative accounting guidance in the area of insurance contracts and related activity thereto. ASC 720 concluded that, under circumstances such as in the Company’s insured professional liability and worker’s compensation policies, since a right of legal offset does not exist due to the fact that there are three parties to an incurred claim, (the insured, the insurer and the claimant), the related liability to the claimant should be classified separately on a gross basis with a separate related receivable from insurer recognized as being due from insurance carriers. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 reflect the related short-term liabilities in accrued compensation and benefits and the related long-term liabilities in other long-term liabilities, and the short-term receivable portion as insurance recovery receivable and the long-term portion is included in other long-term assets. See Note 7 – Accrued Compensation and Benefits. The health care insurance accrual is for estimated claims that have occurred but have not been reported and is based on the Company’s historical claim submission patterns. The ultimate cost of workers’ compensation, professional liability and health insurance claims will depend on actual amounts incurred to settle those claims and may differ from the amounts reserved by the Company for those claims.

The Company records its estimate of the ultimate cost of reserves for workers’ compensation and professional liability based on actuarial models prepared or reviewed by independent actuaries at least twice a year using the company-specific loss histories, as well as industry statistics. In determining its reserves, the Company includes both the case reserves for known claims and an estimate for claims incurred but not reported (IBNR).
 
Workers’ compensation benefits are provided under a partially self-insured plan. The Company has letters of credit to guarantee payments of claims. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company had outstanding approximately $6,899,000 and $7,049,000 standby letters of credit as collateral to secure the self-insured portion of this plan.
 
In October 2009, the Company purchased an occurrence-based primary professional liability policy that provides each working nurse and each allied healthcare professional with coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Those individual limits are shared with the healthcare provider’s employer (e.g., Cross Country TravCorps or MedStaff, our wholly-owned subsidiaries) in the event of vicarious liability and/or negligent hiring allegations on a claim. This policy does not have a deductible. In addition, in October 2009, the Company purchased an excess layer of professional liability insurance having limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses and allied healthcare professionals of Cross Country Travcorps and $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses of MedStaff. Those limits are also shared with other subsidiaries on applicable claims. MedStaff also secured insurance coverage having the same terms as the primary and excess coverage described above for acts occurring on or after October 25, 2002.
 
Since October 2009, all primary professional liability insurance has been provided under occurrence-based plans. Prior to that period, primary professional liability coverage was provided under various self-insured, claims-made and occurrence-based plans depending on the subsidiary and the applicable policy year. In October 2004, the Company secured individual occurrence-based primary professional liability insurance policies with no deductible for virtually all of its working nurses and allied professionals, except those employed through its MedStaff  subsidiary.
 
In October 2012, the Company merged separate primary professional liability policies for Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. (Cross Country TravCorps) and Med-Staff, Inc. (Medstaff), into one occurrence-based primary policy that provides each working nurse and each allied healthcare professional with coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Those limits are also shared with the subsidiaries on applicable claims. The Company also merged the excess layer of professional liability insurance having limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate for all working nurses and allied healthcare professionals of both Cross Country TravCorps and MedStaff. Those limits are also shared with the subsidiaries on applicable claims.
 
These occurrence-based individual policies replaced a $2,000,000 per-claim layer of self-insured exposure. The Company continued to provide primary coverage through a $2,000,000 self-insured retention for nurses and allied professionals who did not qualify for the individual occurrence-based coverage, as well as for its independent liabilities (such as negligent hiring) during these policy years. Effective October 1, 2008, the individual primary professional liability insurance policies were replaced with one policy that insured each individual nurse for $2,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 in the aggregate, as well as the corporation which shared those limits. This policy had no deductible and did not cover healthcare professionals working through MedStaff or MDA Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries (collectively, MDA). Separately, prior to October 1, 2009, our MedStaff subsidiary had a claims-made professional liability policy with a limit of $2,000,000 per occurrence, $4,000,000 in the aggregate and a $25,000 deductible per claim.
 
 
F-11
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
MDA has an occurrence-based professional liability policy with a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate and a $500,000 deductible for MDA, its independent contractor physicians, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and allied health professionals. MDA’s $500,000 deductible is insured by Jamestown Indemnity Ltd., a Cayman Island company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of MDA Holdings, Inc. (the Captive). Under the terms of the Captive’s reinsurance policy there is a requirement to guarantee the payment of claims to its insured party’s primary medical malpractice insurance carrier via a letter of credit. As of December 31, 2012, the value of the letter of credit was $5,533,000. In January 2013, the letter of credit was reduced to $5,000,000.
 
Subject to certain limitations, the Company also has $5,000,000 per occurrence and $10,000,000 in the aggregate in umbrella liability coverage after $2,000,000 is exhausted under the primary and excess professional liability policies covering the working nurses and allied healthcare professionals. While this umbrella coverage does not extend to professional liability claims against MDA, its independent contractor physicians, CRNAs and allied health professionals, it does cover claims brought against all of the Company’s subsidiaries for non-patient general liability ($250,000 deductible), employee liability ($1,000,000 deductible), non-owned hired auto ($1,000,000 deductible) and clinical trials/errors and omissions ($500,000 deductible and a cap of $5,000,000 in coverage under the umbrella policy).

At December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company had outstanding workers’ compensation benefit claims of 105 and 100, respectively. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company had outstanding professional liability claims of 80 and 72, respectively. The Company records the current portion of its professional liability and workers’ compensation liabilities in accrued compensation and benefits and the long-term portion of in long-term liabilities. See Note 7 – Accrued Compensation and Benefits for further information.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company recognizes revenue when it is earned and when all of the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of the arrangement exists; delivery has occurred or the service has been provided and the Company has no remaining obligations; the fee is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.
 
Revenue from services consists primarily of temporary staffing revenue. Revenue is recognized when services are rendered. Accordingly, accounts receivable includes estimated revenue for employees’ and independent contractors’ time worked but not yet invoiced. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, such estimated reserves accrued are approximately $9,816,000 and $9,296,000, respectively.
 
The Company has entered into certain contracts with acute care facilities to provide comprehensive managed service provider (MSP) services. Under these contract arrangements, the Company uses its healthcare professionals along with those of third party subcontractors to fulfill customer orders. If a subcontractor is used, the customer is invoiced for their services and, a subcontractor liability is recorded in accrued expenses, but only the resulting administrative fee is recognized as revenue. The subcontractor is paid after the Company has received payment from the acute care facility.

Revenue on permanent placements is recognized when services provided are substantially completed. Amounts collected in advance of the services being substantially complete are recorded as deferred revenue in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not, in the ordinary course of business, give refunds. If a candidate leaves a permanent placement within a relatively short period of time, it is customary for the Company to provide a replacement at no additional cost. Allowances are established as considered necessary to estimate significant losses due to placed candidates not remaining employed for the Company’s guarantee period. During 2012, 2011, and 2010, such losses, if any, were nominal.
 
Revenue from the Company’s education and training services is recognized as the independent contractor-led seminars are performed. Amounts collected in advance of the seminars are recorded as deferred revenue in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. 
 
At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $1,574,000 and $1,521,000, respectively recorded as deferred revenue included in other current liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
 
 
F-12
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Share-Based Compensation
 
The Company has, from time to time, granted stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock for a fixed number of common shares to employees. In accordance with the Compensation-Stock-Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC, companies may choose from alternative valuation models. The Company uses the Black-Scholes method of valuing its options and stock appreciation rights. The Company values its restricted stock awards by reference to the Company’s stock price on the date of grant.
 
The Company has elected to recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award. The Company uses historical data of options with similar characteristics to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures, as it believes that historical behavior patterns are the best indicators of future behavior patterns. Compensation expense related to share-based payments is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and totaled approximately $2,595,000; $2,895,000 and $2,657,000, during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Related deferred tax benefits of approximately $955,000; $1,126,000 and $1,013,000, respectively, were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. See Note 14 – Stockholders’ Equity for further information about the Company’s current share-based compensation programs.
 
Advertising
 
The Company’s advertising expense consists primarily of print media, online advertising, direct mail marketing and promotional material. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were approximately $3,186,000; $3,180,000 and $2,506,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Direct response advertising costs associated with the Company’s education and training services are capitalized when the Company determines that there is a reasonable expectation that the cost of the incurred advertising will be recovered from the gross profit generated by the advertised event and expensed when the related event takes place.  At December 31, 2012 and 2011, approximately $958,000 and $1,401,000, respectively, of these costs are included in prepaid expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.
 
Operating Leases
 
The Company accounts for all operating leases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. In accordance with the provisions of the Leases Topic of the FASB ASC, any incentives or rent escalations are recorded as deferred rent and amortized with rent expense over the respective lease term.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes under the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

The Company recognizes in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. See Note 13 - Income Taxes for further information.
 
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 
Total comprehensive (loss) income includes net income or loss, foreign currency translation adjustments, net changes in the fair value of hedging transactions, 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 ASC, assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Income statement items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The cumulative impact of currency fluctuations related to the balance sheet translation is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and was approximately $3,083,000 and $3,351,000 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
F-13
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
The net change in fair value of marketable securities is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The net change in fair value of marketable securities includes the reclassification of unrealized gains upon the sale of securities and gains or losses related to the change in fair value of the remaining marketable securities.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company complies with the provisions of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s only financial assets/liabilities required to be measured on a recurring basis were its short and long-term cash investments, marketable securities and its deferred compensation liability. See Note 10 – Fair Value Measurements for relevant disclosures.
 
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
 
The Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC requires the Company to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of those derivatives are accounted for depending upon the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. The Company has used derivative instruments to manage the fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk on variable-rate debt financing. The interest rate swap agreements were terminated effective October 9, 2010. See Note 9 - Interest Rate Swap Agreements for disclosures of interest rate swap agreements entered into in 2008, pursuant to the disclosure requirements of Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, (ASU 2012-02), which is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. This ASU adds an optional qualitative assessment for determining whether an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. Companies have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If a company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of such an asset exceeds its carrying amount, it would not need to calculate the fair value of the asset in that year. However, if a company concludes otherwise, it must calculate the fair value of the asset, compare that value with its carrying amount and record an impairment charge, if any. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its disclosures.
 
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 do not currently anticipate that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows or related disclosures; however, we will continue to assess through the effective date the future impact, if any, of this new accounting update to our consolidated financial statements.
 
3. Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
 
The clinical trial services business segment provides 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 segment 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 service segment was classified as a disposal group held for sale as of December 31, 2012. The assets to be disposed of are presented as assets held for sale and the liabilities to be disposed of are presented as liabilities related to assets held for sale on the Companys consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012.
 
