A Diversified Leader in Healthcare Staffing Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Physician Staffing
Education & Retained Search
2008 Annual Report
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
We are a diversifi ed leader in healthcare staffi ng services.
This allows us to offer the most comprehensive suite of
staffi ng and outsourcing services to the U.S. healthcare
market. Effective with the MDA acquisition, we believe:
We are one of the top two
providers of nurse and allied
staffi ng services.
We are one of the top three
national providers of locum
tenens (temporary physician
staffi ng) and physician search
services.
We are one of the top fi ve
providers of clinical trials
staffi ng services.
We are one of the leading
providers of educational
seminars specifi cally for the
healthcare marketplace.
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Profi le & Financial Highlights
Financial Highlights
Cross Country Healthcare Statistics
Cross Country Healthcare Statistics
($000’s, except per share data)
Revenue from services
Net income
Net income per diluted share
2008(a)
734,247
(142,945)
(4.61)
$
$
$
2007
2006
$
$
$
718,272
24,580
0.76
$
$
$
655,152
16,636
0.51
(a) Net income and net income per diluted share includes impairment charges of $244.1 million pre-tax, or $167.0 million after-tax, or $5.39 per
diluted share. Impairment charges include goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges pursuant to FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets and FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.
Other Data ($000’s)
Cash fl ow from operations
Total debt
Debt ratio (b)
$
50,993
Revenue Mix
$
133,080
6%
33%
12%
$
$
35,880
39,451
7%
$
$
32,918
21,529
5%
Nurse and Allied Staffi ng Statistical Data ($ actual)
60%
22%
FTEs (c)
6%
6%
4,463
Average revenue per FTE per week (d)
$
2,266
88%
$
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
5,025
2,207
5,001
2,134
$
(b) Defined as total debt, net of unrestricted cash, divided by total stockholders’ equity plus total debt at year end.
(c) FTEs represent the average number of nurse and allied contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.
(d) Average revenue per FTE per week is calculated by dividing the nurse and allied staffing revenue by the number of weeks worked in the respective
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
periods. Nurse and allied staffing revenue includes revenue from the permanent placement of nurses.
Revenue Mix
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Revenue Mix
Physician Staffing
Revenue Mix
Revenue Mix
Revenue Mix
6%
6%
12%
12%
22%
22%
60%
60%
4Q 2008
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffing
$60.0
$50.0
$40.0
6%
6%
6%
6%
$30.0
$19.8
$20.0
$10.0
88%
88%
$10.4
4Q 2001
$0.0
6%
Contribution Income Share
Contribution Income Mix
6%
12%
$51.8
12%
6%
$42.7
22%
22%
15%
$43.4
60%
60%
6%
6%
6%
6%
Cash Flow From Operations
$60.0
(amounts in millions)
$51.0
$50.0
$51.8
$51.0
22%
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
$32.9
57%
$30.8
$35.9
5%
2%
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
$30.8
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
$32.9
$35.9
$40.0
Physician Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
$43.3
Nurse & Allied Staffing
$42.7
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Management Services
4Q 2008
88%
88%
93%
$30.0
$20.0
$10.0
$19.8
$11.6
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
4Q 2001
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
$0.0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Physician Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Clinical Trials Services
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Contribution Income Mix
Contribution Income Mix
6%
$51.8
6%
6%
15%
$41.4
$43.4
15%
15%
22%
57%
22%
22%
57%
57%
2%
5%
$30.8
5%
5%
2%
2%
$51.0
$35.9
$32.9
Contribution Income Mix
Contribution Income Mix
6%
6%
$60.0
$50.0
$40.0
15%
15%
22%
22%
57%
57%
$19.7
$30.0
2%
5%
$20.0
5%
2%
$10.4
$10.0
93%
$0.0
93%
2000
93%
93%
93%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Physician Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Clinical Trials Services
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffing
Other Human Capital
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Management Services
Physician Staffing
6%
Other Human Capital
Management Services
6%
6%
15%
15%
22%
22%
57%
57%
2%
2%
5%
5%
15%
6%
22%
15%
57%
2%
5%
22%
57%
5%
2%
93%
93%
Revenue Mix
2008
2001
Contribution Income Share
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital Management Services
93%
93%
Revenue Mix
2008
2001
Revenue Mix
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Revenue Mix
Revenue Mix
Physician Staffing
2008
2008
Clinical Trials Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
2001
2001
2008
2001
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Contribution Income Share
Contribution Income Share
Clinical Trials Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Other Human Capital
Physician Staffing
Management Services
Clinical Trials Services
Contribution Income Share
Contribution Income Share
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Other Human Capital Management Services
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital Management Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Management Services
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Nurse & Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials Services
Clinical Trials Services
Other Human Capital Management Services
Other Human Capital Management Services
Dear Fellow Stockholders:
A year that began with some challenges, but with much optimism,
ended with an alarming deterioration in conditions for our
key not-for-profit hospital customer base. The weakness and
dysfunction in the credit markets in the first eight months of the
year reached a crisis in September, following the bankruptcy filing
of Lehman Brothers. Our hospital customers faced unprecedented
challenges in financing their operations. They saw the value of their
endowments decline dramatically, their access to short-term funds
severely restricted and their ability to tap historically accessible
municipal bond markets at reasonable interest rates eroded. They
responded to such an environment by sharply curtailing purchases
of all goods and services. As the expense of registered nursing
(RN) services makes up 25% of a typical hospital’s operating
budget, nursing services was an area of particular focus for expense
control. In addition to a steep decline in the demand for the kind
of contract labor that is our core service, we saw widespread
reports of hospitals laying off clinical staff for the first time since
the mid-1990s.
Not surprisingly, this created an exceptionally poor operating
environment for our nurse and allied staffing segment in the last
four months of the year, as the vast majority of customers served
by this segment are acute-care hospitals. While I believe that
credit conditions will improve in 2009, I also believe the benefit
of that improvement will be offset by the substantial weakening
in the national labor market we saw at the end of last year, which
continues into 2009. Historically, any prolonged weakness in
the national job market will encourage nurses, who are often
secondary household wage earners and /or working part-time,
to provide more hours of service directly to hospital employers.
In so doing, they make it easier for hospitals to provide around-
the-clock bedside care without our help, reducing our revenue
generating potential from this business.
Thus, I am not optimistic about a recovery in our nurse and allied
staffing business in 2009. We are therefore focused on maximizing
the profitability and cash flow of this segment by increasing our
focus on expense control and reducing our already low level of
capital expense associated with this business. Even in a poor
JOSEPH A. BOSHART, President & CEO
“Our operating strategy is to
strengthen our market position
and margins in all business
segments; make strategic
acquisitions in high growth,
higher margin businesses;
opportunistically buy back
our stock; while maintaining a
strong balance sheet to provide
financial flexibility.”
operating environment, our Company generated near-record cash
team running MDA prior to our acquisition has stayed on to continue
flow from operations in 2008 and we expect cash flow to be very
to grow this business for us going forward.
strong in 2009 as well.
Moreover, our entry into the physician staffing market is consistent
While our other businesses faced challenges of lesser magnitude last
with the operating strategy we have pursued in recent years, which is
year, there were challenges nonetheless across the board. For example,
to strengthen our market position and margins in all business segments;
our clinical trials services segment saw a reduction in the pipeline
make strategic acquisitions in high growth, higher margin businesses;
of potential projects in the second half of 2008, as pharmaceutical
opportunistically buy back our stock; while maintaining a strong balance
companies reduced research and development spending and
sheet to provide financial flexibility.
biotechnology companies found their ability to fund even their most
promising development projects dramatically reduced. While it is
easier to be optimistic for a 2009 rebound in this business given the
tremendous momentum we have seen this past decade, such optimism
must be tempered by caution, given the uncertainty surrounding the
financial markets, which are so vital to the biotechnology industry.
Post the MDA acquisition, we plan to focus on rapidly de-leveraging
our balance sheet to maintain a substantial cushion until the nurse and
allied staffing business recovers. Nevertheless, we will continue to stay
flexible and focused on opportunities to enhance shareholder value over
the long-term. While we cannot predict the depth or duration of the
current recession, compared to where we stood at the start of the last
Despite this somewhat bleak picture, there were aspects of the past
recession in 2001, we are more diversified and less exposed to a weak
year that give me much encouragement for our Company’s future.
national labor market. It is indeed a difficult environment, and strong
• We achieved record revenue and cash flow from operations in 2008.
• We continued to improve gross margins, with our 2008 gross margin
rising to 26.2%, 190 basis points higher than the prior year.
results will be hard to come by. Nevertheless, you can take comfort in
having one of the most experienced management teams in the business
that understands the signals provided by the market and will take steps
necessary to optimize our market position and maximize our operating
• In September, we completed the $112 million acquisition of
performance vis-a-vis our competitors.
Medical Doctor Associates (MDA), the nation’s third largest
provider of temporary physician staffing services, shortly before a
substantial turn for the worse in the credit markets. This acquisition
further diversified our sources of revenue within the healthcare
human capital management arena.
While analysts frequently cite our stock price premium versus our public
peers as a reason to buy their shares, we believe after more than seven
years as a public company, our stock price premium is no accident or the
result of market dysfunction. We have strived to be the most transparent,
highest performing company in our market and we believe that over time
The MDA acquisition is particularly noteworthy as it is an entry
such efforts are consistently rewarded. We thank our shareholders for
point for us into a relatively stable segment of healthcare staffing.
continuing to support our Company through this difficult period. Our
Our physician staffing business was our only operating segment
1,400 corporate employees will do our very best to validate your faith
to show growth in the fourth quarter and we believe this business
in us.
will continue to grow in 2009. Like our nursing business, physician
staffing has strong demographic drivers given the aging and growth of
the U.S. population. However, unlike nurses, who are looked at as a
cost center, physicians are revenue generators for hospitals and practice
groups, as hospitals cannot admit patients without a physician’s order.
I am delighted that the experienced and high-quality management
Sincerely,
Joseph A. Boshart
President and Chief Executive Officer | March 2009
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Dear Fellow Stockholders:
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Physician Staffing
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Nurse and Allied Staffi ng
We are a leading provider of travel nurse staffing services in the
RNs was in their mid-to-late 20s and in 2005 they were in their
U.S., as well as a provider of travel allied staffing and per diem
40s. By 2012, RNs in their 50s will be the largest age group,
nurse staffing services. We market our nurse and allied staffing
and by 2020, those baby boomer RNs still in the workforce will
services primarily to acute-care hospitals, providing clients
be in their 60s. We believe this will lead to greater demand for
with staffing solutions through our Cross Country Staffing,
travel staffing services as older RNs typically work less hours
MedStaff and Allied Health Group brands.
and are closer to retirement.
We provide credentialed RNs for travel and per diem staffing
Using temporary personnel enables hospitals and healthcare
assignments at public and private healthcare facilities, as well as
for-profit and not-for-profit facilities located throughout the
U.S. The vast majority of our assignments are at large acute-
facilities to manage their total staffing levels of internal and
external nursing resources to better match variability in patient
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
admissions, seasonal fluctuations, and other factors such as
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
care hospitals, including teaching institutions and trauma
facility expansion and staff training activities.
centers, located in and around major metropolitan areas. We
also provide other healthcare professionals in a wide range of
specialties that include operating room technicians and various
allied health professionals, such as rehabilitation therapists,
radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners,
physician assistants and radiation therapy technicians. Cross
Country Staffing is our largest brand, and as part of its business
strategy, it has in-place a number of exclusive vendor-managed
and preferred provider relationships with hospital clients, and
continues to pursue such additional opportunities. The nurse
staffing businesses of our Cross Country Staffing and MedStaff
brands are certified by The Joint Commission under its Health
Care Staffing Services Certification Program.
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
The temporary nurse staffing alternatives available to hospital
administrators are travel nurses and per diem nurses. Travel
nurse staffing involves placement of RNs on a contract basis,
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
typically for a 13-week assignment that usually involves
relocation to the geographic area of the assignment. Travel
nurses provide hospitals and healthcare facilities with the
Clinical Trials
flexibility and variable cost to manage changes in their staffing
needs due to shifts in demand, represent a pool of potential
Physician
Staffing
full-time job candidates, and enable healthcare facilities to
provide their patients with a greater degree of continuity of care.
The staffing company generally is responsible for providing
travel nurses with customary employment benefits and for
coordinating travel and housing arrangements. Per diem nurse
Physician
Staffing
Other Human Capital
Clinical Trials
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
We operate differentiated brands – Cross Country TravCorps,
staffing comprises the majority of outsourced temporary nurse
MedStaff, NovaPro, Cross Country Local, Assignment
staffing and involves the placement of locally-based healthcare
America and Allied Health Group – to recruit nurses and allied
professionals on short-term assignments, often for daily shift
healthcare professionals on a domestic and international basis.
work, with little advance notice by the hospital client. Housing
We believe RNs and allied health professionals are attracted
and extensive travel are generally not required for this mode
to us because we offer a wide range of diverse assignments in
attractive locations, competitive compensation and benefit
packages, as well as high levels of customer service.
of staffing.
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
Our Brands
Physician
Nurse and
Staffing
Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials
Physician
Staffing
Other Human Capital
Clinical Trials
Management Services
Other Human Capital
Management Services
From a demographic perspective, the average age of RNs is
approximately 47 years, up from age 41 in 1996, according
to a 2005 survey by the Health Resources and Services
Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, which also indicated 41% of RNs were
age 50 or older. In comparison, in 1980 the largest age group of
“ More than 90%
of our reporting
hospital clients
would rehire the
nursing & allied
healthcare
professionals
we provided
them.”
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Nurse and Allied Staffing
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Physician Staffi ng
There are not enough physicians to fill the number of vacancies
more than 1,300 clients utilizing its database of over 157,000
at U.S. hospitals, practice groups and other healthcare facilities
providers representing a wide range of medical specialties.
– and the shortage is expected to grow even further. Due to
In addition to providing physician staffing solutions to
population growth, aging and other factors, demand is expected
nationwide hospital systems, community hospitals and
to outpace supply, leading to a projected shortage of 124,000
associations, MDA also provides its services to various
physicians by 2025, according to a report by the American
U.S. government institutions, including the Indian Health
Association of Medical Colleges in November 2008.
Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Army, Air
Locum tenens today is most commonly used to identify
temporary physicians that contract with recruitment agencies
to perform medical services over a certain period of time as an
Force and other agencies. In 2008, approximately 59% of
MDA’s physician staffing business was from hospitals and
approximately 41% was from physician practice groups and
independent contractor at hospitals, practice groups or other
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
other healthcare facilities.
healthcare organizations. When this industry was initially
In addition, MDA is one of only three physician staffing
founded more than 20 years ago, it primarily served clinics, group
companies with an
in-house credentials verification
practices and rural hospitals. As the physician staffing industry
matured, it has increasingly served community hospitals,
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
major national health systems, managed care organizations
organization certified by the National Committee for Quality
Assurance (NCQA), which verifies critical credentials prior to
physician assignments. MDA also currently is the only multi-
and physician practice groups located in urban, suburban and
specialty medical staffing company that has procured an
rural settings to meet their staffing needs. The locum tenens
industry continues to grow as more physicians choose this way
of practicing medicine and healthcare organizations discover
the value of temporary physician staffing.
Physicians choose temporary assignments for a variety of
reasons and at various points in their careers. It is an appealing
option for new physicians just out of residency training by
providing them with the opportunity to sample a specific
practice opportunity, different styles of practices and areas
occurrence form policy. Quality medical malpractice liability
Clinical Trials
insurance coverage is a critical component of the MDA
business model and represents a substantial competitive
advantage to MDA in the recruitment of physicians. This
Physician
form of policy is of particular importance to physicians as it
Staffing
covers incidents occurring during the policy period, regardless
Other Human Capital
Management Services
of when they are reported. The more common claims-made
policy only covers physicians for claims reported during the
policy period.
of the country before making a long-term career decision. In
Recruiters handle both sales and marketing specialties in
addition, there are no immediate financial burdens such as
order to have continuity with providers and hospitals to
“buying in” to a practice or permanently locating to the wrong
facilitate quick and personal service to every customer.
place. Temporary staffing is also the choice of many seasoned
Each recruiter covers one specialty and one geographic
physicians who are not ready to retire, but want to scale down
region whereas competitors typically have separate sales and
the rigors and administrative burdens of full-time practice.
marketing personnel. MDA currently has approximately 120
These physicians enjoy the chance to keep more reasonable
physician staffing recruiters throughout its organization,
hours and combine work with travel and spend quality time
with family and friends.
MDA Overview
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
including its Atlanta area headquarters, as well as offices in
Physician
Denver and Dallas.
Staffing
Our Brand
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Founded in 1987 and based in Norcross, Georgia, MDA is
one of the three largest providers of locum tenens in the U.S.
In 2008, MDA handled approximately 7,700 assignments for
“ After years of continuous
physician satisfaction
evaluation & feedback,
MDA is now one of the
nation’s largest locum
tenens companies.”
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Physician Staffing
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Clinical Trials Services
We provide a flexible range of traditional contract staffing,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
clinical project managers, medical monitors, regulatory affairs
clinical research outsourcing, drug safety monitoring, and
personnel, and drug safety associates.
regulatory consulting services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology
and medical device companies, as well as to contract research
organization (CRO) customers. In 2008, segment revenue
was $99.1 million. We market these services through multiple
brand offerings, which have allowed us to establish a significant
geographic footprint in the U.S. along with an important
presence in the European market. The brands that comprise
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
our clinical trials services segment are as follows:
Physician
Staffing
• ClinForce provides clinical research professionals for
in-sourced and out-sourced contract assignments and
permanent placement services. Acquired in March 2001,
it is headquartered in the Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina.
Physician
• Metropolitan Research Associates (MRA) provides
Staffing
clinical trials management services and functional drug
Overview of Clinical Trials Industry
The discovery and development of a new medicine is an
Clinical Trials
expensive and lengthy process. In 2007, the U.S. pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industry invested $58.8 billion in research
and development (R&D). The R&D process takes an average of
5-10 years to develop a drug at an estimated average cost of $1.3
billion for a new medicine and $1.2 billion to develop a biological
Other Human Capital
Management Services
treatment, according to a recent study from the Tufts University
Clinical Trials
Center for the Study of Drug Development (November 2006).
For every 5,000 to 10,000 potential drug candidates that enter
the discovery research stage, only about 2.5% to 5% make it to
the preclinical phase. Of that percentage, only 0.05% to 0.1%
will enter the clinical trial testing phase. The result of those
5,000 to 10,000 candidates is just one regulatory-approved drug
to market. There are currently more than 2,700 medicines in
Other Human Capital
Management Services
safety solutions. Acquired in August 2006, it is based in
clinical trials or undergoing review by the U.S. Food and Drug
New York, New York.
Administration (FDA) for 4,600 indications.
• AKOS provides drug safety, regulatory and clinical
Clinical trials are one of the most important parts of the drug
trials services to customers in Europe, the U.S., Canada
development process and also one of the most time-consuming.
and Asia. Acquired in June 2007, it is based in Harpenden
Between 1999-2002 and 2003-2006, the length of the average
Hertfordshire, England and is strategically located inside
clinical trial increased by nearly 70%, from 460 days to 780
what is considered to be the UK’s research triangle.
days. The clinical trial studies are not only expanding in time,
• Assent provides contract staffing services to customers
primarily in the western U.S. Acquired in July 2007,
it is based in Cupertino, California.
