Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v2.4.0.6
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Accounting Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Management's estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Significant estimates include incentives earned or penalties incurred on contracts, best estimate of selling price in multiple element arrangements, valuation allowances related to deferred income taxes, self-insurance loss accruals, allowances for doubtful accounts and notes, income tax accruals, acquisition accounting, asset impairments and facilities realignment accruals.  The Company periodically reviews these matters and reflects changes in estimates as appropriate.  Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash accounts, money market investments and highly liquid investment instruments with original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest.  Management reviews a customer’s credit history before extending credit.  The Company records a provision for estimated losses based upon the inability of its customers to make required payments using historical experience and periodically adjusts these provisions to reflect actual experience.  Additionally, the Company will establish a specific allowance for doubtful accounts when it becomes aware of a specific customer’s inability or unwillingness to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing).  There was no allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivables as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.
Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Unbilled Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Unbilled Costs and Accrued Profits
 
In general, contractual provisions, including predetermined payment schedules or submission of appropriate billing detail, establish the prerequisites for billings.  Unbilled costs and accrued profits arise when services have been rendered and payment is assured but customers have not been billed.  These amounts are classified as a current asset.
 
Revenue Recognition, Deferred Revenue [Policy Text Block]
Unearned Contract Revenue
 
Normally, in the case of detailing and e-detailing contracts, the customers agree to pay the Company a portion of the fee due under a contract in advance of performance of services because of large recruiting and employee development costs associated with the initial phase of a contract performance and effort required in the development of interactive digital communications.  The excess of amounts billed over revenue recognized represents unearned contract revenue, which is classified as a current liability.
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Loans and Investments in Privately Held Entities
 
From time-to-time, the Company makes investments in and/or loans to privately-held companies.  The Company determines whether the fair values of any investments in privately held entities have declined below their carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that recorded values may not be recoverable.  If the Company considers any such decline to be other than temporary (based on various factors, including historical financial results, and the overall health of the investee’s industry), a write-down to estimated fair value is recorded.  On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews outstanding loans receivable to determine if a provision for doubtful notes is necessary.  These reviews include discussions with senior management of the investee, and evaluations of, among other things, the investee’s progress against its business plan, its product development activities and customer base, industry market conditions, historical and projected financial performance, expected cash needs and recent funding events.  The Company records interest income on the impaired loans; however, that amount is fully reserved if the investee is not making its interest payments.  Subsequent cash receipts on the outstanding interest are applied against the outstanding interest receivable balance and the corresponding allowance.  The Company’s assessments of value are subjective given that the investees may be at an early stage of development and rely regularly on their investors for cash infusions.  As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had loan receivable balances of $750,000 and $500,000, respectively, all of which has been fully reserved.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation and amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis, using the estimated useful lives of: seven to ten years for furniture and fixtures; two to five years for office and computer equipment; and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated service lives or the terms of the related leases which are currently four to five years.  Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.  Upon disposition, the asset and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the related accounts and any gains or losses are reflected in operations.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
 
The Company allocates the cost of acquired companies to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the remaining amount classified as goodwill.  Since the entities the Company has acquired do not have significant tangible assets, a significant portion of the purchase price has been allocated to intangible assets and goodwill.  The identification and valuation of these intangible assets and the determination of the estimated useful lives at the time of acquisition, as well as the completion of impairment tests require significant management judgments and estimates.  These estimates are made based on, among other factors, reviews of projected future operating results and business plans, economic projections, anticipated highest and best use of future cash flows and the market participant cost of capital.  The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets, and potentially result in a different impact to the Company’s results of operations.  Further, changes in business strategy and/or market conditions may significantly impact these judgments and thereby impact the fair value of these assets, which could result in an impairment of the goodwill or intangible assets.
 
The Company tests its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset (Group DCA corporate tradename) for impairment at least annually (as of December 31) and whenever events or circumstances change that indicate impairment may have occurred.  A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in our expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in our stock price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate of the pharmaceutical industry; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of goodwill, the indefinite-lived intangible asset and our consolidated financial results.
 
The Company tests its goodwill for impairment at the business (reporting) unit level, which is one level below its operating segments.  The goodwill has been assigned to the reporting unit to which the value relates.  One of the Company's five reporting units, Group DCA, has goodwill. The Company tested goodwill by estimating the fair value of the reporting unit using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. The key assumptions used in the DCF model to determine the highest and best use of estimated future cash flows include revenue growth rates and profit margins based on internal forecasts, terminal value and an estimate of a market participant's weighted-average cost of capital used to discount future cash flows to their present value. The Company tested the indefinite-lived intangible asset using a Relief From Royalty Method (RFRM) under the Income Approach. The key assumptions used in the RFRM model include revenue growth rates, the terminal value and the assumed discount rate. While the Company uses available information to prepare estimates and to perform impairment evaluations, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates or related projections, resulting in impairment related to recorded goodwill balances.  