The sale closed on February 15, 2013. As a result of the disposal, the underlying operations and cash flows of the clinical trial service segment will be eliminated from the Company’s continuing operations and the Company will no longer have 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 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.
 
F-14
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
3. Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (continued)
 
The Company did not have any assets held for sale as of December 31, 2011. The following table represents the major classes of assets and liabilities related to assets held for sale as of December 31, 2012.

 
   
December 31,
2012
 
Assets:
     
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 12,553,056  
Other prepaid expenses
    485,840  
Other current assets
    13,771  
Property and Equipment, net
    364,972  
Goodwill
    28,175,772  
Other intangible assets, net
    5,335,816  
Other long-term assets
    41,737  
Total assets held for sale
  $ 46,970,964  
Liabilities:
       
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 354,453  
Accrued employee compensation and benefits
    1,478,638  
Other current liabilities
    984,978  
Other non-current liabilities
    16,447  
Total liabilities related to assets held for sale
  $ 2,834,516  
 

The operations including goodwill and intangible impairment losses of the disposal group are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents the revenues and the components of discontinued operations, net of tax:
 
 
  
Years Ended December 31,
 
  
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Revenue
  
$
67,626,715
  
 
$
64,608,763
  
 
$
61,957,286
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
  
$
(30,973,520
  $
4,613,260
  
 
4,178,134
 
Income tax benefit (expense)
  
 
9,496,992
  
   
(2,063,050
)
   
(1,696,322
)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations
  
$
(21,476,528
 
$
2,550,210
  
 
$
2,481,812
 
 
 
F-15
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
3. Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (continued)

Consistent with the approach described in Note 4- Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, the Company used the income approach and the market approach to evaluate the potential impairment of goodwill related to the clinical trial services staffing reporting unit. Discounted cash flows served as the primary basis for the income approach. Pricing multiples derived from publicly-traded guideline companies that are comparable served as the basis for the market approach. Pursuant to the second step of the Company’s third quarter interim impairment testing, the Company was required to calculate an implied fair value of goodwill based on a hypothetical purchase price allocation. As of the date of its third quarter filing, the Company had not finalized its second step of impairment testing due to the limited time period from the first indication of potential impairment to the date of filing and the complexities involved in estimating the fair value. The Company recorded a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of approximately $22,100,000 as of September 30, 2012.  This impairment analysis was finalized in the fourth quarter and did not result in any adjustment.  In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2012, in conjunction with the Company’s evaluation of its assets held for sale, an additional impairment charge was recorded of approximately $11,900,000. The Company considered the sale price from the buyer as its best indication of fair value as of December 31, 2012 (See Note 19 – Subsequent Events).

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the loss before income taxes is composed of $34,000,000 of goodwill impairment charges described previously, $1,400,000 of a trademark impairment charge, and income from operations in the amount of $4,516,000.
 
4. Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had the following acquired intangible assets:
 
   
December 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Gross
Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net
Carrying
Amount
   
Gross
Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
                                   
  Databases
  $ 12,525,000     $ 11,954,630     $ 570,370     $ 14,186,296     $ 13,300,046     $ 886,250  
  Customer relationships
    26,904,000       13,089,055       13,814,945       34,937,322       14,933,877       20,003,445  
  Non-compete agreements
    3,403,000       3,296,333       106,667       4,153,000       3,847,333       305,667  
  Trademark
                      340,000       340,000        
    $ 42,832,000     $ 28,340,018     $ 14,491,982     $ 53,616,618     $ 32,421,256     $ 21,195,362  
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
                                               
  Goodwill
                  $ 62,712,109                     $ 143,343,521  
  Trademarks
                    48,701,331                       52,053,211  
                    $ 111,413,440                     $ 195,396,732  
 
Estimated annual amortization expense for continuing operations is as follows:
 
Year Ending December 31:
         
2013
 
$
2,210,222
   
2014
   
2,031,167
   
2015
   
1,876,222
   
2016
   
1,876,223
   
2017
   
1,831,481
   
      Thereafter
   
4,666,667
   
   
$
14,491,982
   
 
 
F-16
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
4. Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets (continued)
 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows:
 
   
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
Segment
   
Physician
Staffing
Segment
   
Clinical
Trial
Services
Segment
   
Other Human
Capital
Management
Services
Segment
   
Total
 
Balances as of December 31, 2011:
                             
   Aggregate goodwill acquired
  $ 259,732,408     $ 43,405,046     $ 61,899,005     $ 19,307,062     $ 384,343,521  
   Accumulated impairment loss (a)
    (241,000,000 )                       (241,000,000 )
Goodwill, net of impairment loss (a)
    18,732,408       43,405,046       61,899,005       19,307,062       143,343,521  
Changes to aggregate goodwill in 2012:
                                       
   Impairment charges (b)
    (18,732,408 )           (33,970,756 )           (52,703,164 )
   Foreign currency translation
                247,523             247,523  
       Goodwill in assets held for sale (c)
                (28,175,772 )           (28,175,772 )
       Other
          1                   1  
Balances as of December 31, 2012:
                                       
   Aggregate goodwill acquired
    259,732,408       43,405,047       62,146,528       19,307,062       384,591,045  
   Goodwill in assets held for sale (c)
                    (28,175,772 )             (28,175,772 )
   Accumulated impairment loss (a) (b)
    (259,732,408 )           (33,970,756 )           (293,703,164 )
   Goodwill, net of impairment loss (a) (b)
  $     $ 43,405,047     $     $ 19,307,062     $ 62,712,109  
_______________
 
(a)
A non-cash pretax impairment charge of approximately $241,000,000 was recorded to reduce the carrying value of goodwill to its estimated fair value in the fourth quarter of 2008 for its nurse and allied staffing business segment. The majority of the goodwill impairment was attributable to the Company’s initial capitalization in 1999, which was accounted for as an asset purchase (see Note 1 – Organization and Basis of Presentation), and subsequent nurse staffing acquisitions made through 2003.
 
(b)
In 2012, non-cash pretax impairment charges were recorded for the Company’s nurse and allied staffing and clinical trial services reporting units.  See impairment review disclosures that follow.
 
(c)
The Company has reclassified the net assets of its clinical trials services reporting unit to assets held for sale, effective December 31, 2012 (See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale).

First quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

At the end of the first quarter of 2012, the Company’s stock price declined from December 31, 2011. In addition, a slowdown in demand and booking activity in the Company’s nurse and allied staffing segment resulted in a downward revision to this segment’s near-term forecast. Additionally, the Company was closely monitoring performance in its clinical trial services and physician staffing businesses due to a thin margin between the carrying amount and fair value of those respective reporting units as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing. These factors warranted impairment testing in the first quarter of 2012, which the Company conducted and determined that there was no impairment at March 31, 2012.

Second quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

During the second quarter of 2012, the Company’s stock price declined further from December 31, 2011. In addition, slower than expected booking momentum and reduced contribution income in the Company’s nurse and allied staffing segment resulted in a downward revision to this segment’s forecast. Additionally, the Company was closely monitoring the performance of the clinical trial services and physician staffing reporting units due to a small margin between the carrying amount and fair value of those respective reporting units as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing and the small margin between the carrying amount and fair value of the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit as of the March 31, 2012 interim impairment testing. These factors warranted impairment testing in the second quarter of 2012.
 
 
F-17
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
4. Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets (continued)

Upon completion of the second quarter 2012 interim impairment testing, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units, with the exception of nurse and allied staffing, exceeded their respective carrying values. As a result of the June 30, 2012 interim impairment testing, the Company determined that the fair value of the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit was lower than the respective carrying value. The decrease in value was due to slower than expected booking momentum and reduced contribution income in the Company’s second quarter of 2012 which lowered the anticipated growth trend used for goodwill impairment testing. Pursuant to the second step of the interim impairment testing the Company was required to calculate an implied fair value of goodwill based on a hypothetical purchase price allocation. Based on these results, the Company wrote off the remaining goodwill which resulted in a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of approximately $18,700,000 as of June 30, 2012.
 
Third quarter 2012 interim impairment testing results

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company continued to experience a sustained decrease in stock price compared to December 31, 2011. Also, the Company continued to monitor the performance of the clinical trial services and physician staffing businesses due to the thin margin between the carrying amount and fair value of those respective reporting units as of the December 31, 2011 annual impairment testing and subsequent interim impairment tests.

Upon completion of the third quarter 2012 interim impairment testing, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units, with the exception of clinical trial services (See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations), exceeded their respective carrying values.

Fourth quarter 2012 annual impairment testing results

The Company performed its annual impairment test as of December 31, 2012.  Upon completion of the fourth quarter 2012 impairment testing, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units, exceeded their respective carrying values as follows: nurse and allied staffing – 13.5%, physician staffing – 28.6%, retained search – 25.6% and education and training– 92.0%. Accordingly, no impairment charges were warranted for these reporting units as of December 31, 2012.

The total fair value of the Company’s reporting units was reconciled to its December 31, 2012 market capitalization. The reasonableness of the resulting control premium was assessed based on a review of comparative market transactions and other qualitative factors that might have influenced the Company’s stock price. The Company’s market capitalization was also considered in assessing the reasonableness of the fair values of the reporting units. In performing the reconciliation of the Company’s market capitalization to fair value, the Company considered both quantitative and qualitative factors which supported the implied control premium. The Company believes that a reasonable buyer would offer a control premium for the business that would adequately cover the difference between its market price at December 31, 2012 and its book value.

The discounted cash flows for each reporting unit that served as the primary basis for the income approach were based on discrete financial forecasts developed by the Company for planning purposes and consistent with those distributed within the Company and externally. A number of significant assumptions and estimates were involved in the application of the income methodology including forecasted revenue, margins, operating cash flows, discount rate, and working capital changes. Cash flows beyond the discrete forecast period of ten years were estimated using a terminal value calculation. A terminal value growth rate of 2.5% was used for each reporting unit. The income approach valuations included reporting unit cash flow discount rates, representing each of the reporting unit’s weighted average cost of capital, ranging from 11.0% to 18.7%.

The market approach generally applied pricing multiples derived from publicly-traded guideline companies that are comparable to the Company’s respective reporting units, and other specific data points, to determine their value. The Company utilized total enterprise value/revenue multiples ranging from 0.5 to 1.0, and total enterprise value/Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) multiples ranging from 5.0 to 10.3.
 