We recruit qualified candidates for our clinical trials services
segment from across the U.S. and
internationally for
but also growing in scope, as the average number of participants
needed for each clinical study increased from 1,700 to 4,300
over the last three decades. In addition, clinical studies are
increasingly becoming more complex. In 2005, 72% of U.S.
clinical studies involved more than 85 procedures, 70% more
than the number of studies in 2000.
clinical research opportunities, which include temporary
and permanent positions with our clients and within our
CRO services businesses. For our contract staffing services
Healthcare
Staffing
Physician
Staffing
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
Physician
businesses, we recruit professionals from numerous clinical
research disciplines, including: clinical monitors, contract
Staffing
research associates, clinical project managers, site coordinators,
Healthcare
Staffing
Clinical
Trials Services
Clinical Trials
Approximately 80,000 clinical trials are conducted in the U.S.
Education
each year sponsored by both industry and government. These
& Training
studies to advance medical science require the work of an
Clinical Trials
estimated 200,000 research professionals and the involvement
Clinical
Trials Services
Search
Search
Other Human Capital
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Management Services
Education
& Training
of millions of study participants each year.
contract research coordinators, drug safety personnel, medical
Our Brands
monitors, regulatory affairs personnel, medical writers, clinical
data professionals, statistical and SAS programmers, and
various preclinical related professionals. Recruiting for our
other business lines consists primarily of clinical monitors,
U N I T E D K I N G D O M
U N I T E D K I N G D O M
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
“ With one of the most knowledgeable recruiting staffs in
the industry, our clients have come to rely upon the
expertise we have developed over more than two decades.”
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Clinical Trials Services
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician Staffing
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Clinical Trials
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Physician
Staffing
Other Human
Capital Management Services
Our Cross Country Education (CCE) subsidiary provides
to the healthcare industry, including physician group
continuing education programs to the healthcare industry.
practices, hospitals and health systems, academic medical
CCE offers one-day seminars and e-learning, as well as
Clinical Trials
national and regional conferences on topics relevant to
Physician
Staffing
nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Our Cejka Search subsidiary is a nationally recognized
retained search organization that provides physician and
executive search services throughout the U.S. exclusively
centers, managed care, and other healthcare organizations.
Other Human Capital
Management Services
Our Brands
a button to the bottom with the URL on it to be used for print items. For interactive the button is not required.
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
Nurse and
Allied Staffing
“ Cejka Search is a
nationally-recognized
leader that is ranked in the
top five physician placement
firms in the country.”
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Other Human Capital Management Services
Financial Performance
We further diversified our Company into the physician
staffing sector of healthcare staffing in September 2008 with
our acquisition of MDA, and I am very pleased with its
performance since then. Physician staffing appears to be much
less affected by the economic downturn than nurse staffing
because hospitals view physicians as revenue generators, while
nurses represent the largest cost center in a typical healthcare
facility. In a recessionary environment, hospital operators strive
even harder to increase revenue and reduce costs. In 2008,
MDA grew its revenue by approximately 10% despite the weak
economy. In addition, on an as-reported basis, this acquisition
was accretive to our 2008 earnings by approximately $0.04 per
diluted share.
As 2008 came to a close, the market environment for most of
our businesses deteriorated rapidly. By the fourth quarter, it was
clear that we were in the midst of a recession more severe than
any I have experienced in my 18 years with our Company. The
downturn in demand was especially noticeable in our nurse and
allied staffing business. We believe that the initial catalyst for
the decrease in demand was the tightening of the credit markets
following the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in the summer,
which increased hospitals’ borrowing costs. Faced with higher
borrowing costs and relatively weak patient census, many
hospitals began cutting back on the utilization of contract labor.
This trend accelerated in the fourth quarter as conditions in the
national labor market deteriorated. Nurses who were previously
out of the workforce or working only part-time increased the
hours they were providing to hospitals in order to bolster
household income. With the increase in supply of nurses willing
to work directly for hospitals at prevailing wage rates, hospitals
could cut back on the use of contract labor, resulting in dramatic
decreases in new travel position postings by hospitals in most
areas of the country.
The significant downturn in the U.S. economy and the rapid
deterioration of the labor and financial markets during the
fourth quarter of 2008 caused us to take impairment charges of
EMIL HENSEL, Chief Financial Officer
“We believe strong and
consistent cash flow generation
is one of the most attractive
elements of our business model,
and should enable us to rapidly
de-lever our balance sheet.”
$244 million pre-tax at the end of the year, primarily relating to our
of external vendors and reducing capital expenditures are among the
annual goodwill impairment analysis as required under Financial
areas we have focused on.
Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 142. The goodwill
impairment charge relates to our nurse and allied staffing segment
and results from a combination of depressed equity market values
along with lower near-term projected growth rates in this business.
The majority of the goodwill impairment is attributable to our
initial capitalization in 1999, which was treated for accounting
purposes as an asset purchase (as opposed to a
leveraged
recapitalization), and the remainder to subsequent nurse and allied
staffing acquisitions made through 2003. The impairment charges
do not have an impact on our cash position, expected future cash
flows or liquidity under our credit facility.
While our overall outlook is not what we would hope it to be, it’s
important to put this picture into perspective. Since I joined Cross
Country Healthcare in 1991, the travel nurse industry has gone
through a number of economic cycles and our Company has emerged
in an even stronger competitive position after each downturn. We
have been able to do this because of the very strong free cash flow we
generate from our businesses, which we expect to continue. This time,
we also have the added benefit of a more diversified revenue mix. In
the past several years, we have taken steps to substantially diversify our
revenue sources beyond our roots as a company with near-exclusive
reliance on acute-care hospitals and their demand for outsourced
Our focus in this environment is cash flow management and cost
nurse and allied staff into less cyclical businesses such as clinical trials
control. Despite the difficult operating environment, we generated
and physician staffing. Thus, we remain on sound financial footing
near record operating cash flow of $51 million in 2008, up 42%
with a declining level of debt and a more diversified business mix in
from prior year. This compares to operating cash flow of $36
this uncertain economic environment.
Thank you for your continued support.
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer
March 2009
million in 2007, $33 million in 2006 and $31 million in 2005.
We believe strong and consistent cash flow generation is one of the
most attractive elements of our business model, and should enable
us to rapidly de-lever our balance sheet following our acquisition
of MDA. At the time the acquisition closed in September of 2008,
we had $150 million of debt outstanding under our senior credit
facility. In just six months, our strong cash flow enabled us to reduce
our borrowings under our senior credit facility by $33 million. Our
leverage ratio was 2.08-to-1 at year end, well under the 2.75-to-1
required under our credit agreement.
We have taken a number of steps to optimize our profitability and
cash flow in this weak volume environment. Salaries represent by
far our largest SG&A expense. Our corporate employee headcount
is down approximately 160 FTEs since the beginning of September
2008, or about the same percentage as the reduction in our field
staffing volume over the same period. We have also implemented
a strict cost-control program and are looking at all discretionary
spending for cost reduction opportunities. Restricting business
travel, scaling back advertising expenses, decreasing our utilization
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Financial Performance
FORM 10-K
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. | Form 10-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
——————
FORM 10-K
(cid:59) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
or
(cid:133) 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
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
13-4066229
(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
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Name of each exchange on which registered
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 (cid:133) No (cid:59)
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 (cid:133) No (cid:59)
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 (cid:59) No (cid:133)
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. (cid:59)
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 (cid:133) Accelerated filer (cid:59) Non-accelerated filer (cid:133) Smaller reporting company (cid:133)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes (cid:133) No (cid:59)
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 30, 2008 of $14.41 as reported on the NASDAQ National Market, was $399,989,005. This calculation does not reflect a
determination that persons are affiliated for any other purpose.
As of February 28, 2009, 30,774,868 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 2009 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
Page
PART I
Item 1. Business....................................................................................................................................................................1
Item 1A. Risk Factors. ...........................................................................................................................................................17
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments. ..................................................................................................................................24
Item 2. Properties................................................................................................................................................................24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings. .................................................................................................................................................24
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. ...........................................................................................24
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. ...........................................................................................................25
Item 6. Selected Financial Data. .........................................................................................................................................28
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.....................................................................................................................................30
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. ................................................................................49
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.......................................................................................................49
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure.......................................................................................................................................49
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures. ........................................................................................................................................49
Item 9B. Other Information. ..................................................................................................................................................49
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance......................................................................................51
Item 11. Executive Compensation. .......................................................................................................................................51
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Stockholders Matters. .......................................................................................................................51
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence........................................................51
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.................................................................................................................51
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. ...............................................................................................................52
SIGNATURES ..........................................................................................................................................................................53
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”, “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 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 2009.
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.
Item 1.
Business.
Overview of Our Company
PART I
We are a diversified leader in healthcare staffing services. We offer a comprehensive suite of staffing and outsourcing
services to the healthcare market, which include being a leading national provider of nurse and allied staffing services and
multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) services; a provider of clinical trials services to global
pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers; and a provider of other human capital management services focused on
healthcare.
We have a diversified revenue mix across business sectors and healthcare customers. For the fourth quarter ended
December 31, 2008, our nurse and allied staffing business segment was 60% of our revenue and is comprised of travel and
per diem nurse staffing and travel allied health staffing. Travel nurse staffing is our largest business. Our physician staffing
business segment was 22% of our revenue and consists of temporary physician staffing (locum tenens) services. Our clinical
trials services business segment was 12% of our revenue and consists of service offerings that include traditional staffing, as
well as clinical trials management, drug safety monitoring and regulatory consulting services to pharmaceutical and
biotechnology customers. Our other human capital management services business segment was 6% of our revenue and
consists of education and training as well as retained search services related to physicians and healthcare executives. We have
more than 5,000 contracts with hospitals and healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers, and other
healthcare organizations to provide our healthcare staffing and outsourcing solutions. In 2008, no single client accounted for
more than 3% of our revenue. In addition, our fees are paid directly by our clients and in certain cases by third-party
administrative payers. As a result, we have no direct exposure to Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements.
In September 2008, we acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held MDA Holdings, Inc. (MDA) and its
subsidiaries for $112.3 million in cash, plus additional earn-out payments based on 2008 and 2009 performance criteria.
Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, MDA provides multi-specialty temporary physician staffing (locum tenens) and allied
staffing services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states. The locum tenens portion of MDA’s business is accounted for in
our physician staffing business segment and the allied portion is accounted for in our nurse and allied staffing business
segment.
In conjunction with this transaction, we entered into a $200.0 million syndicated credit facility with Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities, LLC, and certain other lenders. Pursuant to this
financing, we amended and kept in place our existing $75.0 million revolving loan facility and entered into a new
$125.0 million 5-year term loan, from which the proceeds were used to finance the MDA acquisition and for future general
corporate purposes.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, our revenue was $734.2 million and we had a net loss of $142.9 million, or ($4.61)
per diluted share, including pre-tax non-cash goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges. The net loss was a
result of recording $244.1 million ($167.0 million after taxes, or $5.39 per diluted share) in impairment charges in the fourth
quarter of 2008, primarily related to our annual goodwill impairment testing. During 2008, we generated $51.0 million in
cash flow from operations. At year-end 2008 we had total debt of $133.1 million and $10.2 million of unrestricted cash on
our balance sheet, resulting in a debt, net of unrestricted cash, to total capitalization ratio of 33.5% as of December 31, 2008.
Healthcare and Demographic Influences on Our Business
According to a 2009 government report published in Health Affairs, healthcare spending in the U.S. increased 6.1% to $2.2
trillion in 2007. Spending on hospital services increased 7.3% and comprised nearly one-third of all healthcare spending.
Spending for physicians and clinical services grew by 6.5%, which was similar to the prior year. According to forecasts from
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare spending is expected to almost double to approximately
$4.3 trillion in 2017 and account for 19.5% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), up from 16.3% in 2007. Of this
projected increase, spending on hospital services will rise to more than $1.3 trillion by 2017 and represent 30% of overall
healthcare spending.
This significant expansion in spending is expected to be driven, in large part, by greater demand for healthcare services due
to an increasing and aging population:
• The U.S. population grew by 31% or by 70 million people between 1980 and 2005. As baby boomers age, the number of
Americans over age 65 will double by 2030 from 35 million to 71 million, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections.
And by 2050, the U.S. population will expand to 420 million people, of which the number of people age 65 and older is
expected to approach 87 million, according to a Congressional Research Service report (March 2007). Meanwhile, the
55-to-64 age group is expected to increase to 40 million by 2014, including the oldest baby-boomers who turn 65 years
of age and become eligible for Medicare beginning in 2011.
• Healthcare spending is higher for older people than younger people. Patients age 65 and older typically average six to
seven doctor visits per year compared to two to four visits annually for those under age 65. If the annual number of visits
continues at the present rate, the U.S. population will make 53% more trips to the doctor in 2020 than in 2000, according
to a November 2008 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Additionally, the most costly
illnesses are more common among the elderly. As medical advances extend survival rates and improve quality of life for
those with chronic conditions, the need for ongoing healthcare services will increase. The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention reported that 80% of people 65 and older have at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes,
arthritis or cancer. Life expectancy for Americans is nearly 78 years, the highest in U.S. history, according to
government statistics for 2005. Hospital utilization is significantly higher among older people. In 2005, the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that people over the age of 65 comprised 38% of all inpatients.
Projections from the American Hospital Association (AHA) expect hospital admissions for the over-age 65 group to rise
to 56% in 2030 from 38% in 2004, while for the under-age 65 group decrease to 44% from 62% over the same period.
Overlaid on this expected increase in demand for healthcare services is an insufficient supply of registered nurses (RNs) and
physicians to provide quality medical care. The RN workforce is aging and the nurse education system is constrained by an
aging faculty and lack of teaching facilities, while at the same time there is a growing shortage of physicians in both hospitals
and practice groups.
• The nursing shortage is expected to expand to 340,000 unfilled RN positions by 2020 due to a combination of an aging
RN workforce that is unable to offset increasing numbers of RNs retiring from the workforce over the coming years with
the number of new RNs entering the workforce (Health Affairs, January/February 2007). The average age of RNs is
approximately 47 years, up from age 45 in 2000. By 2012, RNs in their fifties will comprise the largest age group in the
profession, and by 2020, baby-boomer nurses will be in their sixties, although most are expected to have retired from
working in acute care hospitals. Approximately 478,000 RNs are expected to retire between 2002 and 2012.
• Physicians are in short supply as well. While the root cause of this shortage dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when
medical schools capped enrollment, researchers had earlier predicted a 50,000 shortfall by 2010 and 200,000 by 2020
(Health Affairs January/February 2002). However, a November 2008 report from the AAMC projects a shortage of
124,000 physicians by 2025. Nonetheless, both studies expect the shortage to be most severe among family physicians
and general surgeons. Further, researchers believe it already is too late to avert a shortage since one-third of the nation’s
physicians (approximately 250,000) are age 55 and older and approximately 38% are considering retirement in the next
one to three years. And while the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools is increasing, it has not kept on pace to
2
counter the expected future demand given the number of post-graduate years of training required. Surgical training, for
example, requires eight to fourteen years.
Hospital and healthcare facility customers comprise the majority of our revenue base. Typically, they provide medical care
24x7, which requires RNs, physicians and other healthcare professionals to be staffed around the clock. Labor has historically
been the largest component of a hospital’s operating budget representing approximately 50% of the budget with nursing care
accounting for about half or a quarter of total expenditures. Hospitals are capital-intensive organizations that are paid for their
services through reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (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
cases, by third-party administrative payers. As a result, we have no direct exposure to any Medicare or Medicaid
reimbursements.
Since the beginning of 2003, growth in hospital in-patient admissions has been flat-to-down. In addition, hospitals, healthcare
facilities and physician practice groups have had to contend with changes in government reimbursements for their services,
changes in legislation and agency regulations, a large universe of uninsured patients compounded by rising unemployment
and consumerism for those with health insurance coverage, and rising bad debt and professional liability related to medical
errors. More recently, hospitals and healthcare facilities have been affected by the financial and credit crisis, which has
reduced their ability to access capital and/or substantially increased the cost of capital they are able to obtain. Also hospital
expansion and construction projects, which experienced a robust up-surge during the past few years, have largely come to an
abrupt halt.
The combination of these factors, as well as a weakening of the national labor market that triggered RNs to provide more
hours of service directly to hospital employers at wages hospitals are willing and able to pay, has resulted in a decline in the
demand for our nurse and allied staffing services while our physician staffing business continues to experience growth.
Physicians are revenue generators for hospitals, healthcare facilities and practice groups while nurses are an un-reimbursed
cost in the delivery of care.
The shortage of RNs and physicians is likely to increase over time, and could worsen by the adoption of universal healthcare
coverage, according to a report by the AAMC in November 2008. Such broad-based healthcare coverage could add 4% to
overall demand for physicians and increase the projected physician shortfall by 25%, or 31,000 physicians.
In our clinical trials services segment, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have historically been less impacted
by downturns in the economy and more impacted by mergers and acquisitions that result in evaluation of product mix and/or
funding of research and development (R&D) efforts. While an increasing amount of R&D has been outsourced over the
preceding years, the current global economic environment has led pharmaceutical companies to look more to in-licensing or
acquiring new technologies and potential products while refocusing or scaling-back their R&D programs. The biotechnology
industry has been impacted to a much greater degree by the recent lack of available funding from private and public sources.
Consequently, the current economy has resulted in a number of companies being substantially down-sized, acquired or shut
down – all of which have recently decreased R&D activity in this sector.
Nurse and Allied Staffing
We are a leading provider of travel nurse staffing services in the U.S., as well as a provider of travel allied staffing and per
diem nurse staffing services. Our 2008 segment revenue was $525.8 million. We market our nurse and allied staffing services
primarily to acute care hospitals, providing clients with staffing solutions through our Cross Country Staffing, MedStaff and
Allied Health Group brands. We provide credentialed RNs for travel and per diem staffing assignments at public and private
healthcare facilities, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit facilities located throughout the U.S. The vast majority of our
assignments are at large acute-care hospitals, including teaching institutions and trauma centers, located in and around major
metropolitan areas. We also provide other healthcare professionals in a wide range of specialties that include operating room
technicians and various allied health professionals, such as rehabilitation therapists, radiology technicians and respiratory
therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and radiation therapy technicians to assignments in hospitals and non-
acute care settings such as skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and sports medicine clinics, and, to a lesser degree, in
non-clinical settings, such as schools. Cross Country Staffing is our largest brand. As a part of its business strategy, Cross
Country Staffing has in-place a number of exclusive vendor-managed and preferred provider relationships with hospital
clients, and continues to pursue such additional opportunities. In doing so, it provides clients with a suite of solutions to
facilitate the efficient management of their temporary nursing workforce, which range from efficiency-enhancing technology
to full vendor management solutions. MedStaff markets both its travel nurse staffing and per diem staffing services to public
and private hospitals and healthcare facilities across the United States.
3
The nurse staffing businesses of our Cross Country Staffing and MedStaff brands are certified by The Joint Commission
under its Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program.
Recruiting
We operate differentiated brands – Cross Country TravCorps, MedStaff, NovaPro, Cross Country Local, Assignment
America and Allied Health Group – 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 high levels of customer
service.
In 2008, thousands of 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 also advertise in trade publications and on
the Internet, which has become an 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.
Our recruiters are an essential element of our travel 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
throughout their initial placement process as well as on subsequent assignments. We believe our strong retention rate 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 2008, we had 153 recruiters in our travel staffing business.