During the Company's annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, management identified potential impairment. The Company's management then determined that these Group DCA business unit assets were impaired and recognized an impairment loss of $18.4 million as the carrying value of the Group DCA business unit was in excess of its fair value. If Group DCA's projected long-term sales growth rate, profit margins, or terminal rate continue to change, or the assumed weighted-average cost of capital is considerably higher, future testing may indicate additional impairment in this reporting unit and, as a result, the remaining assets may also be impaired. See Note 4, Fair Value Measurements, Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Note 18, Discontinued Operations for further information.
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Long-Lived Assets, including Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
 
The Company reviews the recoverability of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.  If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized by reducing the recorded value of the asset to its fair value measured by future discounted cash flows.  This analysis requires estimates of the amount and timing of projected cash flows and, where applicable, judgments associated with, among other factors, the appropriate discount rate.  Such estimates are critical in determining whether any impairment charge should be recorded and the amount of such charge if an impairment loss is deemed to be necessary.  For a discussion of impairment related to finite-lived intangible assets, see Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012 the Company recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $4.4 million related to the impairment of the Group DCA finite-lived intangible assets. See Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional information.
Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $0.1 million for the impairment of certain furniture and leasehold improvements as a result of exiting approximately 9,000 square feet of office space at its Group DCA facility in Parsippany, New Jersey. This charge has been recorded in continuing operations. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded non-cash charges of approximately $0.1 million for the impairment of certain furniture and leasehold improvements as a result of exiting the space in Schaumburg, Illinois. This charge has been recorded in discontinued operations. See Note 14, Facilities Realignment, and Note 18, Discontinued Operations, for additional information.
Liability Reserve Estimate, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Self-Insurance Accruals
 
The Company is self-insured for benefits paid under employee healthcare programs.  The Company’s liability for healthcare claims is estimated using an underwriting determination which is based on the current year’s average lag days between when a claim is incurred and when it is paid.  The Company maintains stop-loss coverage with third-party insurers to limit its total exposure on all of these programs.  Periodically, the Company evaluates the level of insurance coverage and adjusts insurance levels based on risk tolerance and premium expense.  Management reviews the self-insurance accruals on a quarterly basis.  Actual results may vary from these estimates, resulting in an adjustment in the period of the change in estimate.  Prior to October 1, 2008, the Company was  also self-insured for certain losses for claims filed and claims incurred but not reported relating to workers’ compensation and automobile-related liabilities for Company-leased cars.  Beginning October 1, 2008, the Company became fully-insured through an outside carrier for these losses.  The Company’s liability for claims filed and claims incurred but not reported prior to October 1, 2008 is estimated on an actuarial undiscounted basis supplied by our insurance brokers and insurers using individual case-based  valuations and statistical analysis. These estimates are based upon judgment and historical experience.  However, the final cost of many of these claims may not be known for five years or more after filing of the claim. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, self-insurance accruals totaled $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and are included in other accrued expenses on the balance sheet.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Contingencies
 
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various contingencies. Contingencies are recorded in the consolidated financial statements when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, or otherwise disclosed, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 450, Contingencies. The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings and, as required, the Company has accrued its estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of these claims. These estimates are developed in consultation with outside counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. Predicting the outcome of claims and litigation, and estimating related costs and exposures, involves substantial uncertainties that could cause actual costs to vary materially from estimates.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The compensation cost associated with the granting of stock-based awards is based on the grant date fair value of the stock award.  The Company recognizes the compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, over the shorter of the vesting period or the period from the grant date to the date when retirement eligibility is achieved.  Forfeitures are initially estimated based on historical information and subsequently updated over the life of the awards to ultimately reflect actual forfeitures.  As a result, changes in forfeiture activity can influence the amount of stock compensation cost recognized from period to period.
 
The Company primarily uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock-based stock appreciation rights (SARs). The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards is made on the date of grant and is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions made regarding a number of complex and subjective variables.  These assumptions include: expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards; actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors; the risk-free interest rate; and expected dividend yield.  These assumptions are more fully described in Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation. The fair value of restricted stock units (RSUs) and restricted shares is equal to the closing stock price on the date of grant.
Lease, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Rent Expense
 
Minimum rental expenses are recognized over the term of the lease.  The Company recognizes minimum rent starting when possession of the property is taken from the landlord, which may include a construction period prior to occupancy.  When a lease contains a predetermined fixed escalation of the minimum rent, the Company recognizes the related rent expense on a straight-line basis and records the difference between the recognized rental expense and the amounts payable under the lease as a deferred rent liability.  The Company may also receive tenant allowances including cash or rent abatements, which are reflected in other accrued expenses and long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These allowances are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease.  Certain leases provide for contingent rents that are not measurable at inception.  These contingent rents are primarily based upon use of utilities and the landlord’s operating expenses.  These amounts are excluded from minimum rent and are included in the determination of total rent expense when it is probable that the expense has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income taxes
 
Income taxes are based on income for financial reporting purposes calculated using the Company’s expected annual effective rate and reflect a current tax liability or asset for the estimated taxes payable or recoverable on the current year tax return and expected annual changes in deferred taxes.  Any interest or penalties on income tax are recognized as a component of income tax expense.
 
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  This method requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences that currently exist between tax bases and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities based on enacted tax laws and rates.  Deferred tax expense (benefit) is the result of changes in the deferred tax asset and liability.  A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred income tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
 
The Company operates in multiple tax jurisdictions and pays or provides for the payment of taxes in each jurisdiction where it conducts business and is subject to taxation.  The breadth of the Company’s operations and the complexity of the tax law require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the ultimate taxes the Company will pay.  The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of proposed assessments arising from federal and state audits.  Uncertain tax positions are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company adjusts accruals for unrecognized tax benefits as facts and circumstances change, such as the progress of a tax audit. The Company believes that any potential audit adjustments will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or liquidity. However, any adjustments made may be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for a reporting period.
 
Significant judgment is also required in evaluating the need for and magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets.  Deferred tax assets are regularly reviewed for recoverability.  The Company currently has significant deferred tax assets resulting from net operating loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences, which should reduce taxable income in future periods.  The realization of these assets is dependent on generating future taxable income.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Earnings (Loss) per Share
 
Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year including any unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends.  Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of shares outstanding and dilutive common shares under the treasury method. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid), are participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.