 
F-18
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
4. Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets (continued)

The reporting units’ values based on the market approach were determined assuming a 50% weighting to revenue multiples and a 50% weighting to EBITDA multiples for all of its reporting units. The Company estimated the fair value of the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit based entirely on the income approach as of December 31, 2012, September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 and the fair value of its education and training reporting entirely on the income approach as of December 31, 2012. Had the Company applied the market approach to the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit or the education and training reporting unit, as it had done historically, it would have resulted in a very wide disparity between the revenue-based and EBITDA-based implied market enterprise values. Accordingly, the Company concluded that the income approach was more appropriate in determining the fair value during each respective quarter.
 
2011 annual impairment testing results
 
Upon completion of the annual impairment assessment as of December 31, 2011 the Company determined that no impairment was indicated.
 
Other Intangible Assets
 
In conjunction with the 2012 and 2011 annual testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets, no additional impairments of indefinite-lived intangible assets were identified.   As of December 31, 2012, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the Company’s trademarks related to its MDA Holdings, Inc. acquisition exceeded carrying value by 6%.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company conducted an assessment of the trademarks related to its MDA Holdings, Inc. acquisition. Impairment charges of $10,764,000 in the year ended December 31, 2010 resulted from the impact lower locum tenens usage had on its long term revenue forecast. Thus, the calculation of estimated fair value using the projected revenue stream indicated the carrying amount of the trademarks acquired with the MDA acquisition in September 2008 may not be fully recoverable. In order to determine the fair value of its trademarks, the Company discounted to present value the implied after-tax royalty savings based on a long-term forecast of revenue associated with the respective trademarks. Based on the calculation of fair value, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge, of which $10,037,000 related to the physician staffing segment and $727,000 related to the nurse and allied staffing segment. This charge is included in impairment charges on the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2010, the Company believes no other impairment of long-lived assets or intangible assets existed.
 
5. Acquisitions
 
MDA Holdings, Inc.
 
In September 2008, the Company completed 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). Part of the cash paid at closing was held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities (Indemnification Escrow).
 
During the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately $3,541,000 was released to the seller from the Indemnification Escrow account leaving a balance of approximately $3,566,000 at December 31, 2012, and 2011. The escrow will be released upon full satisfaction of certain tax matters and the resolution of indemnity claims. The transaction also included an earnout provision based on 2008 and 2009 performance criteria. This contingent consideration was not related to the sellers’ employment. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company paid approximately $6,748,000 related to the 2008 performance. In the second quarter of 2010, the Company paid approximately $12,826,000 related to the 2009 performance, satisfying all earnout amounts potentially due to the seller in accordance with the asset purchase agreement. Earnout payments were allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with the Business Combinations Topic of the FASB ASC.
 
 
F-19
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
6. Property and Equipment
 
At December 31, 2012 and 2011, property and equipment consist of the following:
 
     
December 31,
 
 
Useful Lives
 
2012
   
2011
 
Computer equipment
3-5 years
  $ 12,373,042     $ 12,268,989  
Computer software
3-5 years
    29,929,913       32,448,577  
Office equipment
5-7 years
    3,307,815       3,469,914  
Furniture and fixtures
5-7 years
    1,704,073       2,171,217  
Leasehold improvements
(a)
    2,837,740       3,316,926  
        50,152,583       53,675,623  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
      (41,917,771 )     (41,657,234 )
      $ 8,234,812     $ 12,018,389  
_______________
(a)
See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
 
7. Accrued Compensation and Benefits
 
At December 31, 2012 and 2011, accrued compensation and benefits consist of the following:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Salaries and payroll taxes
  $ 6,931,650     $ 6,680,258  
Bonuses
    1,648,979       2,795,293  
Accrual for workers’ compensation claims
    3,800,526       3,266,048  
Accrual for health care benefits
    2,005,486       1,586,260  
Accrual for professional liability insurance
    5,847,638       5,195,688  
Accrual for vacation
    1,415,954       1,550,129  
    $ 21,650,233     $ 21,073,676  

 
Workers’ compensation and professional liability amounts are also included in the following accounts:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Insurance recoveries receivable:
           
   Insurance recovery for workers’ compensation (a)
  $ 2,427,994     $ 2,004,881  
   Insurance recovery for professional liability (a)
    3,055,895       2,736,648  
    $ 5,483,889     $ 4,741,529  
Other long-term assets:
               
   Insurance recovery for workers’ compensation – long term (a)
  $ 3,694,006     $ 2,369,119  
   Insurance recovery for professional liability – long term (a)
    4,516,133       4,921,374  
   Long-term cash investments
    ––       819,570  
   Security deposits - long term
    412,515       471,213  
   Marketable securities – long term
    ––       3,383  
    $ 8,622,654     $ 8,584,659  
 
 
F-20
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
7. Accrued Compensation and Benefits (continued)
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Other long-term liabilities:
           
   Unrecognized tax benefits
  $ 4,655,720     $ 4,053,774  
   Accrual for workers’ compensation claims (a)
    5,748,506       4,081,952  
   Accrual for professional liability insurance (a)
    10,598,836       11,681,968  
   Deferred compensation
    1,471,091       1,322,114  
   Deferred rent
    1,564,199       1,277,920  
   Other long-term liabilities
          26,447  
    $ 24,038,352     $ 22,444,175  
 
(a) December 31, 2011 amounts for accrued workers’ compensation and professional liability balances are presented gross of related insurance recovery receivable.
 
8. Long-Term Debt
 
At December 31, 2012 and 2011, long-term debt consists of the following:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Term loan, interest at 2.72% and 2.28% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively
  $ 23,125,000     $ 41,451,056  
Revolver credit facility, interest at 2.72% at December 31, 2012
    10,000,000        
Capital lease obligations and note payable
    733,657       594,463  
Total debt
    33,858,657       42,045,519  
Less current portion
    (33,682,348 )     (16,997,533 )
Long-term debt
  $ 176,309     $ 25,047,986  
 
Long-term debt includes capital lease obligations that are subordinate to the Company’s senior secured facility. As of December 31, 2012, the aggregate scheduled maturities of debt are as follows:
 
Through Year Ending December 31:
 
Term Debt
   
Revolver
   
Capital Leases and
Note Payable
 
2013
  $ 23,125,000     $ 10,000,000     $ 557,347  
2014
                83,078  
2015
                65,409  
2016
                27,823  
2017
                 
Total
  $ 23,125,000     $ 10,000,000     $ 733,657  
 
The Company had approximately $12,432,000 of standby letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The letters of credit relate to the Company’s workers’ compensation and professional liability policies as previously disclosed in the Reserves for Claims section in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Prior Credit Agreement

The Company had a senior secured credit agreement which included a term loan, and a revolving loan facility of $50,000,000 including Swingline Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and a sublimit for letters of credit of $20,000,000.  As of December 31, 2011, interest on its revolving credit facility was based on LIBOR plus a margin of 3.50% or Base Rate (as defined by the Credit Agreement) plus a margin of 2.50%. The interest rate spreads on its term loan as of December 31, 2011 were based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% or Base Rate plus a margin of 1.00%. The Company was required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the revolving loan facility, which, as of December 31, 2011 was 0.625%.
 
 
F-21
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
8. Long-term Debt (continued)
 
The revolving loan facility was being used for general corporate purposes including working capital, capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions and investments, as well as to pay fees and expenses related to the credit facility. As of December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility, but had $12,581,838 of standby letters of credit outstanding under this facility, leaving $37,418,162 available for borrowing. The letters of credit related to the Company’s workers’ compensation and professional liability policies as previously disclosed in the Reserves for Claims section in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
 
As of December 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants and other covenants contained in the agreement. The terms of the Credit Agreement included customary covenants and events of default for similarly leveraged deals. The Credit Agreement included a mandatory prepayment provision, which required the Company to make mandatory prepayments subsequent to receiving net proceeds from the sale of assets, insurance recoveries, or the issuance of debt or equity. In addition, when its Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, as defined by the Credit Agreement, as of the end of a fiscal year is greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, the Company was required to make principal prepayments of at least 50% of Excess Cash Flow, as defined by the agreement.

The Credit Agreement, as amended, provided for an amount allowed for stock repurchases/dividends subsequent to May 28, 2010, that is the lesser of $25,000,000 and 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income (as defined by the Credit Agreement) for each fiscal quarter after March 31, 2010 where financial statements have been delivered; provided, that the Company’s Debt/EBITDA ratio (as defined by the Credit Agreement), after giving effect to the transaction, is less than 1.00 to 1.00 and there is $40,000,000 in cash or available cash under its revolving loan facility. However, if the Company’s Debt/EBITDA ratio, after giving effect to the transaction is less than 2.00 to 1.00 but equal to or greater than 1.00 to 1.00, and there are no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility (other than letters of credit), the allowable amount for repurchases/dividends is $2,500,000. Under these limitations, during the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company repurchased a total of 427,043 shares for approximately $2,235,000.

The Company was required to obtain the consent of its lenders to complete any acquisition which exceeds $20,000,000 or would cause the Company to exceed $50,000,000 in aggregate cash and non-cash consideration for Permitted Acquisitions (as defined by the Credit Agreement) during the term of the Credit Agreement (excluding the MDA acquisition). The commitments under the Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

July 2012 Credit Agreement

The Company entered into a senior secured credit agreement on July 10, 2012 (July 2012 Credit Agreement), 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 $25,000,000, and (ii) a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $50,0000,000, which included a $10,000,000 subfacility for swingline loans, and a $20,000,000 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 $25,000,000.

Upon closing of the July 2012 Credit Agreement, the Company borrowed $25,000,000 in term loan and $11,000,000 from the revolving credit facility. The proceeds were used to repay the indebtedness on its prior credit agreement and for the payment of fees and expenses. During 2012, approximately $962,000 of financing fees were deferred and included in debt issuance costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The deferred costs related to the revolving credit facility have been amortized on a straight-line basis, and the deferred costs related to the term loan facility have been amortized using the effective interest method, both over the life of the July 2012 Credit Agreement. In addition, approximately $279,000 of third party debt financing costs relating to the July 2012 Credit Agreement were expensed as incurred and are included in interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations as required by the Debt Topic of the FASB ASC.
 
 
F-22
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
8. Long-term Debt (continued)
 
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, 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.