Our recruiters utilize our computerized databases of positions to match assignment opportunities with the experience, skills
and geographic preferences of their candidates. Once an assignment is selected, our account managers review the candidate’s
application package before submitting it to the hospital client for consideration. Account managers are knowledgeable about
the specific requirements and operating environment of the hospitals that they service. In addition, our databases of open
positions are kept updated by our account managers.
We also have internal educational and training capabilities through Cross Country University, a division of Cross Country
Staffing, that we believe gives us a competitive advantage by enhancing both the quality of our working nurses and the
effectiveness of our recruitment efforts. Cross Country University offers our RNs and other healthcare professionals
additional training, professional development and assistance in completing continuing education for state licensing
requirements.
Contracts with Field Employees and Hospital Clients
Each of our traveling field employees works for us under a contract. Travel assignments are typically 13-weeks in duration.
Our traveling field employees that are on payroll contracts are hourly employees whose contract specifies the hourly rate they
will be paid and any other benefits they are entitled to receive during the contract 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 travel staffing business from 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. These centers perform key support activities such as
coordinating assignment accommodations, payroll processing, benefits administration, billing and collections, contract
processing, customer service and risk management. Our per diem staffing services are provided through a network of 15
branch offices serving major metropolitan markets predominantly located on the east and west coasts of the U.S.
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 generated using time and attendance data captured by our
payroll system. Our payroll department also provides customer support services for field employees.
During 2008, we had an average of approximately 2,400 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
4
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.
Overview of the Nurse and Allied Staffing Industry
The temporary nurse staffing alternatives available to hospital administrators are travel nurses and per diem nurses. Travel
nurse staffing involves placement of RNs on a contract basis, typically for a 13-week assignment although assignments may
range from several weeks or longer than three months. Travel assignments usually involve relocation to the geographic area
of the assignment. Travel nurses provide hospitals and healthcare facilities with the flexibility and variable cost to manage
changes in their staffing needs due to shifts in demand, represent a pool of potential full-time job candidates, and enable
healthcare facilities to provide their patients with a greater degree of continuity of care. The staffing company generally is
responsible for providing travel nurses with customary employment benefits and for coordinating travel and housing
arrangements. Per diem nurse staffing comprises the majority of outsourced temporary nurse staffing 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 extensive travel are generally not required for this mode of staffing.
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 in patient admissions, seasonal fluctuations, and other factors such as facility expansion
and staff training activities. The use of temporary RNs is no longer a stop-gap measure, but has become a way of life for
many hospitals according to a survey by the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Healthcare Research Institute in which hospital
executives reported using temporary nurses for an average of 5% of all nursing hours. A separate national tracking study
found as many as 75% of hospitals use temporary nurses. In addition, a study by researchers at the University of
Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (Journal of Nursing Administration, August 2007) reported
that hospital use of temporary RNs does not lower quality of care because these nurses are just as qualified – and in many
cases more qualified – than permanent staff nurses. The study also found that temporary nurses were more likely than
permanent nurses to hold a 4-year baccalaureate or more advanced degrees and more likely to have received their education
in the past 10 years when compared to permanent nurses.
The market for our nurse staffing services is determined by the demand from hospital customers and the available supply of
RNs and other healthcare professionals. Demand is a function of hospital admission trends and their level relative to
expectations, as well as dynamics of the national labor market and its impact on RN’s spouses (approximately 70% of RNs in
the U.S. are married) which influences the number of shifts or hours that full-and part-time RNs are willing to work directly
for hospitals at wages hospitals are able to pay. 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 also believe demand
for travel nurse staffing services will be favorably impacted in the long-term by an expanding and aging population and an
increasing shortage of nurses.
The environment for our nurse and allied staffing services in 2008 reflected both hospital admission trends that have been
relatively flat since the first quarter of 2003 and a deteriorating national labor market resulting in higher levels of
unemployment that translates into more uninsured people and fewer people with commercial health insurance coverage. Also,
high unemployment typically results in nurses being more willing to work more hours at prevailing wages, which reduces the
need for our outsourced staffing services to meet demand for patient care. It is likely the business environment for nurse and
allied staffing will weaken further during 2009.
However, we were able to expand our margins through continued expansion of the bill-pay spread and a moderation of
housing expenses and lower insurance costs. Bill rates, as measured by revenue per hour in our travel nurse staffing business,
continued to rise in the low single-digit range in 2008 consistent with our experience over the past several years.
The number of RNs in the U.S. grew 7.9% between 2000 and 2004 to 2.9 million, according to the most recent information
published by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in December 2005. Of this total, 2.4 million were
employed in nursing, and approximately 1.7 million RNs (58%) were working full-time and 725,000 RNs (25%) were
working part-time. According to this information, the largest and most significant employment setting for RNs was hospitals
(nearly 60%) where they represented the largest share of hospital employees at 28%.
Foreign-educated RNs also play a role in providing nursing services. Nearly 90,000 foreign-educated RNs work in American
hospitals, or about 3.7% of the total RN workforce, according to a 2007 study by the National Foundation for America
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Policy. However, entry into the U.S. can be blocked or delayed due to immigration quotas and a lack of appropriate
temporary visa categories. The Philippines provides the largest share of foreign-educated RNs to the U.S., followed by India,
Canada and South Korea. California employs the most foreign RNs, followed by Florida, New York and Texas.
The average age of RNs is approximately 47 years, up from age 45 in 2000 and age 41 in 1996, according to the 2005 HRSA
survey, which also indicated 41% of RNs were age 50 or older. In comparison, in 1980 the largest age group of RNs was in
their mid-to-late twenties and in 2005 they were in their forties. By 2012, RNs in their fifties will be the largest age group,
and by 2020, those baby boomer RNs still in the workforce will be in their sixties.
While the aging trend of RNs is an important factor, the addition of new nurses and the retirement of older nurses has also
become a key dynamic. While large numbers of RNs have been passing the required national licensing exam (NCLEX) and
entering the profession in their late twenties and early thirties, the number of people entering nursing in their early to mid-
twenties remains at its lowest point in forty years, according to the Health Affairs (January/February 2007) study.
Approximately 478,000 RNs are expected to retire between 2002 and 2012. In fact, 55% of surveyed RNs reported their
intention to retire between 2011 and 2020, based on findings from the Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey
published by the Bernard Hodes Group in July 2006. New jobs plus retirements lead to projections that 1.1 million additional
RNs will need to be added to the inventory of RNs between 2002 and 2012 to maintain a steady state, according to an
August 2007 study in Health Research and Educational Trust. We believe as RNs age they consider retiring from the
workforce or switching to part-time status and they increasingly reduce the number of hours worked directly for hospital
employers because of the physical demands of the job in an acute care hospital setting. We also believe the attrition of newer
RNs leaving the profession after a short period in the nursing workforce is also a factor in this equation.
Educating Nurses
As a result of more RNs entering the profession at an older age than they previously did, RNs are less likely to have obtained
their nursing education immediately after high school, as was more common in the past. Instead, people are increasingly
entering the nursing by graduating from a two-year associate degree program after a period spent in another career or not in
the workforce. Additionally, people are entering nursing via “accelerated” bachelor-of-science degree programs designed for
those with other (and usually unrelated) bachelor’s degrees.
Enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs increased 2.0% in 2008 from the prior year and graduations increased 8.2%
from 2007 to 2008, according to preliminary survey data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
issued in December 2008. While this marks the eighth consecutive year of enrollment growth and the sixth consecutive year
for graduations, this reduced level of growth in enrollments may indicate four-year nursing degree programs may have
reached capacity.
Enrollment in master’s level nursing programs increased by 8.7% from 2007, but this represents a significantly lower growth
rate similar to the decline realized in baccalaureate nursing program enrollment. Graduations from masters programs
increased 10.6% in 2008, which was essentially the same growth rate compared to the prior year based on the AACN
preliminary data.
Enrollment in doctoral nursing programs increased 9.7% and graduations increased 17.6% from 2007. However, the number
of students enrolled in research-focused doctoral programs in 2008 decreased slightly by 0.4%, according to preliminary
estimates.
Interest in the nursing profession remains high based on nursing schools continuing to receive more qualified applications
than can be accommodated. The AACN preliminary data reflects that approximately 28,000 qualified applicants were turned
away from baccalaureate nursing programs in 2008, with most nursing colleges and universities continuing to cite
insufficient faculty, clinical placement sites, classroom space, and budget cuts as the primary reasons.
Legislation
In the context of a worsening nursing shortage and legislative efforts to address nurse staffing ratios and the use of mandatory
overtime at hospitals and healthcare facilities, there is a growing body of research that substantiates concerns raised by
consumer groups about the quality of care provided in healthcare facilities and by nursing organizations about the increased
workloads and pressures on nurses. Legislation, such as outlined below, has been passed and/or introduced at federal and
state levels. The passage of such legislation is expected to increase the demand for nurses.
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Nurse Staffing Plans and Ratios
42 Code of Federal Regulations (42CFR 482.23(b) requires hospitals certified that participate in Medicare to "have adequate
numbers of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical (vocational) nurses, and other personnel to provide nursing care to
all patients as needed". However, it is left to the states to ensure that staffing is appropriate to meet patients’ needs safely.
Reductions in nursing budgets have resulted in fewer nurses working longer hours, while caring for sicker patients. As a
result, nurses have requested assistance from elected officials on the state and federal level related to adequate nurse staffing
through legislative or regulatory means. Three general approaches have been proposed:
1. Require and hold hospitals accountable for implementation of nurse staffing plans, with input from practicing nurses, to
assure safe nurse to patient ratios are based on patient need and other criteria.
2. Legislators mandate specific nurse to patient ratios in legislation or regulation.
3. A combination of nurse staffing plans and legislated nurse to patient ratios, along with making staffing information
available to the public.
Federal Legislation (pending)
The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2007 (S. 73 / H.R. 4138) would amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social
Security Act to: (1) require each participating hospital to adopt and implement a staffing system that ensures a number of
registered nurses on each shift and in each unit of the hospital to ensure appropriate staffing levels for patient care; (2)
provide for the public reporting of certain staffing information, including a daily posting for each shift in the hospital of the
current number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for patient care; (3) prescribe recordkeeping, data
collection, and evaluation requirements for participating hospitals; (4) specify civil monetary penalties for violations of such
requirements; and (5) provide whistleblower protections.
State Legislation
To date, 13 states plus the District of Columbia have enacted legislation and/or adopted regulations to address nurse
staffing: CA, CT, FL, IL, ME, NV, NJ, OH, OR, RI, TX, VT, and WA. During 2008, nurse staffing legislation was
introduced in: AZ, CT, FL, HI, IA, MN, MO, NJ, NM, NY, OH, VA, and WV.
Mandatory Overtime
Overtime is defined as the hours worked in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, regularly scheduled full or part time
work schedule, as determined by contract, established work scheduling practices, policies or procedures. Due to inadequate
RN staffing, healthcare facility employers have used mandatory overtime to staff facilities. Concern for the long term effects
of overtime include impact on the care-giver’s health as well as the potential for errors or near misses from fatigue and
diminished quality of care provided. Research indicates that risks of making an error are significantly increased when work
shifts are longer than 12 hours, when nurses worked overtime, or when they worked more than 40 hours per week. Voluntary
overtime is not affected.
Federal Legislation (pending)
The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2007 (HR 2122 / S. 1842) would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work at certain
providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program.
States Legislation
To date, 15 states have restrictions on the use of mandatory overtime for nurses. Twelve states have enacted legislation: CT,
IL, MD, MN, NJ, NH, NY, OR, PA, RI, WA, and WV. Three states have provisions in regulations: CA, MO, and TX.
Physician Staffing
Today, locum tenens is most commonly used to mean temporary physicians that contract with recruitment agencies to
perform medical services over a certain period of time as an independent contractor at hospitals, practice groups or other
healthcare organizations.
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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. The locum tenens industry is more than 20 years old and
continues to grow as more physicians choose this way of practicing medicine and healthcare organizations discover the value
of temporary physician staffing.
Utilization of temporary physician coverage ranges from rural solo physician practices to the country's 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's 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 the wrong place. Physicians can even use a temporary
assignment to try out a specific practice opportunity before making a permanent commitment.
Temporary staffing is also the choice of many seasoned physicians who are not ready to retire, but want to scale down the
rigors and administrative burdens of full-time practice. These physicians enjoy the chance to keep more reasonable hours and
combine work with travel and time spent with family and friends. Other physicians choose temporary physician staffing work
in mid-career as a way to find the right position in a new area, or while they are in professional transition, such as from
military to civilian practice or while in the process of starting their own business.
Demand and Supply Drivers
Based on the economic principles of supply and demand, there are not enough physicians to fill the number of vacancies at
U.S. hospitals, practice groups and other healthcare facilities – and the shortage is expected to grow even further. Due to
population growth, aging and other factors, demand will outpace supply through at least 2025, according to the AAMC in its
November 2008 report. Simply educating and training more physicians will not be enough to address the shortage. While the
root cause of this shortage dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when medical schools capped enrollment, earlier this decade
researchers predicted a 50,000 shortfall by 2010 and 200,000 by 2020 (Health Affairs January/February 2002). More
recently, the report by the AAMC (November 2008) projects a shortage of 124,000 physicians by 2025. In either case, some
of the causes behind the projected shortages include:
• Of the nearly 800,000 physicians practicing medicine today in the U.S. approximately one-third of physicians are over
age 55. As the baby boomer generation begins to turn age 70, approximately 38% of these older physicians report they
are considering retirement in the next one to three years, according to the American Medical Association. 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.
• The shortage of primary care doctors is worsening each year, as only 20% of internal medicine third-year residents chose
primary care in 2005. This was a decline from nearly 55% in 1998, according to a 2008 report from the Center for
Studying Health System Change.
• More than half of U.S. hospitals consistently faced substantial gaps in specialist coverage in their emergency
departments between 2005 and 2007, especially in orthopedics and neurology, according to the American Medical
Association.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics set the unemployment rate among U.S. physicians and surgeons at 0.7% in 2006, which
essentially means there was no unemployment among doctors.
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• 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.
Educating Physicians
Despite the large increase in the population, the number of U.S. graduates with M.D. degrees from medical schools has
remained flat at about 16,000 per year over the past several decades, although an increase in the supply of foreign-trained
physicians and the number of graduates receiving Doctor of Osteopathy degrees has helped to augment the increase in
demand for care, according to the AAMC Center For Workforce Studies.
In 2008, first-year enrollment at U.S. medical schools increased nearly 2% from the prior year to more than 18,000 students,
the highest enrollment in history. However, the total number of applicants to medical schools leveled off at more than 42,000
after having increased in each of the prior five years. And while the overall applicant pool is one of the largest in more than a
decade, where there was an average of more than 2 applicants for every available opening at a U.S. medical school, the
number of first-time applicants to U.S. medical schools decreased 3% from the prior year. Looking farther out, the AAMC
estimates first-year U.S. M.D. enrollment in medical school will grow by 21% in the 2012 academic year to nearly 20,000
from enrollment levels in 2002. This projected increase primarily reflects growth at existing medical schools, aided by
several new medical schools hopeful of enrolling their first classes in the coming years.
Temporary Physician Staffing Drivers
In 2007, temporary physician staffing accounted for approximately $1.9 billion in revenue, according to estimates by the
Staffing Industry Report. In addition, the locum tenens sector experienced double-digit growth in 2006 and 2007 (Staffing
Industry Report - June 2008) and is projected to experience similar levels of growth in 2008 and 2009.
Physicians are attracted to the locum tenens industry at different stages of their career for a number of reasons, thereby
maintaining an ongoing supply of physicians to the industry. Locum tenens gives a physician the opportunity to practice
medicine and focus almost exclusively on patient care without having the administrative aspects of managing a business,
reimbursement concerns, hospital politics, or malpractice costs. However, many other benefits to physicians correlate with
the life stage of the physician.
• Physicians age 35 and under. Younger physicians who are recent residency program graduates look to experience
different practice settings and locations before making more permanent career decisions. Approximately 68% of final
year medical residents receive multiple job solicitations and in some specialties, such as radiology and cardiology, the
number is even higher. Locum tenens allows the younger physician to try out different opportunities before settling on
one. It can also assist physicians in paying-off their student loans.
• Physicians 35-49. Physicians in the middle stages of their career find a locum tenens practice to suit their lifestyle as a
fulltime career, as a way to take a break from their current practices but remain working, as a transition opportunity or as
a means to supplement their income.
• Physicians age 50 or older. Older physicians at the later stages of their career normally find a diverse travel practice with
decreased time requirement to be appealing. They may look for job enrichment by choosing a locum tenens position or
looking for employment in or before retirement. Physicians in this category may no longer wish to operate a practice and
all the administrative issues that accompany it, but wish to continue working, even if just for a few months a year.
MDA Overview
Founded in 1987 and based in Norcross, Georgia, MDA is one of the three largest providers of locum tenens in the U.S. In
2008, on a pro forma basis it generated revenue of $175.3 million, as compared to revenue of $158.0 million in the prior year.
In 2008, MDA handled approximately 7,700 assignments for more than 1,300 clients utilizing its database of over 157,000
providers representing a wide range of medical specialties.
MDA also offers allied health providers temporary and permanent staffing opportunities at healthcare client facilities. In
addition, MDA is one of only three 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 MDA’s assignments.
The NCQA 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.
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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 because it
offers quality malpractice coverage.
MDA currently is the only multi-specialty medical staffing company that has procured an occurrence form policy from
Medical Protective Company, a Berkshire-Hathaway insurance company (AAA-rated by Standard & Poor’s). This represents
a substantial competitive advantage in the recruitment of physicians. In addition, 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.
Recruiting
Recruiters go through extensive training in both sales and marketing specialties in order to have continuity with providers and
hospitals to facilitate quick and personal service to every customer. Each recruiter covers one specialty and one geographic
region whereas competitors typically have separate sales and marketing personnel that can add more contacts and confusion
to the staffing process. MDA currently employs approximately 120 physician staffing recruiters throughout its organization,
including its Atlanta area headquarters, as well as offices in Denver and Dallas.
Operations
MDA successfully operates a multi-site business model with employees/recruiters primarily staffed at several locations
nationwide. Recruiters are responsible for managing accounts, and have incentives for collecting amounts due from
customers. This enables MDA to have a single point of contact for customers.
When it was initially founded, the locum tenens industry primarily served clinics, group practices and rural hospitals. As the
physician staffing industry matured, an increasing amount of business has been generated from serving hospitals (in both
urban/suburban and rural 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 or permanent basis.
MDA also provide services to various U.S. government institutions, including the Indian Health Services, the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Army, Air Force and other agencies. In 2008, approximately 59% of MDA’s business was from
hospitals and approximately 41% was from physician practice groups and other healthcare facilities.
Clinical Trials Services
The global pharmaceutical market reached $712 billion in 2007, according to industry intelligence source IMS Health, and
expects global sales to grow about 5% to more than $820 billion in 2009.
The discovery and development of a new medicine is an expensive and lengthy process. In 2007, the U.S. pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industry invested $58.8 billion in research and development (R&D). The R&D process takes an average of
more than 10 years to develop a drug at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion for a new medicine and $1.2 billion to develop a
biological treatment, according to a recent study from the Tufts University Center for the Study of Drug Development
(November 2006). For every 5,000 to 10,000 potential drug candidates that enter the discovery research stage, only about
2.5% to 5% make it to the preclinical phase. Of that percentage, only 0.05% to 0.1% will enter the clinical trial testing phase.
The result of those 5,000 to 10,000 candidates is just one regulatory-approved drug to market. There are currently more than
2,700 medicines in clinical trials or undergoing review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 4,600
indications.
Overview of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are one of the most important parts of the drug development process and also one of the most time-consuming.
Between 1999-2002 and 2003-2006, the length of the average clinical trial increased by nearly 70%, from 460 days to 780
days (Tufts CSDD). The clinical trial studies are not only expanding in time, but also growing in scope, as the average
number of participants needed for each clinical study increased from 1,700 to 4,300 over the last three decades (CISCRP,
Hoover Institution, US FDA). In addition, clinical studies are increasingly becoming more complex. In 2005, 72% of U.S.
clinical studies involved more than 85 procedures, 70% more than the number of studies in 2000 (Accenture, PhRMA).
Approximately 80,000 clinical trials are conducted in the U.S. each year sponsored by both industry and government. These
studies to advance medical science require the work of an estimated 200,000 research professionals and the involvement
of millions of study participants each year (CenterWatch).
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Clinical trials are conducted to collect data regarding the safety and efficacy of new drug and device development. There are
several steps and stages of approval in the clinical trials process before a drug or device can be sold in the consumer market,
if ever. Drug and device testing begins in the preclinical stage, which can involve years of experiments in animals and human
cells. Before advancing to the clinical stage, researches must submit an investigational new drug application, or IND, to the
FDA for approval to continue research and testing in humans. Once approved, human testing of experimental drugs and
devices can begin and is typically conducted in four phases. Each phase is considered a separate trial and, after completion of
each phase, investigators are required to submit their data for approval from the FDA before continuing to the next phase.
Clinical trials are conducted by teams of physicians and other clinical and data professionals in university facilities, hospitals
and physician offices around the world.
• Phase I studies assess the basic safety of a drug or device, including tolerance, absorption, metabolism and excretion.
This initial phase of testing, which can take several months to complete, usually includes a small number of healthy
volunteers (20 to 100), who are generally paid for participating in the study. About 70% of experimental drugs pass this
phase of testing (CenterWatch).
• Phase II studies test the efficacy of a drug or device. This second phase of testing can last from several months to two
years, and involves approximately 100 to 500 people. About one-third of experimental drugs successfully complete both
Phase I and Phase II studies (CenterWatch).
• Phase III studies involve randomized and blind testing in several hundred to several thousand patients. This large-scale
testing, which can last several years, provides the pharmaceutical company and the FDA with a more thorough
understanding of the effectiveness of the drug or device, the benefits and the range of possible adverse reactions. 70% to
90% of drugs that enter Phase III studies successfully complete this phase of testing (CenterWatch). Once Phase III is
complete, a pharmaceutical company can request FDA approval for marketing the drug.
• Phase IV studies, often called Post Marketing Surveillance Trials, are conducted after a drug or device has been
approved for consumer sale. These studies have become more prevalent in recent years as the trials can be used to
monitor long-term risks and benefits, evaluate dosage levels, and to record safety and efficacy data.
Outsourcing of Clinical Research
Research sponsors commonly partner with outsourcing providers to take advantage of their clinical research expertise, skilled
workforce and resources to help accelerate the development of treatments for the cure and prevention of disease. In 2007,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies spent approximately $57 billion on outsourcing, according to the economics
research and analytics division of Frost & Sullivan. Of this amount, approximately 25% was spent on clinical trials and is
expected to increase to 35% over the next five years.
The outsourcing of clinical research and testing developed mostly in the late 1990's as pharmaceutical R&D efforts became
more complex and competition in rapidly-growing therapeutic areas increased. Traditionally thought of as a short-term
strategy, outsourcing is now being used to lever the pharmaceutical industry’s core competencies to maximize productivity.
The global market for contract clinical research services is highly fragmented and comprises contract research organizations
(CROs) of varying size, as well as hundreds of niche service providers and independent consultants. In 2007, pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies spent approximately $8.5 billion on contracted clinical services.
Outsourcing offers a number of advantages to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Outsourcing provides solutions
to the following issues pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies may face.
• Sponsors can convert the fixed costs of maintaining the personnel, expertise and facilities into variable costs
• Supplemental expertise not available in-house
• Knowledge of regulatory affairs in a particular country of interest
•
Increased complexity of clinical trials
• Necessity for medical and clinical knowledge in specific therapeutic areas or indications
•
Increased amount of data required from clinical trials
• Multinational and multi-center nature of current clinical trials
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• Requirement for large patient populations
• Regionalized diseases
Current Outsourcing Market
Over the last few years, economic and competitive forces have led pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to reduce
corporate expenses and scale down their development, manufacturing and marketing operations. Pharmaceutical companies
have traditionally been highly insulated from economic down-turns because people relying on drug treatments still need their
medications. Historically, the greatest influence on changes in R&D spending and the approach toward more or less
outsourcing has been merger and acquisition activity where the acquirer re-evaluates the pipelines, consolidates and then
moves forward again with their R&D activities. In the current economic environment, however, the global economy has
negatively impacted pharmaceutical companies and, more so, smaller biotechnology companies constrained by a lack of
access to private and public capital. While their research pipelines have been fairly diverse, pharmaceutical companies are
now making a conscious effort to focus on their most promising development projects in their respective core clinical areas
of expertise while significantly reducing or eliminating other projects. This has resulted in lay-offs, closures or sale of plant
facilities, and other cost-saving measures. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies are seeking to bolster their pipelines
by licensing and/or acquiring potential new products and technologies, and are also taking advantage of the current situation
to acquire biotechnology companies at very low multiples.
Our Business
We provide a flexible range of traditional contract staffing, clinical research outsourcing, drug safety monitoring, and
regulatory consulting services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as to contract
research organization (CRO) customers. In 2008, segment revenue was $99.1 million. We market these services through
multiple brand offerings, which have allowed us to establish a significant geographic footprint in the U.S. along with an
important presence in the European market. The brands that comprise our clinical trials services segment are as follows:
• ClinForce provides clinical research professionals for in-sourced and out-sourced contract assignments and permanent
placement services. Customers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as CROs.
Acquired in March 2001, it is headquartered at the Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina.
• Metropolitan Research Associates (MRA) provides clinical trials management services and functional drug safety
solutions. MRA has extensive experience across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including: women’s health, central
nervous system (CNS), pain management, infectious disease and obesity. Customers include pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and medical device companies. Acquired in August 2006, it is based in New York, New York.
• AKOS provides drug safety, regulatory and clinical trial services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device
companies, as well as CROs, in Europe, the U.S., Canada and Asia. Acquired in June 2007, it is based in Harpenden
Hertfordshire, England and is strategically located inside what is considered to be the UK’s research triangle that extends
outward from London to Cambridge and Oxford Universities.
• Assent provides contract staffing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers primarily in the western U.S.
Acquired in July 2007, it is based in Cupertino, California.
Recruitment
We recruit qualified candidates for our clinical trials services segment from across the U.S. and internationally for clinical
research opportunities, which include temporary and permanent positions with our clients and within our CRO services
businesses. For our contract staffing services businesses, we recruit professionals from numerous clinical research
disciplines, including: clinical monitors/contract research associates, clinical project managers, site coordinators/contract
research coordinators, drug safety personnel, medical monitors, regulatory affairs personnel, medical writers, clinical data
professionals, statistical and SAS programmers, and various preclinical related professionals. Recruiting for our CRO
services businesses consist primarily of clinical monitors, clinical project managers, medical monitors, regulatory affairs
personnel, and drug safety associates.
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Other Human Capital Management Services
Education and Training Services
Our Cross Country Education (CCE) subsidiary, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, provides continuing education
programs to the healthcare industry. CCE offers one-day seminars and e-learning, as well as national and regional
conferences on topics relevant to nurses and other healthcare professionals. In 2008, CCE held more than 5,500 seminars and
conferences that were attended by more than 170,000 registrants in 259 cities across the U.S. We extend these educational
services to our field employees on favorable terms as a recruitment and retention tool.
Retained Search
Our Cejka Search subsidiary, headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, is a nationally recognized retained search organization
that provides physician and executive search services throughout the U.S. exclusively to the healthcare industry, including
physician group practices, hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, managed care, and other healthcare
organizations.
Additional Information About Our Business
Growth and Investment Strategy
Our long-term corporate strategy for growth includes: attracting additional healthcare facility customers and healthcare
professional clients and providers; strengthening our market position and margins in our businesses; generating strong cash
flow; making strategic acquisitions in high growth, high margin businesses that will strengthen and broaden our market
presence; and maintaining a strong balance sheet to provide financial flexibility.
Competitive Strengths
We are a diversified provider of healthcare staffing services. This allows us to offer the most comprehensive suite of staffing
and outsourcing services to the U.S. healthcare market. Effective with the MDA acquisition, we believe:
• We are one of the top two providers of nurse and allied staffing services.
• We are one of the top three providers of locum tenens and physician search services.
• We are one of the top five providers of clinical trials staffing services.
Since becoming a public company in 2001, we have significantly expanded our revenue mix across sectors of healthcare
staffing services and customers. For the fourth quarter of 2008, our nurse and allied staffing business segment was 60% of
our revenue; our physician staffing business segment was 22% of our revenue; our clinical trials services business segment
was 12% of our revenue and our other human capital management services business segment was 6% of our revenue. This
compares to our revenue mix in 2001 in which 88% was from our nurse and allied staffing business segment, 6% from our
clinical trials services business segment and 6% from our other human capital management services business segment.
Within our business segments, we also believe we have:
• Brand Recognition. We have operated in the travel nurse staffing industry for more than 30 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 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. while competing in what continues to be the fastest growing sector of healthcare staffing. Since entering the
clinical trials services business in 1998, our business has grown organically and by acquisition into a provider of a broad
range of services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies from our strong national footprint in
the U.S. along with an international presence. Our Cejka Search brand is ranked among the top five physician placement
firms in the U.S.
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•
Strong and Diverse Client Relationships. We provide healthcare staffing and outsourcing solutions to a national client
base represented by more than 5,000 contracts with hospitals and healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, and other healthcare providers. No single client accounts for more than 3% of our revenue.
• Vendor Management Capabilities. Our Cross Country Staffing brand offers its vendor management 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. Cross Country Staffing also seeks to gain preferred provider relationships with hospitals and health systems.
• Recruiting and Employee Retention. We are a leader in recruiting and retaining highly qualified healthcare professionals
from throughout the U.S. and Canada. We also recruit RNs internationally from certain other English-speaking foreign
countries, assist them in obtaining U.S. nursing licenses, sponsor them for U.S. permanent residency visas, and then
place them on assignments in domestic acute care hospitals. In 2008, thousands of healthcare professionals applied with
us through our differentiated recruitment brands. Referrals generated a majority of our new candidates. We believe we
offer appealing assignments, competitive compensation packages, attractive housing options and other valuable benefits.
• The Joint Commission Certification. Our nurse staffing brands of Cross Country Staffing and MedStaff are certified by
The Joint Commission under its Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program.
• Quality Assurance. MDA’s Credent credential verification division is NCQA certified, one of only a handful of
competitors to achieve such certification.
• Continuing Education. Cross Country University, the first educational program in the travel nurse industry to be
accredited by the American Nurse Credentialing Center, enables us to provide continuing education credits to our RN
field employees, as well as provide accredited continuing education to other healthcare professionals.
•
•
Scalable and Efficient Operating Structure. At year-end 2008, the databases for our travel nurse and allied staffing
businesses included more than 250,000 RNs and other healthcare professionals who completed job applications with us.
Similarly, the database for our physicians staffing business included more than 150,000 physicians representing dozens
of specialties. 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.
Strong Management Team with Extensive Healthcare Staffing and Acquisition Experience. Our management team has
played a key role in the growth and development of the healthcare staffing industry. Our management team averages
more than 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has consistently demonstrated the ability to successfully
identify, make and integrate strategic acquisitions.
Competitive Environment
All of our businesses operate in highly competitive markets. In our nurse and allied and our 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, compliance with regulatory requirements, having
an understanding of the client’s work environment, risk management policies and coverages, and general industry reputation.
Our clinical trials services business shares these same competitive factors while also recognizing that our pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and medical device company customers operate in a highly regulated environment. Being able to successfully
provide our staffing and outsourcing services for various types of clinical projects includes our clinical experience and
expertise, understanding of the regulatory process, price, overall project management, recruitment and project oversight of
personnel, quality control, data management, communication, and timely delivery of materials, documents and data. 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, R&D efforts and spending related to
development of potential new drugs and devices, mergers and acquisitions, 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, wages and benefits, speed of placements, recruitment
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team customer service, quality of accommodations, and overall industry reputation. We believe that healthcare professionals
seeking temporary employment through us are also pursuing employment through other means, including other temporary
staffing firms. Therefore, the ability to move more quickly than our competitors to candidate inquiries and submit candidates
for consideration, are important factors in our ability to fill assignments. We focus on retaining field employees by providing
high-quality customer service along with long-term benefits, such as 401(k) plans and bonuses. Although we believe that the
relative size of our databases and economies of scale derived from the size 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, barriers to entry are relatively low, but achieving substantial scale
is very challenging. We believe the utilization of temporary nurse staffing services by hospitals is 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 thousands of small local providers. National competitors in nurse staffing
include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., On Assignment, Inc., CHG Group, Medfinders, Medical Staffing Network Holdings,
Inc., and Jackson Healthcare.
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 to provide 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 Group, On Assignment, Jackson
Healthcare, and several other privately-held companies providing locum tenens.
Clinical Trials Services
The clinical trials services industry is highly competitive and fragmented. In addition to the same competitive factors outlined
above, our clinical trials services business has the added challenges associated with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
medical device company customers that operate in a highly regulated environment. Being able to successfully provide our
staffing and outsourcing services for various types of clinical projects includes our clinical experience and expertise,
understanding of the regulatory process, price, overall knowledge of project management, recruitment and project oversight
of personnel, quality control, data management, communication, and timely delivery of materials, documents and data. We
also compete to recruit a wide range of qualified professionals in the U.S. and internationally across numerous clinical
research disciplines for our staffing, drug safety, CRO and regulatory services assignments. Competitors include divisions of
publicly-held companies such as Kforce, Inc., inVentiv Health, Inc. and Kelly Services, as well as hundreds of niche service
providers and free-lance consultants. We also supply our clinical trials staffing services to, and sometimes compete with,
large CROs such as Quintiles, Covance Inc., Pharmaceutical Products Development, Inc. and Kendle International, among
others.
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 travel staffing operations. These systems are designed to 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 and field
employees 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.
Our financial, management reporting and human resources systems are managed on PeopleSoft®. PeopleSoft is 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.
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Workers’ Compensation and Professional Liability
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.
Furthermore, in determining our reserve, we include reserves for estimated claims incurred but not reported. The ultimate
cost of workers’ compensation and professional liability insurance costs will depend on actual costs incurred to settle the
claims and may differ from the amounts reserved by us for those claims.
Workers’ compensation benefits are provided under a partially self-insured plan. For claims reported prior to September 1,
2008, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier required us to fund a reserve for payment of claims. Those funds are
maintained by the insurance carrier. We had approximately $5.0 million and $6.7 million recorded as prepaid workers’
compensation expense included in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively. Effective September 1, 2008, we have moved from a pre-funded program to a letter of
credit structure to guarantee payments of claims. At December 31, 2008, we had outstanding $3.3 million in standby letters
of credit related to workers’ compensation policies.
Professional liability benefits are provided under various self-insured, claims-made and occurrence based plans depending on
the subsidiary and the applicable policy year. Effective October 2004, we implemented individual occurrence-based
professional liability insurance policies with no deductible, for virtually all of our working nurses and allied professionals,
other than those employed through our MedStaff subsidiary. This coverage substantially replaced a $2.0 million per-claim
layer of self-insured exposure. Effective October 1, 2008, the individual professional liability insurance policies were
replaced with one policy that insures each individual nurse for $2.0 million per occurrence and $4.0 million in the aggregate,
as well as the corporation which shares those limits. This policy has no deductible and does not cover healthcare
professionals working through MedStaff or MDA.
Separately, our MedStaff subsidiary has a claims-made professional liability policy with a limit of $2.0 million per
occurrence, $4.0 million in the aggregate and a $25,000 deductible. In addition, MDA has an occurrence-based professional
liability policy with a limit of $1.0 million per occurrence, $3.0 million in the aggregate and a $0.5 million deductible for
MDA, its independent contractor physicians, CRNAs and allied health professionals. MDA’s $0.5 million 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 it is required to guarantee the payment of claims to its
insured party’s primary medical malpractice insurance carrier via a $5.0 million letter of credit. The value of the letter of
credit is secured by $5.0 million of cash held by the Captive as restricted cash.
Subject to certain limitations, we also have $5.0 million per occurrence and $10.0 million in the aggregate in umbrella
liability insurance coverage, after the individual policies, MedStaff’s policy and the $2.0 million self-insured primary
coverage, as applicable, have been exhausted.
Professional Licensure
Nurses, physicians and most other healthcare professionals employed by us are required to be individually licensed or
certified under applicable state law. In addition, the healthcare professionals that we staff are frequently required to be
certified to provide certain medical care, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support
(ACLS), depending on the positions in which they are placed. Our comprehensive compliance program is designed to ensure
that our employees possess all necessary licenses and certifications, and we endeavor to ensure that our employees, including
nurses and therapists, 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
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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. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical diagnostic companies are subject to regulations
of the FDA in the U.S. and similar regulatory agencies in other countries.
Immigration
Changes in immigration law and procedures following September 11, 2001, have slowed our ability to recruit foreign nurses
to meet demand, and changes to such procedures in the future could further hamper our overseas recruiting efforts. In
addition, the use of foreign nurses entails greater difficulty in ensuring that each professional has the proper credentials and
licensure.
Regulations Applicable to Our Business
Our business is subject to extensive 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
eligibility of our foreign nurses to work in the U.S., 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 on a national basis 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, 2008, we had approximately 1,430 corporate employees and during 2008, we had an average of 4,463
full-time equivalent field employees in our nurse and allied staffing segment. 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.
Item 1A. 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.
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, physician groups and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, some of which seek to fill positions
with either regular or temporary employees. Currently, there is a shortage of certain qualified nurses and physicians in most
areas of the United States and competition for these professionals remains intense. The current slowdown in the economy
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
by our clients has slowed, 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.
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 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
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applicable. Our competitors might increase hourly wages or other benefits to induce healthcare professionals to take
assignments with them. If we do not raise wages or other benefits in response to such increases by our competitors, we could
face difficulties attracting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals. In addition, if we raise wages in response to our
competitors’ wage 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
several 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.
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. We may have fixed costs, including housing costs, associated with terminated arrangements that we will be
obligated to pay post-termination. Our clinical trials services business is conducted under longer-term contracts with
individual clients that may perform numerous clinical trials. Some of these contracts are terminable by the clients without
cause upon 30 to 60 days’ notice. Sponsors may decide to immediately discontinue trials at any time if compounds or
biologics being studied do not meet targeted expectations. Clients utilizing our clinical trials services may also decide to
offshore work outside of the United States to countries where we do not currently provide those services and this could
adversely impact our business. Clients may also develop their own in-house capabilities that may replace their need to utilize
our staffing and outsourcing clinical trials services. The delay, loss, termination or unfavorable change in the scope of work
performed under a clinical trials services contract could negatively impact our business.
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 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 may reduce their use of temporary employees or other healthcare professionals before undertaking layoffs of their
regular 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 a trend emerges toward providing healthcare in alternative settings, as opposed
to acute care hospitals, in-patient admissions at our clients’ facilities could decline. 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.