Modification of July 2012 Credit Agreement

On September 28, 2012, the Company entered into a First Modification Agreement with the lenders of its July 2012 Credit Agreement, which, for the third quarter ending September 30, 2012, modified the maximum consolidated total leverage ratio to 2.75 to 1.00 and modified the minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio to 1.25 to 1.00. In addition, the aggregate amount of new revolving credit loans and swingline loans made to the Company could not exceed $3,000,000 (above the $10,000,000 outstanding) at any time, and new Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Company could not exceed $1,000,000 (above the $12,432,000 outstanding), during the period commencing on September 28, 2012 and ending upon the delivery by the Company of an Officer’s Compliance Certificate to the lender’s administrative agent for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 (which would have occurred in March 2013). Further, during the modification period, the Company was also prohibited from making investments and purchasing, redeeming, retiring or otherwise acquiring any shares of its capital stock as otherwise permitted under the credit agreement.

Due to Company’s change in lenders’ participations as a result of the July 2012 Credit Agreement and subsequent modification agreement, the Company wrote off debt issuance costs of approximately $82,000 as loss on modification of debt on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Covenants of July 2012 Credit Agreement

Under the July 2012 Credit Agreement, the Company was required to make certain mandatory prepayments of its outstanding term loan and revolving loan in connection with receipt by the Company or its subsidiaries of net proceeds from the sale of assets, insurance recoveries, the issuance of equity or securities, or the incurrence or issuance of other debt. In addition, if the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio (as defined in the July 2012 Credit Agreement) would have been greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 in any fiscal year, the Company was required to make mandatory prepayments of 50% of its excess cash flow (if any) for that fiscal year.

The July 2012 Credit Agreement contained customary representations, warranties, and affirmative covenants. The July 2012 Credit Agreement also contained customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions, including with respect to (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, the Company was required to meet certain financial covenants, including a maximum total leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a limit on aggregate capital expenditures in each fiscal year. The July 2012 Credit Agreement also contained 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 commitments under the July 2012 Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.
 
 
F-23
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
8. Long-term Debt (continued)

As of December 31, 2012, the Company would not have complied with the financial covenants in its July Credit Agreement, specifically, its Maximum Leverage Ratio or its Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Generally accepted accounting principles require that long-term debt be classified as a current liability when a covenant violation that gives the lender the right to call the debt has occurred at the balance sheet date.  As a result, amounts outstanding under the credit agreement are included in current liabilities in the accompanying December 31, 2012 consolidated balance sheets.

Loan Agreement

On January 9, 2013, the Company terminated its commitments under the July 2012 Credit Agreement and entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, (Loan Agreement), by and among the Company and certain of its 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 $65,000,000 (as described below), which includes a subfacility for swingline loans up to an amount equal to 10% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and a $20,000,000 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 $20,000,000, 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) $65,000,000, 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) $12,000,000; 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 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 is expected to be treated as extinguishment of debt, and, as a result, the Company expects to recognize a loss on extinguishment in the first quarter of 2013, related to the write-off of debt issuance costs of approximately $269,000.  The repayment of the revolver portion of the Company’s debt outstanding in the first quarter of 2013 is expected to be treated partially as extinguishment and partially as a modification.  The modified portion relates to the continuation of credit provided by Bank of America, N.A. in its Loan Agreement.  The Company expects to write-off the remaining debt issuance costs of approximately $1,025,000 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.  The initial 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, commencing September 1, 2013, pursuant to a pricing matrix based on the Company’s excess availability under the revolving credit facility, and would increase by 200 basis points if an event of default exists.
 
 
F-24
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
8. Long-term Debt (continued)

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 excess availability under the revolving credit facility is less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Loan Cap, as defined, and (ii) $6,250,000, 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.
 
9. Interest Rate Swap Agreements
 
The Company has used derivative instruments to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk on variable-rate debt financing. The objective of the hedges was to reduce the exposure to fluctuations in floating interest rates tied to LIBOR borrowings as required by the Company’s credit agreement and not for trading purposes. The interest rate swap agreements involved the receipt of variable rate amounts in exchange for fixed rate interest payments over the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying principal amount.
 
Pursuant to the provisions of its credit agreement at that time, and not for trading purposes, in October 2008, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements, both with effective dates of October 9, 2008 and termination dates of October 9, 2010. The Company was required to execute Interest Rate Contract(s) (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to hedge its variable interest rate exposure in an aggregate amount of at least 40% of its $125,000,000 term loan facility, or $50,000,000, for at least 2 years. No initial investments were made to enter into these agreements. The interest rate swap agreements required the Company to pay a fixed rate to the respective counterparty (fixed rate of 3.1625% per annum on a notional amount of $50,000,000 and a fixed rate of 2.75% on $20,000,000), and to receive from the respective counterparty, interest payments, based on the applicable notional amounts and 1 month LIBOR, with no exchanges of notional amounts. The interest rate swaps effectively fixed the interest on $70,000,000 of the Company’s term debt for a period of 2 years at 3.04%, plus the applicable LIBOR spread.
 
The Company formally documented the hedging relationships and accounted for these derivatives as cash flow hedges eligible for hedge accounting. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these agreements were recorded in accumulated OCL, net of tax, until the hedged item was recognized in earnings. The Company formally assessed, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that were used in the hedging transactions were highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivatives deemed to be eligible for hedge accounting were reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 2 – Comprehensive (Loss) Income for further information. Any ineffectiveness was recorded directly to interest expense.
 
In the third quarter of 2009, the Company generated excess cash flow, which, along with cash on hand, allowed it to prepay an additional $22,500,000 of term loan borrowings causing its $20,000,000 notional amount interest rate swap to become ineffective. Subsequent prepayments were made of $5,000,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $4,000,000 in the first quarter of 2010. The Company estimated the ineffectiveness as of December 31, 2009 to be an unrealized loss of approximately $229,820 (approximately $139,000 after taxes). The estimated unrealized loss recorded to interest expense was reversed during the year ended December 31, 2010 as the interest rate swap payments were settled.
 
 
F-25
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
9. Interest Rate Swap Agreements (continued)
 
As of December 31, 2009, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was $1,427,073 and was recorded as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet with offsets to other comprehensive loss of $1,197,247 (for the effective portion) and interest expense of $229,820 (for the ineffective portion). Deferred tax benefits of $470,885 were also included in other comprehensive loss, leaving a balance of $726,362 in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these swap agreements. The interest rate swaps were terminated effective October 9, 2010. Accordingly, during the year ended December 31, 2010, the prior year end balances were reversed coinciding with interest payments on the underlying term loan portion that was hedged during the year ended December 31, 2010. Interest rate swap payments were included in net cash provided by operating activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
 
10. Fair Value Measurements

The Company adopted Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs, (ASU 2011-04) for its consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of 2012. This ASU amends the fair value measurement and disclosure guidance in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, to converge U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) requirements for measuring amounts at fair value as well as disclosures about these measurements. This amendment clarifies existing concepts regarding the fair value principles and includes changed principles to achieve convergence.
 
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:
 
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, 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, its short-term cash investments and long-term cash investments included in other long-term assets. The Company utilizes Level 1 inputs to value its deferred compensation liability. The Company utilizes Level 2 inputs to value its short and long-term cash investments. Short and long term cash investments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets relate to foreign investments in highly liquid deposits.  The Company did not hold any Level 3 assets or liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2012 or 2011. The Company’s short and long-term cash investments are measured using quoted prices in inactive markets. The Company’s deferred compensation liability is measured using publicly available indices that define the liability amounts, as per the plan documents.
 
 
F-26
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
10. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
The table below summarizes the estimated fair values, which approximate their carrying value, of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:
 
   
Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2012
   
Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2011
 
   
Total
   
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Total
   
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Financial Assets:
                                   
   Marketable securities
  $     $     $     $ 3,383     $ 3,383     $  
   Short-term cash investments
  $     $     $     $ 1,690,740     $     $ 1,690,740  
   Long-term cash investments
  $     $     $     $ 819,571     $     $ 819,571  
                                                 
Financial Liabilities:
                                               
   Deferred compensation
  $ 1,471,091     $ 1,471,091     $     $ 1,322,114     $ 1,322,114     $  
 
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis:
 
The Company’s assets held for sale, liabilities related to assets held for sale and goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) described in Note 3 – Assets Held For Sale and Discontinued Operations, Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets and Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
 
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 noncash 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.

All the assets and liabilities held for sale are at fair value with the exception of other intangible assets whose carrying value is below fair value.  For those assets and liabilities except for goodwill, fair value approximates their carrying amount due to their short-term nature. The following table presents the fair value of goodwill, which is 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)
 
         
(Level 3)
       
Clinical Trial Services segment
     
   goodwill at December 31, 2012
$
 28,175,722
 
 
 
F-27
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
10. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
Other Fair Value Disclosures:
 
Financial instruments not measured or recorded at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts 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. The fair value of the Company’s term loan and revolver credit facility included in the current portion of long term debt on its consolidated balance sheet is estimated using Level 2 inputs utilizing interest rates that were indirectly observable in markets for similar liabilities.  
 
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:

   
December 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
    Carrying
 
  Fair     Carrying     Fair    
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Financial Liabilities
                       
  Term loan and revolver credit facility
  $ 33,125,000     $ 32,654,213     $ 41,451,056     $ 41,272,879  
 
The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt was calculated using discounted cash flow analysis and appropriate valuation methodologies using Level 2 inputs available market information.

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 the customer. 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, primarily throughout the United States and its territories, the Company believes the concentration of credit risk is limited.

11. Employee Benefit Plans
 
The Company maintains a voluntary defined contribution 401(k) profit-sharing plan covering all eligible employees as defined in the plan documents. The plan provides for a discretionary matching contribution, which is equal to a percentage of each eligible contributing participant’s elective deferral, which the Company, at its sole discretion, determines from year to year.
 
From July 1, 2009 until December 31, 2010, due to the Company’s cost-saving efforts, matching contributions for the program were temporarily suspended. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company reinstated matching contributions for the program. Contributions by the Company, net of forfeitures, under this plan amounted to $556,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012. Due to accumulated forfeiture credits on account, the matching contributions, net of forfeitures, for the year ended December 31, 2011, were not material. There were no matching contributions for the year ended December 31, 2010 by the Company. Eligible employees who elect to participate in the plan are generally vested in any existing matching contribution after three years of service with the Company.
 