Any failure by our clinical trials services business to comply with certain policies and procedures and regulations specific
to that business could harm our reputation and operating results.
Our clinical trials service business operates in a highly regulated industry. Any failure on our part to comply with the policies
and procedures established for a trial or to comply with existing regulations could result in the termination of ongoing
research or the disqualification of data for submission to the Federal Drug Administration (“FDA”) and other regulatory
authorities. This could harm our reputation, our ability to win future business and our operating results. In addition, if the
18
FDA or another similar regulatory body finds a material breach by us of sound clinical practices, it could result in the
termination of a clinical trial and that could harm our reputation, our ability to win future business and our operating results.
The nature of our clinical trials services contracts could hurt our operating results.
Some of our contracts are fixed price and, as such, we have limits on the amounts we can charge for our clinical trials
services. As a result, the profitability of this business could be negatively impacted due to changes in the timing and progress
of large contracts. In addition, we may be responsible for cost overruns on certain contracts unless the scope of work is
revised from the original contract terms and we are able to negotiate an amendment with the client shifting the additional cost
to the client. If we experience significant cost overruns, it may result in lower gross margins on those projects.
Our clinical trials business exposes us to potential liability for personal injury and wrongful death claims that could affect
our reputation and operating results.
Our clinical trials services business is involved in the testing of new drugs and medical devices on volunteer human beings.
Due to the risk of personal injury or death to patients participating in clinical trials, we are at risk for being sued in personal
injury or wrongful death lawsuits due to possible unforeseen adverse side effects or the improper administration of a drug or
device. Many of these patients are already seriously ill. Under our contracts, we are typically indemnified unless the resulting
damages were caused by our negligence (e.g. serious adverse event is not reported timely to a sponsor or unblinding of
material for a study is not done timely to respond with appropriate information for patient safety reasons). We have limited
insurance coverage for certain events, however, the amount of our liability could materially impact our operating
performance and our reputation and our insurance program may not cover such event.
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 are spending an increased amount of management’s time and resources, since the inception of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, to comply with changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosures. The
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. This process has required us to hire additional personnel and has
resulted in additional accounting and legal expenses. 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.
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 exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. Future federal and state legislation or
evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce, or change conditions for, our clients’ reimbursement.
Limitations on reimbursement could reduce our clients’ cash flows, 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 such acquisition. 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.
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.
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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 and could reduce
our revenue and earnings per share.
Our industry is subject to many complex federal, state and international laws and regulations related to, among other things,
the eligibility of our foreign nurses to work in the U.S., the licensure of professionals, the payment of our field employees
(e.g., wage and hour laws, employment taxes and income tax withholdings, etc.) and the operations of our business generally.
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 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
past acquisitions and any future acquisitions, to determine if impairment has occurred. Interim reviews must also be
performed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. If the testing
performed indicates that impairment has occurred, we are required to record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference
between the value 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 the fourth quarter of 2008, we recorded impairment charges of
$244.1 million, pretax, 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, 2008, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets (net of amortization)
represented 93.8% of our total assets.
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 behalf of the client. 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. However, our insurance coverage may not cover all claims against us or continue to be
available to us at a reasonable cost. If we are unable to maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to
substantial liabilities.
If our insurance costs increase significantly, these incremental costs could negatively affect our financial results.
The costs related to obtaining and maintaining professional and general liability insurance and health insurance for healthcare
providers has been increasing. If the cost of carrying this insurance continues to increase significantly, we will recognize an
21
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. While we do have certain business insurance, it may not be sufficient to cover
our need. We caution you that 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.
Until the sale by certain selling stockholders of a significant portion of their remaining shares, those selling stockholders
will be able to substantially influence the outcome of all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, regardless of
the preferences of other stockholders.
Charterhouse Equity Partners III (CEP III) and CHEF Nominees Limited (CHEF) own approximately 8% of our outstanding
common stock and continue to have two designees serving on our Board of Directors (which is currently comprised of seven
members). Accordingly, they will be able to substantially influence:
•
the election of Directors
• management and policies; and
•
the outcome of any corporate transactions or other matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including mergers,
consolidations and the sale of substantially all of our assets.
Under our stockholders’ agreement, the CEP Investors had the right to designate two directors for nomination to our Board of
Directors. This number decreased (i) to one director when CEP reduced its ownership pursuant to a Secondary Offering in
November 2006 by more than 50% of their holdings prior to our initial public offering and (ii) the number will decrease to
zero upon a reduction of ownership by more than 90% of their holdings prior to our initial public offering. Their interests
may conflict with the interests of the other holders of our common stock.
A registration statement under the Securities Act covering resale of CEP III’s stock is 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 CEP III.
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
1,500,000 shares of common stock for our 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. Options to purchase 2,059,974 shares of common
stock were issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009 of which, options to purchase 2,046,514 shares were vested. In
addition, 316,164 shares of stock appreciation rights were issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2009, 40,626 of which
were vested. Shares of restricted stock outstanding as of February 28, 2009, were 179,884. 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.
22
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.
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.
The current recessionary conditions and the continuation or intensification of any continued volatility in the financial markets
may have an adverse impact on the availability of credit to our customers and businesses generally and could lead to a further
weakening of the U.S. and global economies. To the extent that disruption in the financial markets continues and/or
intensifies, it has the potential to materially affect our customers’ ability to tap into debt and/or equity markets to continue
their ongoing operations, have access to cash and/or pay their debts as they come due, all of which could reasonably be
expected to have an adverse impact on the number of open positions for healthcare staff they request, as well as their ability
to pay for our temporary staffing services. Conditions in the credit markets and the economy generally could adversely
impact our business and frustrate or prohibit us from refinancing the revolving loan portion of our indebtedness on terms
favorable to us when it comes due on November 10, 2010.
The disruptions that the financial markets are currently undergoing have led to unprecedented governmental intervention on
an emergency basis. The results of these actions have been unclear, resulting in confusion and uncertainty which in itself has
been materially detrimental to the efficient functioning of the markets. It is impossible to predict what, if any, additional
interim or permanent governmental restrictions may be imposed on the markets and/or the effect of such restrictions on us,
our customers and the operations of corporate entities generally in the United States.
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.
Our existing credit facility currently contains financial covenants that require us to operate at or below a maximum leverage
ratio. 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.
Our results may be adversely affected by the impact that disruptions in the credit and financial markets have on our
customers.
The deterioration of the financial markets and the economy generally have created increasingly difficult conditions for our
hospital clients and the financial institutions they rely on for access to liquidity. In recent months, such volatility has reached
unprecedented levels. These events could negatively impact our results of operations and financial conditions if this
economic downturn persists as it may negatively impact our clients’ financial conditions and their ability to pay for our
healthcare staffing services. 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.
23
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Properties.
We do not own any real property. Our principal leases as of December 31, 2008 are listed below.
Location
Boca Raton, Florida
Headquarters and nurse and allied staffing
70,406 May 1, 2018
Function
Square
Feet
Lease Expiration
Norcross, Georgia
Temporary physician staffing and allied staffing
50,000
January 31, 2010
administration
offices
Durham, North Carolina
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Clinical trials staffing headquarters
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
Malden, Massachusetts
Creve Coeur, Missouri
New York, New York
Tampa, Florida
general office use
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
general office use
Retained search headquarters
Clinical trials staffing office
Nurse and allied staffing administration and
general office use
and February 28,
2014
37,851 September 30, 2013
31,959 February 1, 2014
31,662 June 30, 2012
27,051 June 14, 2017
16,915 May 30, 2010
15,698 February 15, 2015
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Brentwood, Tennessee
Clinical trials staffing operations site
Education training corporate office
14,459 September 30, 2013
14,157 August 31, 2014
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.
On February 18, 2005, the Company’s MedStaff subsidiary became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Maureen
Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.) filed in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County. The lawsuit
relates to only MedStaff corporate employees working in California. The claims alleged under this lawsuit are generally
similar in nature to those brought by Darrelyn Renee Henry in a lawsuit against the Company, which was dismissed
(Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., et.al.).
The lawsuit alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the California Labor Code, the California Business
and Professions Code, and recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. MedStaff currently has less than 50 corporate employees
in California. The Plaintiffs, Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda, purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others
similarly situated, and allege that MedStaff failed, under California law, to provide meal periods and rest breaks and pay for
those missed meal periods and rest breaks; failed to compensate the employees for all hours worked; failed to compensate the
employees for working overtime; failed to keep appropriate records to keep track of time worked; failed to pay Plaintiffs and
their purported class as required by law. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining MedStaff from engaging in
the practices challenged in the complaint and for full restitution of all monies, for interest, for certain penalties provided for
by the California Labor Code and for attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 5, 2007, the court granted class certification. On
October 16, 2008, MedStaff, Inc. filed a Motion to Decertify the class which was denied on December 19, 2008. The
Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.
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.
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.
24
PART II
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), a new
market tier created by the NASDAQ Stock Market that became effective on July 1, 2006. Our common stock commenced
trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “CCRN” on October 25, 2001. NASDAQ became operational as
a stock exchange on August 1, 2006. 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.
Closing
Sale Prices
Calendar Period
2008
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 ....................................................................... $ 14.42 $ 10.11
Quarter Ended June 30, 2008 .......................................................................... $ 15.99 $ 11.49
Quarter Ended September 30, 2008................................................................. $ 17.34 $ 12.49
Quarter Ended December 31, 2008 ................................................................. $ 16.71 $ 7.11
High
Low
2007
Quarter Ended March 31, 2007 ....................................................................... $ 23.24 $ 17.29
Quarter Ended June 30, 2007 .......................................................................... $ 20.61 $ 16.16
Quarter Ended September 30, 2007................................................................. $ 19.32 $ 14.15
Quarter Ended December 31, 2007 ................................................................. $ 19.01 $ 12.97
25
The following graph compares the cumulative 5-year total return provided shareholders on Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.'s
common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Composite index and the Dow Jones US Health Care
Providers index. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our common
stock and in each of the indexes on December 31, 2003, and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2008.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., The NASDAQ Composite Index
And The Dow Jones US Health Care Providers Index
$250
$200
$150
$100
$50
$0
12/03
3/04
6/04
9/04
12/04
3/05
6/05
9/05
12/05
3/06
6/06
9/06
12/06
3/07
6/07
9/07
12/07
3/08
6/08
9/08
12/08
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
NASDAQ Composite
Dow Jones US Health Care Providers
*$100 invested on 12/31/03 in stock & index-including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
12/03
3/04
6/04
9/04
12/04
3/05
6/05
9/05
12/05
3/06
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
NASDAQ Composite
Dow Jones US Health Care Providers
100.00
100.00
100.00
111.21
100.18
107.34
121.16
103.16
108.54
103.47
96.49
108.14
120.69
110.08
130.85
111.88
101.53
145.97
113.48
104.08
160.11
123.90
109.76
166.90
119.03
112.88
176.06
129.24
120.64
173.25
6/06
9/06
12/06
3/07
6/07
9/07
12/07
3/08
6/08
9/08
12/08
121.43
112.68
157.28
113.48
117.54
168.73
145.66
126.51
173.30
121.70
127.08
181.78
111.35
136.04
187.57
116.62
141.77
190.30
95.06
138.13
206.57
82.58
118.70
146.98
96.19
119.92
138.85
108.74
106.41
137.38
58.68
80.47
112.23
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
26
As of March 5, 2009, there were 104 stockholders of record of our common stock. In addition, there are approximately 3,484
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. We currently intend to use available cash from
operations in the operation and expansion of our business or to retire and pay down debt. Covenants in our credit agreement
limit our ability to repurchase our common stock and declare and pay cash dividends on our common stock. As of
December 31, 2008, pursuant to the terms of our credit agreement covenants, we are not able to use cash for either dividend
or stock repurchases.
On February 28, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may
purchase up to an additional 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 the Company’s discretion. The current stock repurchase authorization commenced upon the completion of the
May 10, 2006 authorization to repurchase up to 1.5 million shares; which commenced upon the completion of the
November 2002 authorization to purchase up to 1.5 million shares.
During the three month period ended December 31, 2008, we did not purchase any shares of our common stock due to a
prohibition in our credit agreement that does not allow us to repurchase our shares if our debt leverage ratio is above 2 to 1.
27
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007, and 2006 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, 2006, 2005 and 2004 and for the years
ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, are derived from the consolidated financial statements of Cross Country Healthcare,
Inc., that have been audited but not included in this Report.
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.
2008 (a)
Year Ended December 31,
2006(c)
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
2007 (b)
2005 (d)
2004
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
Revenue from services ...................................................................... $
Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses............................................................
Selling, general and administrative expenses ..............................
Bad debt expense.........................................................................
Depreciation ................................................................................
Amortization ...............................................................................
Impairment charges (e)................................................................
Legal settlement charge (f)..........................................................
Secondary offering costs (g)........................................................
Total operating expenses .............................................................
(Loss) income from operations .........................................................
Other expenses:
Foreign exchange (gain) loss.......................................................
Interest expense, net ....................................................................
Loss on early extinguishment of debt (h) ....................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes.......
Income tax (benefit) expense ............................................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations........................................
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (i) ...........................
Net (loss) income .............................................................................. $
Net (loss) income per common share – basic:
(Loss) income from continuing operations .................................. $
Discontinued operations ..............................................................
Net (loss) income .............................................................................. $
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted:
(Loss) income from continuing operations .................................. $
Discontinued operations ..............................................................
Net (loss) income .............................................................................. $
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
734,247 $
718,272
$
655,152 $
645,393 $
654,111
541,660
136,815
951
7,637
3,166
244,094
—
—
934,323
(200,076)
(132)
4,225
—
(204,169)
(61,224)
(142,945)
—
(142,945) $
(4.64) $
—
(4.64) $
(4.61) $
—
(4.61) $
543,608
122,692
1,559
6,309
2,051
—
34
—
676,253
42,019
93
2,587
—
39,339
14,759
24,580
—
24,580
0.77
—
0.77
0.76
—
0.76
502,468
110,172
459
5,449
1,570
—
6,704
154
626,976
28,176
—
1,464
—
26,712
10,146
16,566
503,103
104,647
1,177
5,159
1,424
—
—
151
615,661
29,732
—
3,458
1,359
24,915
9,575
15,340
70
16,636 $
(588)
14,752 $
0.52 $
0.00
0.52 $
0.51 $
0.00
0.51 $
0.48 $
(0.02)
0.46 $
0.47 $
(0.02)
0.45 $
$
$
$
$
$
509,571
99,531
957
5,140
1,580
—
—
4
616,783
37,328
—
4,789
—
32,539
11,936
20,603
56
20,659
0.65
0.00
0.65
0.63
0.00
0.63
Basic............................................................................................ 30,825,099
Diluted......................................................................................... 31,007,352
31,972,681
32,484,241
32,077,240
32,737,419
32,228,978
32,773,634
31,992,752
32,578,319
2008
2007
Year Ended December 31,
2006
(Net cash dollars in thousands)
2005
2004
Other Operating Data
Nurse and allied staffing statistical data:
FTEs (j).............................................................................................
Weeks worked (k) .............................................................................
Average revenue per FTE per week (l) ............................................. $
Cash flow data:
Net cash provided by operating activities ......................................... $
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities ........................... $
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities........................... $
4,463
232,076
2,266 $
5,025
261,300
2,207
5,001
260,052
$
2,134 $
5,194
270,088
2,048
$
5,408
281,216
2,028
50,993 $
(129,561) $
80,077 $
$
35,880
(35,328) $
$
8,431
32,918 $
(27,848) $
(5,070) $
$
30,790
(8,412) $
(22,378) $
43,268
4,007
(47,275)
28
2008
2007
Year Ended December 31,
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
2005
2004
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Working capital (m) ......................................................................... $
Cash and cash equivalents ................................................................ $
Total assets (m) ................................................................................ $
Total debt (n) .................................................................................... $
Stockholders’ equity (e).................................................................... $
———————
(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).
105,099 $
10,173 $
425,849 $
133,080 $
234,023 $
98,428 $
9,067 $
535,005 $
39,451 $
390,437 $
72,810 $
— $
483,601 $
25,429 $
359,286 $
85,208
—
500,926
21,529
374,856
$
$
$
$
$
71,929
—
455,995
42,274
346,374
(b) Our 2007 results include results from the acquisitions of AKOS Limited (AKOS) and Assent Consulting (Assent) from
their acquisition dates of June 6, 2007 and July 18, 2007, respectively. Refer to further discussion in our notes to the
consolidated financial statements (Note 4 – Acquisitions).
(c) Our 2006 results include the results from the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Metropolitan Research
Associates, LLC and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC (collectively “Metropolitan Research”) from
August 31, 2006, the date of acquisition. Refer to further discussion in our notes to the consolidated financial
statements (Note 4-Acquisitions).
(e)
(d) During the second quarter of 2005, we increased our reserve for professional liability insurance by $5.3 million, pretax,
based on an independent actuarial calculation which reflected unfavorable developments relating to certain professional
liability cases.
Impairment charges include goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges pursuant to FASB Statement
No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-
Lived Assets. As a result of its annual goodwill impairment analysis, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company
recorded a $241.0 million goodwill impairment related to its nurse and allied staffing business segment. In addition, the
Company recorded a $3.1 million impairment charge related to a specific customer relationship in its clinical trials
services business segment. Refer to further discussion of these impairment charges in our notes to the consolidated
financial statements (Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets).
(f) During the third quarter of 2006, we reached an agreement in principle to settle the wage and hour class action lawsuit,
Cossack, et.al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc. On March 5, 2007, a final settlement of the
matter was approved by the court. During 2006, the Company accrued a pre-tax charge of $6.7 million ($4.2 million
after taxes), representing the final settlement amount, which was paid in 2007.
(g) Secondary offering costs include registration statement filings and public offering expenses incurred as a result of our
secondary offerings in September 2006 and April 2005. We did not register any shares of our common stock pursuant
to these registration statements. Accordingly, we did not receive any proceeds from these offerings and, did not
capitalize any of the associated costs. Refer to discussion in our notes to the consolidated financial statements (Note 13
– Stockholders’ Equity).
(h) Loss on early extinguishment of debt in the year ended December 31, 2005, relates to the write-off of debt issuance
(i)
costs associated with the prior credit facility, which was refinanced in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations reflects the operating results of Cross Country Consulting, Inc. These
amounts also include: 1) a $3.7 million pretax ($0.7 million after tax) gain recognized in the year ending December 31,
2004 relating to the sale of assets of our Jennings Ryan & Kolb and Gill/Balsano Consulting businesses to a third party;
and 2) impairment charges relating to our valuation of discontinued net assets of $0.8 million in the year ended
December 31, 2004. The remaining consulting practice was shut down in the third quarter of 2005 and, as a result, the
shut-down costs were allocated to the impairment charge related to that business.
FTEs represent the average number of nurse and allied contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.
(j)
(k) Weeks worked is calculated by multiplying the FTEs by the number of weeks during the respective period.
(l) Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTE per week is calculated by dividing the nurse and allied staffing
revenue by the number of weeks worked in the respective periods. Nurse and allied staffing revenue includes revenue
from permanent placement of nurses.
(m) The Company has classified its consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2008 through 2004, in
accordance with the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 03-08, Accounting for Claims-Made Insurance
and Retroactive Insurance Contracts, as explained in the notes to the consolidated financial statements (Note 2 -
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). The Company has presented the current and non-current portions of its
workers’ compensation and professional liability accounts as of December 31, 2008 and has reclassified its balance
29
sheet as of December 31, 2006 to conform to the current presentation. Periods prior to December 31, 2006 have not
been reclassified due to the excessive cost of applying the methodology, which, the Company believes outweighs the
benefit of the additional information.