 
F-28
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
11. Employee Benefit Plans (continued)

The Company offers a non-qualified deferred compensation program to certain key employees whereby they may defer a portion of annual compensation for payment upon retirement. The program is unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The liability for the deferred compensation is included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and approximated $1,471,000 and $1,322,000 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
12. Commitments and Contingencies
 
Commitments:
 
The Company has entered into non-cancelable operating lease agreements for the rental of office space and equipment. Certain of these leases include options to renew as well as rent escalation clauses and in certain cases, incentives from the landlord for rent-free months and allowances for tenant improvements. The rent escalations and incentives have been reflected in the following table. Future minimum lease payments, as of December 31, 2012, associated with these agreements with terms of one year or more are as follows:
 
Through Year Ending December 31:
       
     2013
 
$
4,726,124
 
     2014
   
3,961,949
 
     2015
   
3,498,209
 
     2016
   
3,490,339
 
     2017
   
2,597,514
 
     Thereafter
   
889,099
 
   
$
19,163,234
 

Total operating lease expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses was approximately $5,791,000, $6,159,000 and $6,277,000 for the years ending December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
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. During 2011, a state administrative ruling related to certain service tax matters was released which indicated that services performed in that particular state are subject to a tax not previously paid by the Company. As a result, the Company conducted an initial review of certain other states to determine if any additional exposures may exist and determined that it was probable that some of its previous tax positions would be challenged. As a result, the Company changed its assessment of certain non-income tax positions and has estimated a liability related to these matters. Based on its best estimate of probable settlement, the Company accrued a pretax liability related to the non-income tax matters of approximately $526,000 in the year ended December 31, 2011, of which approximately $395,000 related to the 2008-2010 tax years. The Company accrued an additional pretax liability related to the non-income tax matters of approximately $1,019,000 in the year ended December 31, 2012, of which approximately $301,000 related to the 2005-2011 tax years. The expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on its consolidated statements of operations and the liability is reflected in other current liabilities as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company is working with professional tax advisors and state authorities to resolve these matters.
 
Contingencies:
 
On December 4, 2012, the Company’s subsidiary, CC Staffing, Inc. (now known as Travel Staff, LLC) became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Alice Ogues, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, vs. CC Staffing, Inc., a Delaware corporation; and DOES 1-50, inclusive, Defendants) filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of California. Plaintiff alleges that travelling employees were denied meal periods and rest breaks, that they should have been paid overtime on reimbursement amounts, and that they are entitled to associated penalties.  At this early stage, the Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.
 
 
F-29
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
12. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
 
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 alleges that Christina White, a former employee of Cross Country TravCorps was negligent in caring for a patient on September 12, 2007 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 Ms. White and against Cross Country TravCorps for the actions of Ms. White pursuant to the Staffing Agreement between Cross Country TravCorps and the hospital.  During the first quarter 2013, the Company was advised by White’s insurance carrier that if Ms. White is found to be a joint tortfeasor, the carrier would contest any liability attributable to Ms. White in excess of 50%. Based on this information the Company reassessed its potential liability and increased its reserve to $2,000,000 as of December 31, 2012.  Historically, this insurance carrier has incurred the total loss for negligence of its insured.  All of the parties to this litigation have been mandated to arbitration to be held in April 2013.  As of December 31, 2012, a $2,000,000 contingent liability for this claim is included in accrued compensation and benefits on its consolidated balance sheet, as well as a receivable of $1,250,000 for the uncontested portion of the insurance coverage, included in insurance recovery receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Pursuant to ASC 450 - Contingencies, the contested portion and any recovery is considered a gain contingency and recognized if and when the Company recovers those amounts.
 
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.
 
13. Income Taxes
 
The components of the Company’s income (loss) before income taxes are as follows:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
United States
  $ (28,599,481 )   $ 1,384,963     $ (9,155,271 )
Foreign
    1,704,623       2,232,123       1,205,537  
    $ (26,894,858 )   $ 3,617,086     $ (7,949,734 )
 
The components of the Company’s income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Continuing operations:
                 
Current
                 
   Federal
  $ 411,767     $ (29,716 )   $ (6,400,003 )
   State
    811,760       355,142       (800,753 )
   Foreign
    1,561,492       632,415       8,636  
      2,785,019       957,841       (7,192,120 )
Deferred
                       
   Federal
    (4,048,064 )     444,193       3,870,723  
   State
    (5,251,385 )     681,076       628,338  
   Foreign
    364,541       (13,663 )      
Total
    (8,934,908 )     1,111,606       4,499,061  
    $ (6,149,889 )   $ 2,069,447     $ (2,693,059 )
                         
The total income tax provision is summarized as follows:
                       
Continuing operations
  $ (6,149,889 )   $ 2,069,447     $ (2,693,059
                         
Discontinued operations
    (9,496,992 )     2,063,050       1,696,322  
    $ (15,646,881 )   $ 4,132,497     $ (996,737
 
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
 
 
F-30
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
13. Income Taxes (continued)
 
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
           
   Accrued other and prepaid expenses
  $ 2,302,277     $ 2,167,441  
   Accrued professional liability
    92,430       (21,534 )
   Allowance for doubtful accounts
    808,466       527,169  
   Share-based compensation
    1,958,566       2,120,225  
   Impairment charges
    6,825,652       5,599,499  
   Other
    986,247       665,129  
   Gross deferred tax assets
    12,973,638       11,057,929  
   Valuation allowance
    (412,731 )     (413,240 )
   Deferred tax assets
    12,560,907       10,644,689  
                 
Non-current deferred tax (liabilities) and assets:
               
   Amortization
    (96,557,251 )     (84,925,321 )
   Depreciation
    (89,115 )     (1,570,788 )
   Identifiable intangibles
    (2,409,238 )     (2,956,897 )
   Impairment charges
    95,555,155       78,388,111  
   Net operating loss carryforwards
    23,616,558       13,315,803  
   Accrued workers’ compensation
    768,617       603,668  
   Tax on unrepatriated earnings
    (1,860,656 )      
   Other
    778,739       352,256  
   Gross deferred tax assets
    19,802,809       3,206,832  
   Valuation allowance
    (3,620,181 )     (3,264,943 )
   Deferred tax (liabilities) assets
    16,182,628       (58,111 )
Net deferred taxes
  $ 28,743,535     $ 10,586,578  
 
The Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC requires a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets reported if, based on the weight of the evidence, it is more likely than not that some of or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company had approximately $53,844,000 and $30,724,000 of federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards. The federal carryforwards expire between 2030 and 2032. The state carryforwards expire between 2013 and 2032. The majority of the foreign carryforwards are in a jurisdiction with no expiration. A valuation allowance for the net operating losses has been recorded at December 31, 2012 and 2011, to reduce the Company’s deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has deferred tax assets of $102,381,000 related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company believes the combined deferred tax assets arising from the consolidated federal tax return filings are more likely than not realizable as a result of the future reversal of existing temporary differences and future income projections with the exception of a valuation allowance based upon the uncertainty of the realization of a particular subsidiary’s state portion of its deferred tax asset that arose from the goodwill impairment.
 
 
F-31
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
13. Income Taxes (continued)

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U. S. federal statutory rate to income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Tax at U.S. statutory rate
  $ (9,413,200 )   $ 1,266,166     $ (2,782,327 )
State taxes, net of federal benefit
    (1,226,475 )     (64,608 )     (561,735 )
Non-deductible meals and entertainment
    961,933       290,280       346,008  
Foreign tax expense
    (221,897 )     (162,448 )     (436,155 )
Valuation allowances
    (43,657 )     367,068       356,063  
Uncertain tax positions
    647,720       174,045       749,747  
Deferred tax rate differential
    150,583       (107,057 )     175,010  
Deferred tax write-offs (a)
          301,765        
Audit settlements
          (391,822 )      
Tax on unrepatriated earnings
    2,004,596              
Tax on repatriated earnings     519,072              
Tax true ups and other
    471,436       396,058       (539,670 )
Total income tax expense (benefit)
  $ (6,149,889 )   $ 2,069,447     $ (2,693,059 )
_______________
(a)
During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company recorded deferred tax expense related to an overstatement of deferred tax assets for share-based payments of approximately $302,000 related to prior periods.
 
The tax years of 2004, 2005, and 2008 through 2012 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, with the exception of certain states in which the statute of limitations has been extended.
 
As of December 31, 2011, pursuant to the subtopic of Other Considerations or Special Areas of the Income Taxes Topic in the FASB ASC, the Company did not provide for United States income taxes or foreign withholding taxes on undistributed earnings from certain non-U.S. subsidiaries (located in the United Kingdom and India that had tax rates of approximately 27% and 34%, respectively) that were expected to be permanently reinvested outside of the United States. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company changed its position regarding permanent reinvestment and has accrued approximately $1,371,000 of U.S. tax and $633,000 of India tax on earnings of approximately $9,528,000.  During the fourth quarter of 2012, the company repatriated approximately $3,268,000 of foreign earnings from its Indian subsidiary. U.S. income taxes on those repatriated earnings have been offset by our U.S. losses. 
 
The Company’s Indian subsidiary, Cross Country Infotech Private, Ltd is located in a software technology park and was entitled to 100% tax holiday until March 2011. The effect of the income tax holiday was a reduction to the income tax provision in 2011, and 2010 of approximately  $178,000, and $502,000, respectively.
 
The Company recognizes in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is approximately as follows:
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Balance at January 1
  $ 4,500,000     $ 5,092,000  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
    852,000       1,034,000  
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
    152,000        
Reductions based on settlements of tax positions related to the prior year
    (30,000     (799,000 )
Reductions for tax positions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations
    (263,000 )     (830,000 )
Other
    (7,000 )     3,000  
Balance at December 31
  $ 5,204,000     $ 4,500,000  
 
 
F-32
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
13. Income Taxes (continued)
 
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized of approximately $4,700,000 and $4,030,000, respectively. During 2012, the Company had gross increases of $1,004,000 to its current year unrecognized tax benefits, related to federal and state tax issues. In addition, the Company had gross decreases of $300,400 to its unrecognized tax benefits related to settlement refunds and the closure of open tax years.
 
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized interest and penalties of $124,000,  $27,000, and $33,000, respectively. The Company had accrued approximately $886,000 and $711,000 for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
14. Stockholders’ Equity
 
Stock Repurchase Programs
 
In February 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized its most recent stock repurchase program whereby the Company may purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its common stock, subject to terms of the Company’s Credit Agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and the repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company repurchased, under this program, a total of 71,653 shares at an average price of $5.22. The cost of such purchases was approximately $374,000.  All of the common stock was retired.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company repurchased, under this program, a total of 427,043 shares at an average price of $5.23. The cost of such purchases was approximately $2,235,000. All of the common stock was retired. During years ended December 31, 2010, the Company did not repurchase shares.
 
At December 31, 2012, the Company had 942,443 shares of common stock left remaining to repurchase under its February 2008 authorization, subject to the limitations of the Company’s Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was restricted from purchasing additional shares of its common stock under its July 2012 Credit Agreement.  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 $5,000,000 of its Equity Interests. See Note 8- Long-term Debt for further information. 
 