(n) The Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility entered into on November 10, 2005 was amended and restated
as of September 9, 2008 (“Credit Agreement”) in connection with the acquisition of MDA. The Credit Agreement kept
in place an existing $75.0 million revolving loan facility and provided for a 5 year $125.0 million term loan facility
with Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities LLC and certain other
lenders. The proceeds from the term loan were used to fund the acquisition, pay financing related fees, and pay certain
acquisition expenses. The remainder of the proceeds was used to reduce our borrowings under our revolving loan
facility. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. - Long-term Debt for more information about the term
loan and amended Credit Agreement.
Item 7.
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 diversified leader in healthcare staffing services. We offer a comprehensive suite of staffing and outsourcing
services to the healthcare market, which together include being 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; a provider of
clinical trials services to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers; and a provider of other human capital
management services focused on healthcare.
We have a diversified revenue mix across business sectors and healthcare customers. For the quarter ended December 31,
2008, our nurse and allied staffing business segment represented approximately 60% of our revenue and is comprised of
travel and per diem nurse staffing and travel allied health staffing. Travel nurse staffing represented approximately 50% of
our total revenue and 84% 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 and respiratory therapists. Our physician staffing business segment represented approximately 22% of 2008 fourth
quarter revenue and consists of temporary physician staffing services (locum tenens). Our clinical trials services business
segment represented approximately 12% of our revenue and consists of service offerings that include traditional staffing, as
well as clinical trials management, drug safety monitoring and regulatory services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology
customers. Our other human capital management services business segment represented approximately 6% of our revenue
and consists of education and training and retained search services.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, our revenue was $734.2 million, and we had a net loss of $142.9 million, or $(4.61)
per diluted share. The net loss was a result of recording $244.1 million ($167.0 million after taxes) in impairment charges, a
separate line item on our consolidated statement of operations, in the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily related to our annual
goodwill impairment testing. During 2008, we generated $51.0 million in cash flow from operations and we ended the year
with total debt of $133.1 million and $10.2 million of unrestricted cash, resulting in a ratio of debt, net of unrestricted cash, to
total capitalization of 33.5% as of December 31, 2008.
In general, we evaluate the Company’s financial condition and operating results by revenue, contribution income (see
Segment Information), and net (loss) income. 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 and price.
Nurse and Allied Staffing
Our nurse and allied staffing services business segment is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Our travel staffing business
is operated from a relatively centralized business model servicing all of the assignments needs of our field employees and
client facilities through operation centers located in Boca Raton, Florida; Malden, Massachusetts; Newtown Square,
Pennsylvania; Tampa, Florida; and Norcross, Georgia. Our per diem staffing operations are provided through a network of
brand offices serving major metropolitan markets predominantly located on the east and west coasts of the U.S.
30
Our nurse and allied staffing revenue and earnings are impacted by the relative supply of nurses and demand for our staffing
services at healthcare facilities. 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 also believe demand for travel nurse staffing
services will be favorably impacted in the long-term by an aging population and an increasing shortage of nurses.
Cross Country Staffing is our core staffing brand that markets its staffing services to hospitals and healthcare facilities
throughout the U.S. as well as operates differentiated recruiting brands to recruit registered nurses and allied healthcare
professionals on a domestic and international basis. As a part of its business strategy, Cross Country Staffing is pursuing and
implementing exclusive and preferred provider relationships with hospital clients and group purchasing organizations. Cross
Country Staffing provides clients with a suite of solutions to facilitate the efficient management of their temporary workforce
while decreasing overall operating costs. These range from efficiency-enhancing technology to full vendor management
solutions.
We operate differentiated nurse and allied recruiting brands including Cross Country TravCorps, MedStaff, NovaPro, Cross
Country Local, Allied Health Group and Assignment America to recruit nurses and allied healthcare professionals on a
domestic and international basis. We believe that these professionals are attracted to us because we offer a wide range of
diverse assignments at attractive locations, competitive compensation and benefit packages, as well as high levels of
customer service.
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. The current environment for our nurse and allied staffing services reflects both hospital
admission trends that have been flat-to-down since the first quarter of 2003 and a deteriorating national labor market resulting
in higher levels of unemployment that translates into more uninsured people and fewer people with commercial health
insurance coverage. In a difficult operating environment, during the fourth quarter of 2008, demand for our travel nurse
staffing services, as expressed by the number of orders from our hospital and healthcare facility customers, declined
approximately 52 % from the prior year while our staffing volume decreased 15% year-over-year. However, we were able to
improve our margins through continued expansion of the bill-pay spread and a moderation of housing expenses. Bill rates, as
measured by revenue per hour in our travel nurse staffing business, continued to rise in the low single-digit range consistent
with our experience over the past several years. In addition, we experienced a decrease in booking activity from our clients
for future assignments. Our hospital clients have been increasingly reluctant to commit to a contract nurse, most often citing
low patient census and budget reductions as factors for their hesitation. On the supply side, we believe a nurse’s willingness
to leave a full-time hospital staff position is affected by the overall economic environment and its potential impact on the
employment security and income earnings potential of the nurse’s spouse. We believe that recent weakness in the nation’s
employment statistics is likely having an adverse effect on the willingness of nurses to relinquish the security of a full-time
hospital staff position in order to take a travel assignment with us. Due to these economic and market factors, there is the
potential for the business environment for nurse and allied staffing to weaken further during 2009.
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 which follows. MDA is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia.
Our physician staffing business segment provides multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) and allied
staffing services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states.
Clinical Trials Services
Our clinical trials services business segment is headquartered at the Research Triangle Park (“RTP”) in Durham, North
Carolina. We provide a flexible range of traditional contract staffing, clinical research outsourcing, drug safety monitoring,
and regulatory consulting services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as contract
research organization (CRO) customers. We market these services through multiple brand offerings that have allowed us to
establish a significant geographic footprint in the U.S. along with an important presence in the European market.
31
Our clinical trials services business has also experienced a reluctance from its clients to commit to project start-ups. Certain
projects scheduled to start in the fourth quarter were delayed until 2009. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers have
become less willing to use temporary staffing and out-sourcing services to meet their clinical trials objectives. We believe
this is driven by an effort to reduce expenses at all levels to conserve cash in the current economic environment at all levels.
This includes research efforts, which effectively delays the start of some clinical projects. However, we believe there are a
sufficient number of trials being planned that represent opportunities for this business both on a domestic and international
basis.
Other Human Capital Management Services
Education and Training Services
Our Cross Country Education (CCE) subsidiary, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, provides continuing education
programs to the healthcare industry. CCE offers one-day seminars and e-learning, as well as national and regional
conferences on topics relevant to nurses and other healthcare professionals. In 2008, CCE held more than 5,500 seminars and
conferences that were attended by more than 170,000 registrants in 259 cities across the U.S. We extend these educational
services to our field employees on favorable terms as a recruitment and retention tool.
Retained Search
Our Cejka Search subsidiary, headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, is a nationally recognized retained search organization
that provides physician and executive search services throughout the U.S. exclusively to the healthcare industry, including
physician group practices, hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, managed care, and other healthcare
organizations.
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 as discussed below. 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, 2008.
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, sports medicine clinics and schools. Our physician staffing services revenue is primarily received
from hospitals and group practices. Our clinical trials services revenue is received primarily from companies in the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, as well as from contract research organizations and acute care
hospitals conducting clinical research trials. 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 cases, by third-party administrative payers.
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 compensation includes 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 and typically a shorter duration for physician independent contractors and typically a longer term
for our clinical trials staffing employees. Our staffing employees are hourly employees whose contract specifies 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,
32
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 vendor management services.
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, 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 vendor management services.
Management fees are included in some of our clinical research contracts that cover the life of a project. These fees are
recognized on a straight-line basis for the specific length of the project.
Acquisitions
MDA Holdings, Inc.
On September 9, 2008, we consummated the acquisition of MDA. We paid $115.9 million in cash at closing, which included
$3.6 million as an estimated net working capital adjustment which was subject to final adjustments. Of the cash paid at
closing, approximately $8.7 million was being held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities (Indemnification Escrow)
and $0.3 million was being held in escrow to cover any net working capital adjustments (Net Working Capital Escrow).
During the fourth quarter of 2008, approximately $1.6 million of the Indemnification Escrow was released to us and recorded
to goodwill as a reduction in purchase price. Also during the fourth quarter of 2008, we finalized the net working capital
adjustment and calculated an additional payment to the sellers of approximately $0.1 million which was paid and included in
goodwill as additional purchase price. In connection with this net working capital adjustment, the entire Net Working Capital
Escrow of $0.3 million was also released to the sellers. Additionally, a post-closing adjustment to the purchase price of
approximately $0.3 million was paid to the sellers in the fourth quarter of 2008 and is included in goodwill as additional
purchase price.
The transaction also includes an earnout provision based on 2008 and 2009 performance criteria. This contingent
consideration is not related to the sellers’ employment. If the earnout payments are made, they will be allocated to goodwill
as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141, Business Combinations. In the second quarter of
2009, we expect to pay an earnout related to the 2008 performance, which amount has not been finalized at the date of this
filing.
Our senior secured revolving credit facility entered into on November 10, 2005 was amended and restated as of September 9,
2008 (“Credit Agreement”) in connection with the acquisition of MDA. The Credit Agreement kept in place an existing
$75.0 million revolving loan facility and provided for a 5 year $125.0 million term loan facility with Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities LLC and certain other lenders. The proceeds from the
term loan were used to fund the acquisition, pay financing related fees, and pay certain acquisition expenses. The remainder
of the proceeds was used to reduce our borrowings under our revolving loan facility. See the consolidated financial
statements Note 7 - Long-term Debt, for more information about the term loan and amended Credit Agreement.
Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, MDA provides multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) and allied
staffing services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states. MDA is a leading provider of locum tenens staffing solutions.
MDA has an in-house NCQA-certified Credentials Verification Organization which verifies critical credentials prior to
physician assignments. It also offers its physicians occurrence-based malpractice coverage, as compared to less desirable
claims-made policies offered by its main competitors. The acquisition of MDA solidifies our position as a leading national
provider of healthcare staffing solutions. We expect to benefit from a more diversified revenue stream as physicians are
viewed as revenue generators by its hospital clients, as compared to nurses, who represent a cost center. We are also able to
offer a more comprehensive suite of services to our healthcare clients and recognize there may be some potential synergies
with our physician search business.
The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement
No. 141, Business Combinations, using the purchase method. The results of MDA’s operations have been included in the
consolidated statements of operations since September 1, 2008, the agreed-upon accounting date of the acquisition. MDA’s
allied staffing services have been included in our nurse and allied staffing business segment. MDA’s physician staffing
services have been reported as a new business segment, physician staffing, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 131,
Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.
Based on an independent third-party appraisal, we assigned the following values to intangible assets: $46.0 million to
trademarks with an indefinite life and not subject to amortization, $21.0 million for customer relations with a useful life of
33
12 years, $1.1 million to database with a useful life of 9 years, and $1.0 million to noncompete agreements with a weighted
average useful life of 4 years. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired
approximated $26.4 million and was recorded as goodwill, which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Additional
acquisition costs of approximately $0.6 million were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2008, and are included as
goodwill in the consolidated balance sheet.
Assent Consulting
On July 18, 2007, we completed an acquisition of the shares of privately-held Assent Consulting (Assent) for $19.6 million in
cash paid at closing, including $1.0 million which was held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities. We financed this
acquisition using our revolving loan facility. The purchase price was subject to a working capital adjustment that was settled
with a payment of $0.5 million to us in the fourth quarter of 2007. This transaction also includes an earnout provision up to a
maximum of $4.9 million based on 2007 and 2008 performance criteria. This contingent consideration was not related to the
sellers’ employment. In the second quarter of 2008, we paid $4.6 million related to 2007 performance satisfying all earnout
amounts potentially due to the seller in accordance with the asset purchase agreement. Of this payment, $2.0 million was
being held in escrow, subject to forfeiture to us, to the extent a 2008 performance milestone was not achieved. However,
based on 2008 performance the full amount was released in the first quarter of 2009. The entire payment was allocated to
goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141.In addition, in the first quarter of 2009,
the escrow of $1.0 million was released to the sellers.
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Assent provides staffing services primarily consisting of highly qualified clinical
research, biostatistics and drug safety professionals to companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We
believe this acquisition expands our geographical presence on the West Coast of the U.S. and broadens our client base for our
clinical trials services business.
The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method and it is included in the clinical trials services business
segment. The results of Assent operations have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since the date of
acquisition, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141.
Based on an independent third-party appraisal, we assigned the following values to intangible assets: $5.2 million for
customer relations with a useful life of 10 years, $0.5 million to database with a useful life of 6 years, $0.4 million to a
noncompete agreement with a useful life of 5 years, and $0.3 million to trademarks with a useful life of 1.5 years. The excess
of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired approximated $11.6 million and was
recorded as goodwill, which is not subject to amortization but deductible for tax purposes.
AKOS Limited
On June 6, 2007, we acquired all of the shares of privately-held AKOS Limited (AKOS), based in the United Kingdom, for a
total purchase price of up to £7.2 million, consisting of an up-front payment of £4.0 million and potential earnout payments
up to £3.2 million in 2007 and 2008, plus a working capital adjustment. The share purchase agreement also specified an
estimated additional payment of £0.5 million, paid at closing, consisting of cash purchased. An additional amount of
£0.2 million was paid in the third quarter of 2007, based on changes in net working capital, as defined by the share purchase
agreement, and has been allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price.
The consideration for this acquisition was approximately $8.9 million in cash paid at closing, which included $1.0 million for
the additional payment and $0.8 million which was held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities. The post-closing
working capital adjustment paid by us equated to approximately $0.3 million. We financed this transaction using our
revolving loan facility.
The potential earnout payments were based on 2007 and 2008 performance, as defined by the share purchase agreement and
is not related to the sellers’ employment. In the first quarter of 2008, we paid £1.1 million (approximately $2.1 million)
related to 2007 performance. In the first quarter of 2009, we expect to pay £0.5 million related to 2008 performance. The
payments have been and will be allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement
No. 141. During the fourth quarter of 2008, all of the funds held in escrow were released to the sellers.
AKOS has been conducting business since 1986 and provides drug safety, regulatory and clinical trial services to
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Europe, the United States, Canada and Asia. AKOS is based approximately
30 miles north of London, England, and strategically located inside what is considered to be the United Kingdom’s research
triangle that extends outward from London to Cambridge and Oxford Universities. We believe the addition of AKOS will
34
allow us to provide a more global and comprehensive range of contract staffing and outsourcing services to pharmaceutical
and biotech customers.
The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method and is included in the clinical trials services business
segment. The results of AKOS’ operations have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since the date of
acquisition, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141.
Based on an independent third-party appraisal, we assigned $1.7 million to trademarks with an indefinite life and not subject
to amortization. In addition, we assigned $2.6 million to total other identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization as
follows: $2.2 million was assigned to customer relations with a useful life of 8.6 years, and $0.4 million was assigned to
other intangibles with an estimated useful life of 6 years. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and
intangible assets acquired approximated $3.8 million and was recorded as goodwill, which is not subject to amortization and
is not deductible locally for tax purposes. Additional direct acquisitions costs of $0.4 million were incurred during year ended
December 31, 2007, and are included as goodwill in the consolidated balance sheet.
The following table provides certain information relating to our acquisitions to date:
Acquired Business
Acquisition
Date
Primary Services
Purchase
Price (a)
Potential
Earnout
Earnout
Earned
MDA Holdings, Inc.
September 2008 Temporary physician staffing and
$114.7 million
(b)
(c)
Assent Consulting
July 2007
AKOS Limited
June 2007
Metropolitan Research
August 2006
Med-Staff
June 2003
allied staffing services
Clinical trials staffing of clinical
research, biostatistics and drug
safety professionals
Clinical trials staffing, drug safety
and regulatory services providing
services to the U.S., Europe,
Canada, and Asia
Clinical trials staffing, drug safety
monitoring and contract research
services
Healthcare staffing – travel, per
diem nurse, and military nurse
staffing
$19.1 million
$4.9 million
$4.6 million
$9.2 million
(£4.6 million)
£3.2 million based
on 2007 and 2008
£1.1 million for
2007 (c)
$19.1 million
$6.4 million based
on 2006 and 2007
$6.4 million based
on 2006 and 2007
$102.2 million
$37.5 million
for full year 2003
—
Jennings Ryan & Kolb, Inc.
(Sold in 2004)
NovaPro
Gill/Balsano Consulting, LLC
(Sold in 2004)
March 2002
Healthcare management consulting
$2.1 million
services
January 2002
May 2001
Nurse staffing
Healthcare management consulting
$7.6 million
$1.8 million
services
ClinForce, Inc.
Heritage Professional Education, LLC December 2000 Continuing education for
healthcare professionals
Clinical trials staffing
March 2001
$32.8 million
$6.6 million
E-Staff
(Discontinued in 2002)
July 2000
Internet subscription based
$1.5 million
communication, scheduling,
credentialing and training services
$1.8 million
over 34 months
—
$2.0 million
over 3 years
—
$6.5 million
over 3 years
$3.8 million
over 3 years
$1.8 million
—
$2.0 million
—
$3.5 million
$0.5 million
TravCorps Corporation
December 1999 Healthcare staffing – nurse and
$77.1 million
—
—
allied professionals, retained search
———————
(a) Acquisition purchase price includes cash paid, the assumption of debt and post-closing adjustments. The TravCorps
acquisition price represents the approximate value of our common stock that was exchanged for all the outstanding
shares of TravCorps – $32.1 million, plus the assumption of $45.0 million of debt.
(b) The potential earnout will be equal to the amount: (1) by which the Adjusted EBITDA (as defined by the purchase
agreement) during the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years, respectively, exceeds $10.0 million, times (2) a multiple of 1.5 and
2.37, respectively.
(c) Earnout for 2008 results has not been finalized at the time of this filing.
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets represented 93.8% of our stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2008. Goodwill and
other identifiable intangible assets from the acquisition of the assets of our predecessor, Cross Country Staffing, a
partnership, as well as from subsequent acquisitions were $122.6 million and $96.9 million, respectively, net of accumulated
35
amortization, at December 31, 2008. In accordance with FASB Statement No. 142, 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 1 to 15 years.
FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, 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 under FASB
Statement No. 144, 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 the FASB Statement No. 142 and 144 impairment
reviews in the fourth quarter of 2008 that resulted in total impairment charges of $244.1 million.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected consolidated statements of operations data expressed as
a percentage of revenue:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2006
2008
Revenue from services ............................................................................................................
Direct operating expenses .......................................................................................................
Selling, general and administrative expenses .........................................................................
Bad debt expense ....................................................................................................................
Depreciation and amortization ................................................................................................
Impairment charges ................................................................................................................
Legal settlement charge ..........................................................................................................
(Loss) income from operations ...............................................................................................
Interest expense, net ................................................................................................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes ............................................
Income tax (benefit) expense ..................................................................................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations .............................................................................
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes ........................................................................
Net (loss) income ....................................................................................................................