Stock Options
 
2007 Stock Incentive Plan
 
The Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (2007 Plan) was approved by its stockholders at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held in May of 2007, and was amended at its Annual Meeting held in May of 2010. Key modifications in the amendment were to increase the aggregate share reserve and increase the share sub-limit for Awards that are not Appreciation Awards (as defined by the Plan). Other clarifying amendments to reflect recent developments in equity compensation practices and applicable law were also included.
 
The 2007 Plan provides for the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares, and other stock-based awards, all as defined by the 2007 Plan, to eligible employees, consultants and non-employee Directors. The aggregate number of shares of common stock which may be issued or used for reference purposes under the 2007 Plan or with respect to which awards may be granted may not exceed 3,500,000 shares, which may be either authorized and unissued common stock or common stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company; provided, however, that 1,700,000 shares of this aggregate limit may be used for awards that are not Appreciation Awards (including restricted stock, performance shares or certain other stock-based awards).
 
Under the 2007 Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Committee), has the discretion to determine the terms of the awards at the time of the grant. Provided, however, that, in the case of stock options and stock appreciation rights (share options): 1) the exercise price per share of the award is not less than 100% (or, in the case of 10% or more stockholders, the exercise price of the incentive stock options (ISOs) granted may not be less than 110%) of the fair market value of the common stock at the time of the grant; and 2) the term of the award will be no more than 10 years after the date the option is granted (or, shall not exceed five years, in the case of a 10% or more stockholder). In the case of restricted stock, the purchase price may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law.
 
 
F-33
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
14. Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
 
The following awards were granted under the 2007 Plan to the Company’s non-employee Directors and management team:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
     
2011
   
2010
 
    Stock appreciation rights
   
344,500
     
261,500
     
254,000
 
    Restricted stock
   
337,220
     
216,538
     
205,647
 
 
The stock appreciation rights can only be settled with stock or cash, at the discretion of the Committee. The stock appreciation rights vest 25% per year over a 4 year period and expire after 7 years. The restricted stock awards vest 25% each year over a 4 year period. The Company’s policy is to issue new shares from its authorized but unissued balance of common stock outstanding or shares of common stock reacquired by the Company if stock appreciation rights are settled with stock.
 
Due to the adoption of the 2007 Plan, no further grants will be issued under the Company’s 1999 Plans referred to below.
 
1999 Stock Option Plan and Equity Participation Plan
 
On December 16, 1999, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 1999 Stock Option Plan and Equity Participation Plan (collectively, the 1999 Plans), which was amended and restated on October 25, 2001 and provided for the issuance of ISOs and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees and non-employee directors for the purchase of up to 4,398,001 shares of common stock.
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its share option plans for the year ended 2012:
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Weighted-
   
 
 
               
Weighted
   
Average
   
 
 
               
Average
    Remaining    
Aggregate
 
               
Exercise
   
Contractual
   
Intrinsic
 
   
Shares
   
Option Price
   
Price
   
Life (in years)
   
Value
 
Share options outstanding at beginning of year
    1,654,647     $7.44-$26.15     $10.88              
Granted
    344,500     $4.16-$4.35     $4.35              
Exercised
                         
Forfeited/expired
    (76,391   $4.35-$26.15     $11.88              
Share options outstanding at end of year
    1,922,756     $4.16-$22.50     $9.67     3.83     $ 155,050  
Share options exercisable at end of year
    1,156,880     $7.44-$22.50     $11.88     2.8        
Share options unvested at end of year
    765,876     $4.16-$8.56     $6.34     5.38     155,050  
 
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 1,922,756 share options outstanding of which 1,802,207 were vested or expected to vest at a weighted average exercise price of $9.88, intrinsic value of $134,090 and a weighted average contractual life of 3.74 years. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $1,118,096 pretax of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share options which may be adjusted for future changes in forfeitures. The Company expects to recognize such cost over a period of 2.32 years.
 
The following table represents information about stock options and stock appreciation rights granted and exercised in each year. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company issued options and stock appreciation rights at market price.
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
Share option grants
    344,500       261,500       254,000  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the period
  $ 1.65     $ 2.63     $ 2.77  
Total intrinsic value of options exercised
  $     $     $  
 
 
F-34
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
14. Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
 
The Company records compensation expense for stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company computes expected volatility using the historical volatility of the market price of the Company’s common stock. Historical data is used to estimate the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
Expected dividend yield
    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
Expected volatility
    47.00 %     42.00 %     41.00 %
Risk-free interest rate
    0.58 %     1.33 %     1.75 %
Expected life
 
4.3 years
   
4.3 years
   
4.0 years
 
 
Restricted Stock
 
Restricted stock awards granted under the Company’s 2007 Plan entitle the holder to receive, at the end of a vesting period, a specified number of shares of the Company’s common stock. Share-based compensation expense is measured by the market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The shares vest ratably over a four year period ending on the anniversary date of the grant. There is no partial vesting and any unvested portion is forfeited.
 
The following table summarizes restricted stock award activity for the year ended December 31, 2012:
 
   
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Unvested restricted stock awards, January 1, 2012
    532,360     $ 8.19  
  Granted
    337,220     $ 4.35  
  Vested
    (196,870 )   $ 8.72  
  Forfeited
    (11,062 )   $ 7.75  
Unvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2012
    661,648     $ 6.08  
 
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $2,637,763 pretax of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards which may be adjusted for future changes in forfeitures. The Company expects to recognize such cost over a weighted average period of 2.5 years. The fair value of shares vested was approximately $944,976; $1,190,000 and $988,000 during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Secondary Offerings
 
In November 2004, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration of 11,403,455 shares of common stock held by three of its existing shareholders. No members of management registered shares pursuant to this registration statement. On April 14, 2005, the Company announced a public offering of 4,172,868 shares of common stock pursuant to this Form S-3 shelf registration statement. All net proceeds from the sale went to the selling stockholders. Subsequently, on November 15, 2006, the Company announced a public offering of approximately 4,000,000 shares pursuant to this Form S-3 shelf registration statement. All net proceeds from the sale went to the selling stockholders. The November 2004 registration statement remains effective.
 
15. 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 by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (excluding nonvested 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 2012, 2011 and 2010 per share calculations because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Such shares amounted to 2,033,632; 1,962,265 and 2,093,202, during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For purposes of calculating net loss per common share - diluted for the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2010, the Company excluded potentially dilutive shares of 47,258, and 99,081, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive, due to the Company’s net loss in the respective years.
 
 
F-35
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
15. Earnings Per Share (continued)
 
The following table sets forth the components of the numerator and denominator for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2012
 
2011
 
2010
(Loss) Income from continuing operations
  $ (20,744,969 )   $ 1,547,639     $ (5,256,675 )
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (21,476,528 )     2,550,210       2,481,812  
Net (loss) income
  $ (42,221,497 )   $ 4,097,849     $ (2,774,863 )
                         
Basic (loss) income per common share:
                       
       Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )
       Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08  
       Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )
                         
Diluted (loss) income per common share:
                       
       Continuing operations
  $ (0.67 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.17 )
       Discontinued operations
    (0.70 )     0.08       0.08  
       Net (loss) income
  $ (1.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.09 )
                         
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding-basic
    30,842,723       31,146,165       31,060,426  
Plus dilutive equity awards
          45,851        
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding-diluted
    30,842,723       31,192,016       31,060,426  
 
16. Related Party Transactions
 
The Company provides services to hospitals which are affiliated with certain members of the Company’s Board of Directors. Management believes the pricing for the Company’s services is consistent with its other hospital customers. Revenue related to these transactions amounted to approximately $3,804,000, $2,097,000 and $964,000 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Accounts receivable due from these hospitals at December 31, 2012 and 2011 were approximately $570,000 and $586,000, respectively. In the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company entered into an exclusive MSP arrangement with one of these hospital systems.
 
17. Segment Information
 
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 period presented. See Note 3- Assets Held for Sale and 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 services primarily to acute care hospitals. Nurse and allied staffing services are marketed to public and private healthcare and for-profit and not-for-profit 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.
 
 
F-36
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012

17. Segment Information (continued)
 
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. See Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets for further information. 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.
 
Information on operating segments and a reconciliation of such information to (loss) income from continuing operations for the periods indicated are as follows:
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011(c)
   
2010(c)
 
Revenue from unaffiliated customers:
                 
  Nurse and allied staffing
  $ 277,753,525     $ 278,793,599     $ 242,159,564  
  Physician staffing
    123,545,045       118,780,800       121,598,252  
  Other human capital management services
    41,336,576       41,803,061       42,846,423  
    $ 442,635,146     $ 439,377,460     $ 406,604,239  
Contribution income (a):
                       
  Nurse and allied staffing
  $ 13,202,369     $ 22,440,525     $ 21,383,098  
  Physician staffing
    10,651,879       11,320,076       13,052,219  
  Other human capital management services
    1,943,628       3,172,282       3,767,868  
      25,797,876       36,932,883       38,203,185  
                         
Unallocated corporate overhead
    24,415,565       22,662,725       21,559,561  
Depreciation
    4,904,845       5,965,002       7,121,712  
Amortization
    2,263,556       2,393,722       2,567,804  
Impairment charges (b)
    18,732,407             10,764,000  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (24,518,497 )   $ 5,911,434     $ (3,809,892 )
_______________
 
(a)
The Company defines contribution income as income from operations before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is used by management when assessing segment performance and is provided in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the FASB ASC.

 
(b)
During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2010, the Company recognized pretax impairment charges in its continuing operations of $18,732,407 and $10,764,000, respectively. Refer to discussion in Note 4-Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.

 
(c)
Prior periods have been restated to conform to the 2012 presentation of the Company’s clinical trial services business segment from continuing operations to discontinued operations.  See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
 
F-37
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
18. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

   
First
Quarter (c)
   
Second
Quarter (a) (c)
   
Third
Quarter (a) (c)
   
Fourth
Quarter (a) (c)
 
2012
                       
Revenue from services
  $ 109,799,496     $ 108,847,135     $ 112,257,707     $ 111,730,808  
Gross profit
  $ 29,049,682     $ 27,136,129     $ 27,455,827     $ 27,943,467  
                                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax
  $ 361,955     $ (18,841,283 )   $ 719,539     $ (2,985,180 )
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ (946,322 )   $ 4,337,450     $ (18,319,626 )   $ (6,548,030 )
Net (loss) income
  $ (584,367 )   $ (14,503,833 )   $ (17,600,087 )   $ (9,533,210 )
                                 
Basic (loss) income per share from:
                               
    Continuing operations
  $ 0.01     $ (0.61 )   $ 0.02     $ (0.10 )
    Discontinuing operations
    (0.03 )     0.14       (0.59 )     (0.21 )
    Net (loss) income
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.47 )   $ (0.57 )   $ (0.31 )
                                 
Diluted (loss) income per share from:
                               
    Continuing operations
  $ 0.01     $ (0.61 )   $ 0.02     $ (0.10 )
    Discontinuing operations
    (0.03 )     0.14       (0.59 )     (0.21 )
    Net (loss) income
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.47 )   $ (0.57 )   $ (0.31 )
 
   
First
Quarter (c)
   
Second
Quarter (c)
   
Third
Quarter (c)
   
Fourth
Quarter (b) (c)
 
2011
                       
Revenue from services
  $ 106,414,324     $ 109,556,962     $ 114,415,193     $ 108,990,981  
Gross profit
  $ 28,542,260     $ 29,985,572     $ 30,709,455     $ 30,151,444  
                                 
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax
  $ (168,426 )   $ 1,098,281     $ 810,328     $ (192,544 )
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ 375,185     $ 474,908     $ 975,682     $ 724,435  
Net (loss) income
  $ 206,759     $ 1,573,189     $ 1,786,010     $ 531,891  
                                 
Basic (loss) income per share from:
                               
   Continuing operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.04     $ 0.03     $ 0.00  
   Discontinuing operations
    0.01       0.01       0.03       0.02  
   Net (loss) income
  $ 0.01     $ 0.05     $ 0.06     $ 0.02  
                                 
Diluted (loss) income per share from:
                               
   Continuing operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.04     $ 0.03     $ 0.00  
   Discontinuing operations
    0.01       0.01       0.03       0.02  
   Net (loss) income
  $ 0.01     $ 0.05     $ 0.06     $ 0.02  
________________
(a)
During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2012, the Company recorded impairment charges of approximately $18,732,407, $23,500,000 and $11,900,000, respectively. Refer to discussion in Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets and Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
(b)
During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company accrued a pretax liability related to non-income tax matters of approximately $668,000, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the Company recorded approximately $302,000 of deferred tax expense related to an overstatement of deferred tax assets in prior periods. Refer to discussion in Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies and Note 13- Income Taxes.
 
 
F-38
 
 
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
18. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

(c)
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been reclassified in all periods presented to reflect the discontinued operations of the Company’s clinical trial services business segment.  See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.

19. Subsequent Events

On February 15, 2013, the Company consummated the sale of its clinical trial services business to ICON Clinical Research Inc. and ICON Clinical Research UK Limited (collectively the purchaser) for an aggregate of $52,000,000 in cash, subject to certain adjustments, plus an earn-out of up to $3,750,000 related to certain performance-based milestones. An indemnification escrow account of $3,750,000 was funded by the Company, resulting in net cash proceeds at closing of $48,147,324. In connection with the closing of the sale, the Company entered into a Transitional Services Agreement (TSA) with the Purchaser to provide certain post-closing transitional services for a period expected not to exceed six months from the Closing Date. The fees for a significant majority of these services have been and will continue to be generally equivalent to the Company’s cost. The Company expects to record a pre-tax loss at the time of sale which includes various expenses, including completion bonuses, legal expenses and errors and omissions insurance. The sale transaction will constitute the disposition of the entire clinical trial services business segment as defined in the segment disclosure in Note 17.

Simultaneous with the sale of the clinical trial services business and in accordance with the terms of its Loan Agreement, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from this transaction to repay all $29.3 million of its then outstanding bank debt. The Company expects to report the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs relating to its extinguished term loan debt and debt issuance costs relating to extinguished lender commitments as loss on extinguishment of debt in its statement of operations for its first quarter of 2013.  See Note 8 – Long-term Debt.
 
 
F-39
 
 
 
Schedule II
 
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
 
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011, AND 2010
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
Balance at
Beginning
of Period
   
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
     
Write-offs
   
Recoveries
   
Other
Changes
   
Balance at
End
of Period
 
Year ended December 31, 2012
  $ 2,180,125     $ 786,107       $ (912,797 )   $ 16,076     $ (228,375 )(b)   $ 1,841,136  
Year ended December 31, 2011
  $ 3,500,968     $ 578,805       $ (1,903,539 )   $ 3,891     $     $ 2,180,125  
Year ended December 31, 2010
  $ 4,544,954     $ 293,795       $ (1,343,854 )   $ 6,073     $     $ 3,500,968  
                                                   
Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets
                                                 
Year ended December 31, 2012
  $ 3,678,183      
354,729
 
(a)
  $     $     $    
4,032,912
 
Year ended December 31, 2011
  $ 3,311,831     $ 366,352  
(a)
  $     $     $     $ 3,678,183  
Year ended December 31, 2010
  $ 2,955,768     $ 356,063  
(a)
  $     $     $     $ 3,311,831  
 
________________
(a)
Related to deferred tax assets on state net operating losses and a particular subsidiary’s state portion of its deferred tax asset that arose from goodwill impairment

(b)
Represents the reclassification of the allowance for doubtful accounts related to Assets Held for Sale.  See Note 3 – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
 
 
II-1
a50588680_ex3-2.htm
Exhibit 3.2
 
 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

OF

CROSS COUNTRY, INC.


1.           MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS.
 
1.1           Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such date, place and time as determined by the Board of Directors (the “Board”).
 
1.2           Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by resolution of the Board or the Chairman and shall be called by the President or Secretary upon the written request (stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting) of a majority of the directors then in office or of the holders of at least 20% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.  Only business related to the purposes set forth in the notice of the meeting may be transacted at a special meeting.
 
1.3           Place and Time of Meetings.  Meetings of the stockholders may be held in or outside Delaware at the place and time specified by the Board or the officers or stockholders requesting the meeting.
 
1.4           Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.  Written notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, except that (a) it shall not be necessary to give notice to any stockholder who submits a signed waiver of notice before or after the meeting, and (b) no notice of an adjourned meeting need be given, except when required under Section 1.5 below or by law.  Each notice of a meeting shall be given, personally or by mail, not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days before the meeting and shall state the time and place of the meeting, and, unless it is the annual meeting, shall state at whose direction or request the meeting is called and the purposes for which it is called.  If mailed, notice shall be considered given when mailed to a stockholder at his address on the corporation's records.  The attendance of any stockholder at a meeting, without protesting at the beginning of the meeting that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, shall constitute a waiver of notice by him.
 
 
-1-
 
 
 
1.5           Quorum.  At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of no less than a majority in interest of the shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.  In the absence of a quorum, a majority in voting interest of those present or, if no stockholders are present, any officer entitled to preside at or to act as Secretary of the meeting, may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is present.  At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any action may be taken that might have been taken at the meeting as originally called.  No notice of an adjourned meeting need be given, if the time and place are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, except that, if adjournment is for more than 30 days or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given pursuant to Section 1.4.
 
1.6           Voting; Proxies.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or in these By-Laws, each stockholder of record shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share registered in his name.  Corporate action to be taken by stockholder vote, other than the election of directors, shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law or by Section 1.8.  Directors shall be elected in the manner provided in Section 2.1.  Voting need not be by ballot, unless requested by a majority of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting or ordered by the Chairman of the meeting.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or to express consent to or dissent from corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person to act for him by proxy.  No proxy shall be valid after three years from its date, unless it provides otherwise.
 
 
-2-
 
 
 
1.7           List of Stockholders.  Not fewer than 10 days prior to the date of any meeting of stockholders, the Secretary, or other officer, of the Corporation shall prepare a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in his name.  For a period of not fewer than 10 days prior to the meeting, the list shall be available during ordinary business hours for inspection by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting.  During this period, the list shall be kept either (a) at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, if that place shall have been specified in the notice of the meeting, or (b) if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.  The list shall also be available for inspection by stockholders at the time and place of the meeting.
 
1.8           Action by Consent Without a Meeting.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not fewer than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice shall be given to those stockholders who did not consent in writing.
 
 
-3-
 
 
 
2.           BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
 
2.1           Number, Qualification, Election and Term of Directors. The business of the corporation shall be managed by the entire Board, which shall consist of such number of directors as shall be determined from time to time either by resolution of a majority of the Board or by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, but no decrease may shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders by a plurality of votes cast. Effective with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2014, (i) directors will be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders where there is an uncontested election by a majority of the votes cast with respect to that director, with any incumbent director who fails to receive such a majority vote obligated to tender his or her resignation, and the Board obligated to decide and state publicly within 90 days whether it has accepted that resignation and the reasons for that decision and (ii) directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders at which there is a contested election by a plurality of the votes cast with respect to that director. Each director elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until the election and qualification of their respective successors, subject to the provisions of Section 2.9 of these By-laws and Section 2 of that certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated August 23, 2001, (the “Stockholders Agreement”) among the Company, the CEP Investors and the MS Investors (each as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) . As used in these By-Laws, the term "entire Board" means the total number of directors the corporation would have, if there were no vacancies on the Board.
 
2.2           Quorum and Manner of Acting.  A majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting, except as provided in Section 2.10.  Action of the Board shall be authorized by the vote of the majority of the directors present at the time of the vote, if there is a quorum, unless otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these By-Laws.  In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn any meeting from time to time until a quorum is present, without further notice or waiver of notice.
 
 
-4-
 
 
 
2.3           Place of Meetings.  Meetings of the Board may be held in or outside Delaware as determined by the Board from time to time.
 
2.4           Annual and Regular Meetings.  Annual meetings of the Board, for the election of officers and consideration of other matters, shall be held either (a) without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders and at the same place, or (b) as soon as practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders, on notice as provided in Section 2.6.  Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times and places as the Board determines.  If the day fixed for a regular meeting is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next business day.
 
2.5           Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or by any two directors of the Board.
 
2.6           Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice.  Notice of the time and place of each special meeting of the Board, and of each annual meeting not held immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders and at the same place, shall be given to each director by mailing it to him at his residence or usual place of business at least three days before the meeting, or by delivering or telephoning or telegraphing it to him at least two days before the meeting.  Notice of a special meeting also shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  Notice need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of notice before or after the meeting or who attends the meeting without protesting at the beginning of the meeting the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.  Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be given, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
 
 
-5-
 
 
 
2.7           Board or Committee Action Without a Meeting.  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board or by any committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board or the committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action.  The resolution and the written consents by the members of the Board or the committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or the committee.
 