100.0%
73.8
18.6
0.1
1.5
33.2
—
(27.2)
0.6
(27.8)
(8.3)
(19.5)
—
(19.5)%
100.0% 100.0%
76.7
75.7
16.8
17.1
0.1
0.2
1.1
1.1
—
—
1.0
0.0
4.3
5.9
0.2
0.4
4.1
5.5
1.6
2.1
2.5
3.4
0.0
—
2.5%
3.4%
Segment Information
Our nurse and allied staffing business segment primarily provides travel nurse and allied staffing services and per diem nurse
services to acute care hospitals. Nurse and allied staffing services are also marketed to public and private healthcare facilities
and for-profit and not-for-profit facilities throughout the U.S.
In the third quarter of 2008, we added the physician staffing business segment as a result of our acquisition of MDA (See
Note 4 - Acquisitions in the notes to consolidated financial statements). MDA provides multi-specialty locum tenens and
allied staffing services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states. MDA’s locum tenens business comprises the physician
staffing business segment while MDA’s allied staffing services have been aggregated with our nurse and allied staffing
business segment.
Our clinical trials services business segment provides clinical trials, drug safety and regulatory professionals on a contract
staffing and outsourced basis to companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, as well as to
contract research organizations (CRO) and acute care hospitals conducting clinical research trials in the United States,
Canada and Europe.
Our other human capital management services business segment includes the combined results of our Company’s education
and training and retained search businesses.
36
Information on operating segments and a reconciliation to (loss) income from operations for the periods indicated are as
follows:
Year ended December 31,
2008
2007
2006
Revenue from unaffiliated customers:
Nurse and allied staffing ..............................................................................
Physician staffing .........................................................................................
Clinical trials services ..................................................................................
Other human capital management services ..................................................
Contribution income (a):
Nurse and allied staffing ..............................................................................
Physician staffing .........................................................................................
Clinical trials services ..................................................................................
Other human capital management services ..................................................
$
$
$
$
$
$
525,772
56,558
99,129
52,788
734,247
53,822
5,711
15,301
7,444
82,278
$
$
$
576,779
––
90,613
50,880
718,272
54,941
––
14,425
7,609
76,975
Unallocated corporate overhead .......................................................................
Depreciation ......................................................................................................
Amortization .....................................................................................................
Impairment charges ..........................................................................................
Legal settlement charge ....................................................................................
Secondary offering costs ...................................................................................
(Loss) income from operations .........................................................................
———————
(a) We define contribution income as (loss) income from operations before depreciation, amortization, impairment
27,457
7,637
3,166
244,094
––
––
$ (200,076)
26,562
6,309
2,051
––
34
––
42,019
$
$
554,900
––
53,348
46,904
655,152
52,950
––
6,928
9,048
68,926
26,873
5,449
1,570
––
6,704
154
28,176
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 FASB Statement No. 131,
Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.
Consolidated Information
Year Ended December 31, 2008 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2007
Revenue from services
Revenue from services increased $16.0 million, or 2.2%, to $734.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as
compared to $718.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the added revenue
from the MDA acquisition and an increase in revenue from our clinical trials services and other human capital management
services business segments substantially offset by a decrease in revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment.
The increase in our clinical trials services business segment was due to the acquisitions of AKOS and Assent. Excluding the
impact of acquisitions, consolidated revenue from services decreased $57.8 million or 8.0%.
Nurse and allied staffing
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment decreased $51.0 million, or 8.8%, to $525.8 million in the year
ended December 31, 2008, from $576.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. A decrease in volume versus the prior
year more than offset improved pricing in our organic nurse and allied staffing business.
Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per FTEs and average bill rates increased approximately 3.0% during the year
ended December 31, 2008, compared to the year ended December 31, 2007. The average number of nurse and allied staffing
FTEs on contract during the year ended December 31, 2008, decreased 11.2% from the year ended December 31, 2007.
37
Physician staffing
Revenue from our physician staffing business was $56.6 million for the period from September 1, 2008 to December 31,
2008 resulting from the acquisition of MDA.
Clinical trials services
Revenue from clinical trials services increased $8.5 million, or 9.4%, to $99.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008,
from $90.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Excluding the impact of the acquisitions of Assent and AKOS,
revenue decreased $5.4 million, or 6.0%. This decline was primarily due to a decrease in traditional contract staffing volume
and a decrease in revenue from a specific drug safety contract; partially offset by an increase in revenue from CRO projects.
Other human capital management services
Revenue from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2008, increased $1.9 million, or
3.8%, to $52.8 million from $50.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2007, reflecting increases in revenue from both
our education and training and our retained search businesses.
Direct operating expenses
Direct operating expenses are comprised primarily of field employee and independent contractor compensation expenses,
housing expenses, travel expenses and field insurance expenses. Direct operating expenses decreased $1.9 million, or 0.4%,
to $541.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $543.6 million for year ended December 31, 2007.
As a percentage of total revenue, direct operating expenses represented 73.8% of revenue for the year ended December 31,
2008, and 75.7% for the year ended December 31, 2007. This decrease is primarily due to a widening of our bill-pay spread
in our travel staffing operations, a change in mix of revenue from our business segments, lower professional liability
expenses and lower housing cost as a percentage of revenue; partially offset by higher health insurance claims. Our business
mix changed, primarily due to the acquisition of the MDA, which comprises our physician staffing business segment. In
addition, revenue from our clinical trials services and other human capital management services business segments were a
higher percentage of total revenue from services in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to the year ended
December 31, 2007. Physician staffing, clinical trials services and other human capital management services tend to have
lower direct costs as a percentage of revenue than our nurse and allied staffing business segment, which declined as
a percentage of total revenue in the year ended December 31, 2008.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $14.1 million, or 11.5%, to $136.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008, as compared to $122.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase in selling, general
and administrative expenses was primarily due to additional expenses from acquisitions and higher compensation expense
partially offset by lower legal fees.
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is unallocated corporate overhead of $27.5 million for year ended
December 31, 2008, compared to $26.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. As a percentage of consolidated
revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 3.7% during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
As a percentage of total revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 18.6% and 17.1%, respectively, for the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. This increase is primarily due to a combination of a change in mix of revenue
from our business segments and higher expenses as discussed above. Our clinical trials services and other human capital
management services business segments increased, as a percentage of total revenue, while our nursing and allied staffing
business segment decreased. Clinical trial services and other human capital management services generally operate with a
higher selling, general and administrative burden than our nursing and allied staffing and physician staffing business
segments.
Bad debt expense
Bad debt expense totaled $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $1.6 million in year ended
December 31, 2007. Bad debt expense as a percentage of total revenue was 0.1% in the year ended December 31, 2008,
compared to 0.2% in the year ended December 31, 2007. This decrease is due to improved collections during the year ended
December 31, 2008.
38
Contribution income
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2008, decreased
$1.1 million or 2.0%, to $53.8 million from $54.9 million in year ended December 31, 2007. As a percentage of nurse and
allied staffing revenue, segment contribution income was 10.2% for the year ended December 31, 2008, and 9.5% for the
year ended December 31, 2007. This increase is primarily due to a widening of our bill-pay spread, and secondarily by a
moderation in the rate of increase of housing costs and lower professional liability expenses, partially offset by higher health
insurance expense.
Contribution income from physician staffing for the year ended December 31, 2008, was $5.7 million, representing the
results of operations since our acquisition of this business. As a percentage of physician staffing revenue, contribution
income was 10.1%.
Contribution income from clinical trials services for the year ended December 31, 2008, increased $0.9 million to
$15.3 million, compared to $14.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. As a percentage of clinical trials services
revenue, segment contribution income was 15.4% in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to 15.9% in the year
ended December 31, 2007.
Contribution income from other human capital management services for the year ended December 31, 2008, decreased by
$0.2 million, or 2.2%, to $7.4 million, from $7.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2007 due to improved contribution
income in the retained search business partially offset by lower contribution income from the education and training
businesses. Contribution income as a percentage of other human capital management services revenue was 14.1% for the year
ended December 31, 2008 and 15.0% for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense in the year ended December 31, 2008, totaled $10.8 million as compared to
$8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was
1.5% for the year period ended December 31, 2008 and 1.2% for the year ended December 31, 2007. This increase is
primarily due to higher amortization expense related to intangible assets recorded in connection with recent acquisitions and
additional depreciation expense from fixed assets that were placed into service since the beginning of 2008 largely due to
software upgrades.
Impairment charges
Impairment charges of $244.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, represent impairment of goodwill and other
identifiable intangible assets pursuant to the process and calculations of FASB Statement No. 142 and 144. The non-cash
impairment charges relate almost entirely to a goodwill impairment charge in the nurse and allied staffing business segment
resulting from our annual impairment testing. The goodwill impairment charge results from a combination of depressed
equity market values and lower projected near-term growth rates for the nurse and allied staffing business arising from
the significant down-turn in the U.S. economy and adverse labor and financial markets that deteriorated sharply during the
fourth quarter of 2008. The majority of the goodwill impairment is attributable to the Company’s initial capitalization in
1999, which was accounted for as an asset purchase, and the remainder to subsequent nurse staffing acquisitions made
through 2003. See Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates Policies and Estimates and our consolidated financial
statements Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, for more information.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net, totaled $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 and $2.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007. This increase was due to higher average borrowings in the year ended December 31, 2008, partially
offset by a lower effective interest rate. Higher borrowings in the year ended December 31, 2008, were primarily due to the
financing of the MDA and 2007 acquisitions, stock repurchases and earnout payments. The effective interest rate on our
borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2008, was 5.3% compared to a rate of 6.9% for the year ended December 31,
2007.
Income tax (benefit) expense
Income tax benefit totaled $61.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to an income tax expense of
$14.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The effective tax rate was 30.0% in the year ended December 31, 2008,
compared to 37.5% in the year ended December 31, 2007. A portion of the impaired goodwill related to the TravCorps
39
acquisition was not deductible for tax purposes. Excluding the tax impact related to the impairment charges, the effective tax
rate was 39.8% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in the tax rate, excluding the effect of the impairment
charges, primarily reflects the introduction of per diem allowances for our travel nurse and allied staffing field personnel in
the third quarter of 2008. A portion of these allowances are not deductible for tax purposes.
Year Ended December 31, 2007 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
Revenue from services
Revenue from services increased $63.1 million, or 9.6%, to $718.3 million for year ended December 31, 2007 as compared to
$655.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase was partially due to the additional revenue from
acquisitions. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, revenue increased $32.1 million or 4.9%. This increase was primarily due
to an increase in revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment, supplemented by increases in revenue from our
clinical trials services business segment and our other human capital management business services segment.
Revenue from our nurse and allied staffing business segment increased $21.9 million, or 3.9%, to $576.8 million in the year
ended December 31, 2007, from $554.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in revenue from our
nurse and allied staffing business segment was primarily from improved pricing in our travel nurse staffing operations and
was partially offset by a decrease in revenue from our per diem staffing and travel allied staffing operations.
Average nurse and allied staffing revenue per full-time equivalent (FTE) and average bill rates increased approximately 3.4%
and 4.1%, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to the year ended December 31, 2006. The
average number of nurse and allied staffing FTEs on contract in the year ended December 31, 2007, increased 0.5% from the
year ended December 31, 2006.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, nurse staffing operations generated 92.5% of nurse and allied staffing segment
revenue and 7.5% was generated by allied staffing operations. For the year ended December 31, 2006, 91.8% of nurse and
allied staffing segment revenue was generated from nursing operations and 8.2% was generated by allied staffing operations.
Revenue from our clinical trials services business segment increased $37.3 million or 69.9% to $90.6 million in the year
ended December 31, 2007, from $53.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, primarily as a result of acquisitions.
Excluding the impact of the acquisitions, revenue increased $6.2 million, or 11.6%. This increase is primarily due to an
increase in temporary staffing volume, partially offset by a decrease in pricing due to mix.
Revenue from our other human capital management services business segment for the year ended December 31, 2007,
increased $4.0 million, or 8.5%, to $50.9 million from $46.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, due to an increase
in both our education and training business and our retained search business. Revenue from our education and training
business increased due to increases in the number of seminars, the average attendance, and the average fee per registrant.
Direct operating expenses
Direct operating expenses are comprised primarily of field employee compensation expenses, housing expenses, travel
expenses and field insurance expenses. Direct operating expenses increased $41.1 million, or 8.2%, to $543.6 million for the
year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $502.5 million for year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was
partially due to the impact of the clinical trials services acquisitions.
As a percentage of revenue, direct operating expenses represented 75.7% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007
and 76.7% for the year ended December 31, 2006. This decrease is primarily due to a change in mix of business segments
due to the clinical trials services acquisitions. Clinical trials services tend to have lower direct costs as a percentage of
revenue than our nurse and allied staffing business.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $12.5 million, or 11.4%, to $122.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007, as compared to $110.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in selling, general
and administrative expenses was primarily due to additional expenses from the clinical trials services acquisitions, higher
compensation expense in our nurse and allied staffing business segment, higher direct mail costs in our education and
training business, and higher legal expenses in our retained search business. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and
administrative expenses were 17.1% and 16.8% for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
40
Unallocated corporate overhead was $26.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $26.9 million in the
year ended December 31, 2006. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 3.7% in the
year ended December 31, 2007, and 4.1% in the year ended December 31, 2006, reflecting improved operating leverage.
Bad debt expense
Bad debt expense totaled $1.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to approximately $0.5 million in the
year ended December 31, 2006. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we increased our reserves, based on the aging of
certain accounts for a few slow-paying customers.
Contribution income
Contribution income from our nurse and allied staffing segment for the year ended December 31, 2007, increased
$2.0 million or 3.8%, to $54.9 million from $53.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. As a percentage of nurse and
allied staffing revenue, contribution income was 9.5% for both the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Contribution income from our clinical trials services segment for the year ended December 31, 2007, increased $7.5 million
to $14.4 million, compared to $6.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. As a percentage of segment revenue,
contribution income from our clinical trials services business was 15.9% in the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to
13.0% in the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase is primarily due to the acquisitions, which had higher contribution
margin than our base clinical trials services business coupled with a combination of higher margin business and improved
operating leverage in our base clinical trials services business.
Contribution income from our other human capital management services business segment for the year ended December 31,
2007, decreased $1.4 million, or 15.9%, to $7.6 million from $9.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. This
decrease reflects a lower contribution from both our retained search and our education and training businesses. Contribution
income as a percentage of segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007, was 15.0% compared to 19.3% for the
year ended December 31, 2006 primarily due to higher direct mail expenses in our education and training business and higher
legal and administrative expenses in our retained search business.
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense in the year ended December 31, 2007, totaled $8.4 million as compared to
$7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense were
approximately 1.1% for both the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Depreciation expense has increased as we
continue to invest in new technology. Amortization expense has increased due to the intangible assets subject to amortization
that were acquired in 2006 and 2007. See the Acquisitions section above.
Legal settlement charge
Legal settlement charge was $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. In the third quarter of 2006, we reached an
agreement to settle the California wage and hour class action lawsuit filed against a subsidiary of the Company in Superior
Court in Orange County, California, in August of 2003. The settlement payment made was approximately $6.7 million,
pretax, and was paid out in the first quarter of 2007.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net totaled $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $1.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher average borrowings outstanding during the year ended
December 31, 2007, compared to the year ended December 31, 2006, and a higher effective borrowing cost in the year ended
December 31, 2007. The effective interest rate on our borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2007, was 6.9%
compared to a rate of 6.6% for the year ended December 31, 2006. Higher borrowings outstanding in the year ended
December 31, 2007 were primarily due to the acquisitions of Assent and AKOS and the legal settlement payment referred to
above.
Income taxes
Income taxes totaled $14.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $10.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006. The effective tax rate on continuing operations was 37.5% in the year ended December 31, 2007,
compared to 38.0% in the year ended December 31, 2006. This decrease in the effective rate is due to changes in the
jurisdictions from which our revenue is derived, that vary from period to period.
41
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 $3.1 million, $3.9 million and $4.7 million in aggregate for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Accounts receivable due from these hospitals at December 31, 2008 and
2007 were approximately $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Pricing for our services is consistent with our other
hospital customers. There are no contractual obligations with these hospitals.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2008, we had a current ratio, defined as the amount of current assets divided by current liabilities, of 2.9
to 1. Working capital increased by $6.7 million to $105.1 million as of December 31, 2008, compared to $98.4 million as of
December 31, 2007. Days’ sales outstanding were 53 days, 59 days, and 60 days at December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006,
respectively, and were 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
including our earnout payment commitments for the next twelve months. We expect to meet our future needs for working
capital, capital expenditures, internal business expansion, debt service, and any additional stock repurchases from a
combination of operating cash flows and funds available under our current credit agreement. We also continue to evaluate
acquisition opportunities that may require additional funding. In addition to those amounts available under our existing credit
agreement, we may incur up to an additional $45.0 million in Indebtedness (as defined by the credit agreement).
Stockholders’ Equity
Stock Repurchase Programs
On May 10, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to 1.5 million
shares of our common stock. This repurchase program was completed and on February 28, 2008, our Board of Directors
authorized an additional stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to an additional 1.5 million shares of our
common stock, 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. We commenced repurchases
under this authorization during the first quarter of 2008 upon the completion of the May 2006 authorization.
In November 2002, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby we could purchase up to
1.5 million of our common shares at an aggregate price not to exceed $25.0 million. Under this program, we purchased and
retired 1.5 million shares of our common stock at an average cost of $15.04 per share pursuant to the authorization. All of the
common stock was retired. The cost of such purchases was approximately $22.6 million. During the year ended
December 31, 2007, the November 2002 stock repurchase program was depleted, and, accordingly, we commenced
repurchases under the May 2006 authorization mentioned previously.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, we repurchased, under the May 2006 and February 2008 programs, a total of
924,235 shares at an average price of $11.66. The cost of such purchases was approximately $10.8 million. During the year
ended December 31, 2007, we repurchased, under November 2002 and May 2006 programs, a total of 704,498 shares at an
average cost of $15.45 per share. The cost of such purchases was approximately $10.9 million. All of the common stock was
retired. At December 31, 2008, we had 1,441,139 shares of common stock left remaining to repurchase under our
February 2008 authorization subject to the constraints of our credit agreement. See Credit Agreement section below and
consolidated financial statements Note 7- Long-term Debt. At December 31, 2008 we had approximately 30.8 million shares
of common stock outstanding.
Secondary Offering
In November 2004, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
for the registration of approximately 11,403,455 shares of common stock owned by three of our existing stockholders.
Neither the Company nor management registered any shares pursuant to this registration statement. In April 2005, we
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. However, we incurred all fees and expenses relating to the
registration statement which were approximately $0.2 million. Subsequently, on November 13, 2006, we announced a public
offering of approximately 4.0 million shares pursuant to this Form S-3 shelf registration statement. All net proceeds from the
42
sale went to the selling stockholders. However, we incurred all fees and expenses relating to the registration statement which
were approximately $0.2 million and included in secondary offering costs on the consolidated statements of operations.
Credit Agreement
Our senior secured revolving credit facility entered into on November 10, 2005 was amended and restated as of September 9,
2008 (“Credit Agreement”) in connection with the acquisition of MDA. The Credit Agreement keeps in place an existing
$75.0 million revolving loan facility, maturing in November 2010, and provides for a 5 year $125.0 million term loan facility
with Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities LLC and certain other lenders.
The revolving loan facility and term loan bear interest at a rate of, at our option, either: (i) London Interbank Offered Rate
(“LIBOR”) plus a leverage-based margin or (ii) Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a leverage-based
margin.