2.8           Participation in Board or Committee Meetings by Conference Telephone.  Any or all members of the Board or any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or the committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time.  Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
 
2.9           Resignation and Removal of Directors.  Any director may resign at any time by delivering his resignation in writing to the Chairman, President or Secretary of the Corporation, to take effect at the time specified in the resignation; the acceptance of a resignation, unless required by its terms, shall not be necessary to make it effective.  Subject to Section 2.2 of the Stockholders Agreement, any or all of the directors may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by vote of the stockholders.
 
2.10         Vacancies.  Any vacancy in the Board, including one created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by a vote of the stockholders or by a vote of the Board; subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.
 
2.11         Compensation.  Directors shall receive such compensation as the Board determines, together with reimbursement of their reasonable expenses in connection with the performance of their duties.  A director also may be paid for serving the corporation or its affiliates or subsidiaries in other capacities.
 
 
-6-
 
 
 
3.           COMMITTEES.
 
3.1           Executive Committee.  The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, may designate an executive committee of one or more directors, which shall have all the powers and authority of the Board, except as otherwise provided in the resolution, Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or any other applicable law.  The members of the executive committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.  All action of the executive committee shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting.
 
3.2           Other Committees.  Subject to the express provisions of the Stockholders Agreement, the Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, may designate other committees of one or more directors, which shall serve at the Board's pleasure and have such powers and duties as the Board determines.
 
3.3           Rules Applicable to Committees.  The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In case of the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members present at a meeting of the committee and not disqualified, whether or not a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in place of the absent or disqualified member in accordance with the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.  All action of a committee shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting.  Each committee shall adopt rules of procedure and shall meet as provided by those rules or by resolutions of the Board.
 
 
-7-
 
 
 
4.           OFFICERS.
 
4.1           Number; Security.  The officers of the corporation shall be the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the chief operating officer, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary and such other officers as may be appointed from time to time by the Board.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.  The Board may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.
 
4.2           Election; Term of Office.  The officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by the Board, and each such officer shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board and until the election of his successor.
 
4.3           Subordinate Officers.  The Board may appoint subordinate officers (including assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers), agents or employees, each of whom shall hold office for such period and have such powers and duties as the Board determines.  The Board may delegate to any executive officer or committee the power to appoint and define the powers and duties of any subordinate officers, agents or employees.
 
4.4           Resignation and Removal of Officers.  Any officer may resign at any time by delivering his resignation in writing to the Chairman, President or Secretary of the Corporation, to take effect at the time specified in the resignation; the acceptance of a resignation, unless required by its terms, shall not be necessary to make it effective.  Any officer elected or appointed by the Board or appointed by an executive officer or by a committee may be removed by the Board either with or without cause and in the case of an officer appointed by an executive officer or by a committee, by the officer or committee that appointed him or by the Chairman.
 
 
-8-
 
 
 
4.5           Vacancies.  A vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired term in the manner prescribed in Sections 4.2 and 4.3 for election or appointment to the office.
 
4.6           The Chairman.  The Chairman of the Board shall preside over all meetings of the Board at which he is present, and shall have such other powers and duties as chairmen of the boards of corporations usually have or the Board assigns to him.
 
4.7           The Chief Executive Officer.  Subject to the control of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation shall manage and direct the daily business and affairs of the corporation and shall communicate to the Board and any Committee thereof reports, proposals and recommendations for their respective consideration or action.  He may do and perform all acts on behalf of the Corporation and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders if present thereat, and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these By-laws, and in the event of the absence, incapacity or inability to act of the Chairman, then the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman.
 
4.8           President.  The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these By-laws.
 
4.9           Chief Operating Officer.  The chief operating officer shall have such powers and duties as the Board or the Chairman assigns to him.
 
4.10         Chief Financial Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer of the corporation shall be the Treasurer and shall be in charge of the corporation's books and accounts.  Subject to the control of the Board, he shall have such other powers and duties as the Board or the President assigns to him.
 
 
-9-
 
 
 
4.11         The Secretary.  The Secretary shall be the secretary of, and keep the minutes of, all meetings of the Board and the stockholders, shall be responsible for giving notice of all meetings of stockholders and the Board, and shall keep the seal and, when authorized by the Board, apply it to any instrument requiring it.  Subject to the control of the Board, he shall have such powers and duties as the Board or the President assigns to him.  In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting, the minutes shall be kept by the person appointed for that purpose by the presiding officer.
 
5.           SHARES.
 
5.1           Certificates.  The corporation's shares shall be represented by certificates in the form approved by the Board.  Each certificate shall be signed by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or a vice president, and by the Secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, and shall be sealed with the corporation's seal or a facsimile of the seal.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
 
5.2           Transfers. Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of capital stock, if any, share of the capital stock of the corporation may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of such shares or by his duly authorized attorney, upon the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such stock properly endorsed and the payment of taxes due thereon.
 
 
-10-
 
 
 
5.3           The Board of Directors or any transfer agent of the Corporation may direct one or more new certificate(s) representing stock of the Corporation to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen, or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors (or any transfer agent of the Corporation authorized to do so by a resolution of the Board of Directors) may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as the Board of Directors (or any transfer agent so authorized) shall direct to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificates, and such requirement may be general or confined to specific instances.
 
5.4           Determination of Stockholders of Record.  The Board may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action.  The record date may not be more than 60 or fewer than 10 days before the date of the meeting or more than 60 days before any other action.
 
 
-11-
 
 
 
5.5           Regulations.  The Board shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, registration, cancellation, and replacement of certificates representing stock of the Corporation.
 
6.           INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE.
 
6.1           Right to Indemnification.  Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he, or a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended from time to time, against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and that indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 6.2, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that person, only if that proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.  The right to indemnification conferred in these By-laws shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended from time to time, requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by that person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced, if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under these By-laws or otherwise.  The corporation may, by action of its Board, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
 
 
-12-
 
 
 
6.2           Right of Claimant to Bring Suit.  If a claim under Section 6.1 is not paid in full by the corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant also shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting that claim.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, where the required undertaking, if any, is required and has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has failed to meet a standard of conduct that makes it permissible under Delaware law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed.  Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board, its independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is permissible in the circumstances because he has met that standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board, its independent counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met that standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has failed to meet that standard of conduct.
 
 
-13-
 
 
 
6.3           Non-Exclusivity of Rights.  The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 6 shall not be exclusive of any other right any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
6.4           Insurance.  The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against that expense, liability or loss under Delaware law.
 
6.5           Expenses as a Witness.  To the extent any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation is by reason of such position, or a position with another entity at the request of the Corporation, a witness in any action, suit or proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
 
6.6           Indemnity Agreements.  The Corporation may enter into agreement with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation providing for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
 
 
-14-
 
 
 
7.           MISCELLANEOUS.
 
7.1           Seal.  The Board shall adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the Corporation's name and the year and state in which it was incorporated.
 
7.2           Fiscal Year.  The Board may determine the Corporation's fiscal year.  Until changed by the Board, the last day of the Corporation's fiscal year shall be December 31.
 
7.3           Voting of Shares in Other Corporations.  Shares in other corporations held by the Corporation may be represented and voted by an officer of this Corporation or by a proxy or proxies appointed by one of them.  The Board may, however, appoint some other person to vote the shares.
 
7.4           Amendments.  By-laws may be amended, repealed or adopted by a majority  vote of the Board or the stockholders.
 
 
-15-
a50588680_ex21-1.htm
Exhibit 21.1
 

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

Subsidiary
 
Place of Incorporation
     
Allied Health Group, LLC
 
Delaware
Assignment America, Inc. (a)
 
Delaware
Cejka Search, Inc.
 
Delaware
CC Local, Inc.
 
Delaware
CC Staffing, Inc. (b)
 
Delaware
Credent Verification and Licensing Services, LLC
 
Delaware
Cross Country Capital, Inc.(c)
 
Delaware
Cross Country Healthcare UK Holdco Limited
 
United Kingdom
Cross Country Holdco (Cyprus) Limited
 
Cyprus
Cross Country Infotech, Pvt, Ltd.
 
India
Cross Country Local, Inc. (d)
 
Delaware
Cross Country Education, LLC
 
Delaware
Cross Country Publishing, LLC
 
Delaware
Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. (e)
 
Delaware
Jamestown Indemnity, Ltd.
 
Cayman Islands
MCVT, Inc.
 
Delaware
MDA Holdings, Inc.
 
Delaware
Med-Staff, Inc. (f)
 
Delaware
Medical Doctor Associates, LLC
 
Delaware
MRA Search, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
(a)
Effective January 1, 2012 Assignment America, Inc. converted to Assignment America, LLC.

(b)
Effective January 1, 2012 CC Staffing, Inc. converted to Travel Staff, LLC.

(c)
Effective January 1, 2012 Cross Country Capital, Inc. merged into Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(d)
Effective January 1, 2012 Cross Country Local, Inc. merged into Med-Staff, Inc.
 
(e)
Effective January 1, 2012 Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. converted to Cross Country Staffing, Inc.
 
(f)
Effective January 1, 2012 Med-Staff, Inc. converted to Local Staff, LLC.
 
 
a50588680_ex23-1.htm
Exhibit 23.1
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following:
 
(1)
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-120189) and the related Prospectus of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.;
 
(2)
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-74862) pertaining to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Participation Plan; and
 
(3)
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-145484) pertaining to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan
 
 
of our reports dated March 18, 2013, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Certified Public Accountants
 
Boca Raton, Florida
March 18, 2013
 
a50588680_ex31-1.htm
Exhibit 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Joseph A. Boshart, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.;
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: March 18, 2013
 
/s/ Joseph A. Boshart  
Joseph A. Boshart
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
a50588680_ex31-2.htm
Exhibit 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Emil Hensel, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.;
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: March 18, 2013
 
/s/ Emil Hensel  
Emil Hensel
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
a50588680_ex32-1.htm
Exhibit 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
 
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “Periodic Report”), I, Joseph A. Boshart, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge the Periodic Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: March 18, 2013
 
  /s/ Joseph A. Boshart
 
Joseph A. Boshart
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
The foregoing certification is provided solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
a50588680_ex32-2.htm
Exhibit 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
 
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “Periodic Report”), I, Emil Hensel, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge the Periodic Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: March 18, 2013
 
   
  /s/  Emil Hensel
 
Emil Hensel
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
The foregoing certification is provided solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.