The Credit Agreement was also amended for customary covenants for similar leveraged deals such as: 1) requiring us to
hedge at least 40% of our floating rate exposure for 2 years; and 2) adding a mandatory prepayment provision from Excess
Cash as defined by the Credit Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, in October 2008,
we entered into interest rate swap agreements to effectively fix the interest on $70.0 million of our term debt for a period of 2
years at 3.04%, plus the applicable LIBOR spread. At December 31, 2008, the interest rate swap agreements had a fair value
of $(2.4) million, which is separately stated on our consolidated balance sheets. We have formally documented the hedging
relationships and account for these arrangements as cash flow hedges.
The $75.0 million revolving loan facility has a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of Swingline Loans (as defined by the
Credit Agreement) and a $35.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. Swingline Loans and letters of
credit issued under this facility reduce the revolving loan facility on a dollar for dollar basis. The revolving loan facility is
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, 2008, interest on our credit facility was based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or Base Rate plus a
margin of 1.50%. We are required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the revolving
loan facility, which, as of December 31, 2008, was 0.50%. As of December 31, 2008, we had $7.5 million of revolving loan
borrowings and $3.3 million of standby letters of credit outstanding under this facility, leaving $64.2 million available for
borrowing under our revolving loan facility. In addition, we had a letter of credit outstanding outside the Credit Agreement of
$5.0 million relating to MDA’s Captive. See our consolidated financial statements Note 2 - Summary of Significant
Accounting Policies in the Reserves for Claims section for more information.
The provisions of the revolving loan portion generally allow us to borrow, repay and re-borrow debt for an uninterrupted
period until the maturity date of the credit facility which extended beyond one year from the balance sheet date. Borrowings
under the facility are generally not callable unless an event of default exists, and there are no subjective acceleration clauses.
Accordingly, as per the provisions of FASB Statement No. 6, Classification of Short-term Obligations Expected to Be
Refinanced, $33.5 million of borrowings under this facility is classified as long-term as of December 31, 2007. Short-term
borrowings under this facility consist of borrowings that we intend to or have repaid as of the date of the issuance of these
consolidated financial statements.
In addition to the above mentioned terms, the terms of the Credit Agreement include customary covenants and events of
default. As of December 31, 2008, we were in compliance with the financial covenants and other covenants contained in the
Credit Agreement. Specifically, the table below summarizes what we believe the key financial covenants, as defined by the
Credit Agreement are, and our corresponding actual performance as of December 31, 2008.
Maximum Permitted Leverage Ratio (a) .......................................................................
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio .................................................................................
Maximum Capital Expenditures for 2008 (b) ................................................................
———————
(a) The limitation on our Leverage Ratio changes as of September 30, 2009 where it remains throughout the term of the
Requirement
2.75 to 1.00
5.00 to 1.00
$21.7 million
Actual
2.08 to 1.00
7.30 to 1.00
$4.7 million
Credit Agreement. At that time our Leverage Ratio must not be greater than 2.50 to 1.00.
(b) Aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year may not exceed $15.0 million, but may be increased in
any fiscal year by the amount of Capital Expenditures that were permitted but not made in the immediately preceding
fiscal year.
43
The agreement also includes a mandatory prepayment provision, which requires us to make mandatory prepayments
subsequent to receiving net proceeds from the sale of assets, insurance recoveries, or the issuance of our debt or equity. The
dividends and distribution covenant limits our ability to repurchase our common stock and declare and pay cash dividends on
our common stock. The Credit Agreement provides for an amount allowed for stock repurchases/dividends. The limitation
increases each year by 25% of net income provided that our Debt/EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less
than 2.00 to 1.00 and we have $15.0 million in cash or available cash under the revolving loan facility. Our net loss for the
year ended December 31, 2008, has had the effect of eliminating the allowable amount. We are also required to obtain the
consent of the lenders to complete any acquisition which exceeds $25.0 million (excluding the MDA acquisition) or would
cause us to exceed $125.0 million (excluding the MDA acquisition) in aggregate payments during the term of the agreement.
The commitments under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets.
Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2007
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2008 was $51.0 million compared to
$35.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2007. This increase is primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable.
In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2007, we paid out the legal settlement amount of $6.7 million, referenced
previously. These increases in cash flow from operating activities were partially offset by the timing of other payments.
Investing activities used $129.6 million of cash during the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily for the acquisition of
MDA and earnout payments related to our Metropolitan Research, AKOS and Assent acquisitions as well as capital
expenditures of $4.7 million. Investing activities used $35.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2007, primarily for
the purchases of Assent and AKOS as well as capital expenditures. Net cash provided by financing activities was
$80.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to the financing of the MDA acquisition and stock
repurchases, partially offset by repayments of our borrowings. Net cash provided by financing activities in the year ended
December 31, 2007 was $8.4 million. Cash flow from operations and net borrowings were used in 2007 primarily for
acquisitions and stock repurchases. Cash was also provided by the exercise of employee stock options in both periods.
Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2007 was $35.9 million compared to
$32.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase is primarily due to higher net income partially offset
by higher working capital requirements in 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we paid out the legal settlement
amount of $6.7 million, referenced previously. Investing activities used $35.3 million during the year ended December 31,
2007, primarily for the purchases of Assent Consulting and AKOS Limited as well as capital expenditures. During the year
ended December 31, 2006, investing activities used $27.8 million for the acquisition of Metropolitan Research and capital
expenditures. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2007 was $8.4 million. Cash flow from operations and net
borrowings were used primarily for acquisitions and stock repurchases. Cash was also provided by the exercise of employee
stock options. Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2006 was $5.1 million. We utilized
net cash flow from operations and investing activities to repay debt and repurchase our common stock. These repayments
were partially offset by the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options and other financing activities.
44
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, 2008:
Commitments
Total
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Thereafter
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
Senior secured credit facility (a) ..
Capital lease obligations ..............
Operating leases obligations (b) ...
Purchase obligations (c) ...............
Earnouts (d) .................................
$ 130,937 $ 14,531 $ 10,156 $ 15,625 $ 36,719 $ 53,906 $
2,143
38,627
1,584
––
1,294
6,992
1,199
––
846
6,165
312
––
3
5,829
67
––
––
5,507
6
––
––
4,761
––
––
$ 173,291 $ 24,016 $ 17,479 $ 21,524 $ 42,232 $ 58,667 $
––
––
9,373
––
––
9,3739
———————
(a)
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, we made an optional prepayment of $6.0 million of our borrowings under the term
loan portion of our senior credit facility. Optional prepayments are applied pro rata to the remaining scheduled
maturities, as per the terms of the Credit Agreement. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements – Long-term
Debt. 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.
(d) Earnouts are contingent payments related to our recent acquisitions. Determined amounts, at the time of this filing
would be included in this schedule. Additional earnout payments may be made in 2009. See Note 4 to the consolidated
financial statements– Acquisitions.
We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of
FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), on January 1, 2007. In addition to the above disclosed contractual obligations, the FIN 48
tax liability was $2.6 million at December 31, 2008. 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 insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts, and contingencies and litigation. We state our accounting policies in
the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2008, 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,
2008. Upon the adoption of FASB Statement No. 142, we ceased amortizing goodwill and certain other intangible assets
with indefinite lives in accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement No. 142. We completed the annual
impairment test of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets during the fourth quarters of 2008, 2007, and 2006.
Based on the results of the tests, we determined that there was no impairment of goodwill or indefinite lived intangible
assets relating to continuing operations as of December 31, 2007, and 2006. Pursuant to the annual testing of goodwill, in
the fourth quarter of 2008, we evaluated five reporting units: 1) nurse and allied staffing, 2) physician staffing, 3) clinical
45
trials services, 4) retained search and 5) education and training. As a result of the review, we recorded an impairment
charge related to the nurse and allied staffing reporting unit of $241.0 million, pretax. The impairment test requires us to
determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit’s carrying amount including goodwill
as step one. We estimate the fair value of our reporting units, primarily using a discounted cash flow methodology. If the
estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount for a particular reporting unit, then we are required to calculate the
implied fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets of the reporting unit (as determined in step one). In this step,
we must allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities in a “hypothetical
purchase price allocation.” This also requires the identification of any previously unrecognized intangible assets. The
implied value of goodwill is compared to the carrying amount to determine the amount of any impairment charge.
In addition, FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, 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
under FASB Statement No. 144, 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. Based on our FASB Statement No. 144 impairment analysis, we concluded that the
carrying value of a particular customer relationship in the clinical trials services business segment was higher than its
respective estimated fair value and recorded a $3.1 million impairment charge, pretax.
Total impairment charges resulting from the FASB Statement No. 142 and 144 reviews in the fourth quarter of 2008 was
$244.1 million and is included as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of operations.
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. If we are required to record
an impairment charge in the future, it could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. 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. As of December 31, 2008, we had total goodwill and intangible assets not subject to
amortization of $187.0 million, net of accumulated amortization.
2) We maintain accruals for our health, workers’ compensation and professional liability policies 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, 2008 and 2007, we had $2.0 million and $1.9 million accrued,
respectively, for incurred but not reported health insurance claims. Corporate and field employees are covered through a
partially self-insured health plan. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of the
incurred but not reported health insurance claims accrual related to corporate employees. 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, 2008, we had $4.6 million accrued for incurred but not reported
workers’ compensation claims and retentions, net of related insurance recoveries receivable, a decrease of $0.2 million
over the amount accrued at December 31, 2007. The accrual for workers’ compensation is based on an actuarial model
which is prepared or reviewed by an independent actuary. As of December 31, 2008, and 2007, we had $12.3 million and
$6.6 million accrued, respectively, for incurred but not reported professional liability claims and retentions, net of related
insurance recoveries receivable. The increased accrual is entirely due to the acquisition of MDA. 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
46
accounts based on an ongoing review of collectibility as well as our past experience with the customer. Historically,
losses on uncollectible accounts have not exceeded our allowances. As of December 31, 2008, our allowance for
doubtful accounts was $6.4 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, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business
are described in Legal Proceedings.
5) We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. 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,
2008 and 2007, we have deferred tax assets related to certain state net operating loss carryforwards for which we have
recorded a valuation allowance. In addition, the tax effect resulting from our goodwill impairment charge recorded in the
year ended December 31, 2008, caused the net deferred tax liability position as of December 31, 2007, to change to a net
deferred tax asset position. We have determined that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset related to the
goodwill impairment charge 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 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:
• 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 carry forwards.
In our determination at December 31, 2008, 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 the Company 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 requirements of FASB
Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN
48). 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 the income taxes receivable account, and the non-current portion is included within other
long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. 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.
47
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets, which
amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful
life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The intent of
FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under
FASB Statement No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FASB
Statement No. 141(R) and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption
is prohibited. We will implement FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 on January 1, 2009. We expect that FASB Staff Position
No. 142-3 could have an impact on our future consolidated financial statements, but the nature and magnitude of the specific
effects will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions we consummate after the effective date.
In February 2008, the FASB Staff Position No. 157-2 was issued, which delays the effective date for nonfinancial assets and
nonfinancial liabilities included in FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, except for items that are recognized
or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The effective date has been deferred to fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2008 for these nonfinancial assets and liabilities. We do not expect the deferred portion of the
adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB No. 141R, Business Combinations (FASB 141R), which replaces FASB 141.
FASB 141R applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity obtains control of one or more businesses and
requires that all assets and liabilities of an acquired business as well as any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree be recorded
at their fair values at the acquisition date. Among other things, FASB 141R requires the expensing of direct transaction costs,
including deal costs and restructuring costs as incurred. In addition, contingent consideration arrangements will be
recognized at their acquisition date fair values, with subsequent changes in fair value generally reflected in earnings. Pre-
acquisition contingencies will also typically be recognized at their acquisition date fair values. In subsequent periods,
contingent liabilities will be measured at the higher of their acquisition date fair values or the estimated amounts to be
realized. In addition, material adjustments made to the initial acquisition purchase accounting will be required to be recorded
back to the acquisition date. This will cause companies to revise previously reported results when reporting comparative
financial information in subsequent filings. FASB 141R is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date
is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We expect that
FASB 141R could have an impact on our future consolidated financial statements, but the nature and magnitude of the
specific effects will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions we consummate after the effective date.
Seasonality
The number of nurse and allied 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.
Inflation
During the last several years, the rate of inflation in healthcare related services has exceeded that of the economy as a whole.
This inflation has increased our direct operating costs. We are also impacted by fluctuations in housing costs and recently by
increases in costs of professional, general and healthcare insurance. 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 of healthcare reimbursements by federal and state governments as well as private insurers.
48
Item 7A. 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. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources – Credit Agreement
included in Item 7. 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 $0.7 million in 2008, $0.3 million in 2007 and $0.2 million in 2006.
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, 2008 and 2007, and were primarily from the United Kingdom. We have not
entered into any foreign currency derivative instruments.
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) income, included in other stockholders’ equity on our consolidated balance sheet.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
See Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules of Part IV of this Report.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. 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, 2008,
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, 2008, 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, 2008 was
effective. An assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 has
been performed by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Ernst & Young LLP’s attestation
report is included below.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
49
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, 2008, 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, 2008, 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, 2008 and 2007, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2008 of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and our report dated March 12, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
West Palm Beach, Florida
March 12, 2009
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Certified Public Accountants
50
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
PART III
Information with respect to directors, executive officers and corporate governance is included in our Proxy Statement for the
2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC and such
information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11.
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.
Item 12.
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, 2008, see table below:
Plan Category
Equity compensation plans approved
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)
by security holders .....................................
2,381,143
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders ......................
None
Total .......................................................
2,381,143
$14.90
N/A
$14.90
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
975,026
N/A
975,026
Item 13. 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.
Item 14.
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.
51
PART IV
Item 15.
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, 2008 and 2007
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statements Schedule
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(3) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index immediately following signatures.
52
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.
SIGNATURES
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
By: /s/ JOSEPH A. BOSHART
Name: Joseph A. Boshart
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
Date: March 13, 2009
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
Joseph A. Boshart
President, Chief Executive Officer,
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
March 13, 2009
/s/ EMIL HENSEL
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)
March 13, 2009
/s/ DANIEL J. LEWIS
Daniel J. Lewis
/s/ THOMAS C. DIRCKS
Thomas C. Dircks
/s/ W. LARRY CASH
W. Larry Cash
/s/ C. TAYLOR COLE
C. Taylor Cole
/s/ GALE FITZGERALD
Gale Fitzgerald
/s/ JOSEPH TRUNFIO
Joseph Trunfio
Chief Accounting Officer
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
53
No.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Description
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
Cross Country Staffing Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June 24, 1999, by and among W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.,
a Connecticut corporation, Cross Country Staffing, a Delaware general partnership, and the Registrant, a Delaware
corporation (1)
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 29, 1999, by and among the Registrant, CCTC Acquisition,
Inc. and Certain Stockholders of Cross Country Staffing, Inc. and TravCorps Corporation and the Stockholders of
TravCorps Corporation (1)
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2000, by and between Edgewater Technology, Inc. and the
Registrant (1)
Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of May 8, 2003, by and among Cross Country Nurses, Inc., the Registrant,
Med-Staff, Inc., William G. Davis, Davis Family Electing Small Business Trust and Timothy Rodden (5)
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2006 by and among ARM Acquisition, Inc., ARMS Acquisition,
Inc., Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC, Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC, Patricia Daly and
Stacy Mamakos Martin (11)
Share Purchase Agreement, dated June 6, 2007, among Cross Country Healthcare UK HoldCo Limited and
Winston Paul John Evans, Susan Morag Evans and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (16)
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 13, 2007, among ClinForce LLC, the Stockholders of Assent Consulting
and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (18)
Purchase Agreement, dated July 22, 2008, by and among StoneCo H, Inc., MDA Holdings, Inc., Medical Doctor
Associates, Inc., Allied Health Group, Inc., Credent Verification and Licensing Services, Inc., Jamestown
Indemnity, Ltd. and MDA Employee and Stock Ownership and 401(K) Plan ESOP Component Trust (22)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (1)
Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant (1)
Form of specimen common stock certificate (1)
Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated August 23, 2001, among the Registrant, a Delaware
corporation, the CEP Investors and the Investors (1)
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 29, 1999, among the Registrant, a Delaware corporation, and
the CEP Investors and the MSDWCP Investors (1)
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)
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2001, among the Registrant, Joseph Boshart and Emil Hensel and
the Financial Investors (1)
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1999, between Joseph Boshart and the Registrant (1)(14)
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1999, between Emil Hensel and the Registrant (1)(14)
Employment Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2006, between Patricia Daly and ARM Acquisition, Inc. (14)(16)
Employment Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2006, between Stacy Mamakos Martin and ARM Acquisition, Inc.
(14)(16)
Executive Service Agreement, dated June 6, 2007, between Akos Limited and Paul Evans (14)(19)
Employment Agreement, dated July 13, 2007, between Assent Consulting and David Hnatek (14)(19)
Employment Agreement, dated July 13, 2007, between Assent Consulting and Robert Adzich (14)(19)
Lease Agreement, dated April 28, 1997, between Meridian Properties and the Registrant (1)
Lease Agreement, dated October 31, 2000, by and between Trustees of the Goldberg Brothers Trust, a
Massachusetts Nominee Trust and TVCM, Inc. (1)
54
No.
Description
EXHIBIT INDEX (CONTINUED)
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13
10.14
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
10.20
10.21
10.22
10.23
10.24
10.25
10.26
10.27
10.28
10.29
10.30
10.31
10.32
10.33
10.34
10.35
10.36
10.37
10.38
10.39
10.40
222 Building Standard Office Lease between Clayton Investors Associates, LLC and Cejka & Company (1)
Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant (2)(14)
Amended and Restated Equity Participation Plan of the Registrant (2)(14)
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan adopted April 5, 2007 (14)(20)
Amendment to Lease by and between Meridian Commercial Properties Limited Partnership and Cross Country, Inc.
dated May 1, 2002 (3)
Cross Country, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (4)(14)
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Joseph A. Boshart (4)(14)
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Emil Hensel (4)(14)
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Vickie Anenberg (4)(14)
Restricted Stock Agreement between Company and Jonathan Ward (4)(14)
Amendment to Lease Agreement, as of May 1, 2002, by and between Meridian Commercial Properties Limited
Partnership and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (3)
Lease Agreement by and between Edgewood General Partnership and HR Logic, dated July 6, 2000 (6)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Edgewood General Partnership and HR Logic, dated
December 7, 2000 (6)
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Edgewood General Partnership and Cross Country
TravCorps, dated April 29, 2002 (6)
Lease Agreement by and between Petula Associates, Ltd. and Principal Life Insurance Company and Clinical Trials
Support Services, Inc. dated November 3, 1999 (6)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Petula Associates, Ltd. and Principal Life Insurance Company
and Clinical Trials Support Services, Inc., dated December 20, 1999 (6)
Lease Agreement by and between Newtown Street Road Associates and Med-Staff, Inc., dated June 21, 2001 (6)
Lease Agreement by and between Newtown Street Road Associates and Med-Staff, Inc., dated June 23, 1998 (6)
Second Amendment to Lease, dated October 10, 2003, between Canterbury Hall IC, LLC and ClinForce, Inc. (7)
Lease Agreement, dated January 30, 2004, between Goldberg Brothers Real Estate, LLC and TVCM, Inc. (7)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated December 11, 2001, between Clayton Investors Associates LLC and
Cejka & Company (8)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated December 22, 1999, between Newtown Street Road Associates and
MedStaff, Inc. (8)
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated June 21, 2001 between Newtown Street Road Associates and
MedStaff, Inc. (8)
Lease Agreement between Corporex Key Limited Partnership No. 8 and Cross Country Seminars, Inc. (8)
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (8)(14)
Third Amendment to Lease, dated October 6, 2004, between Canterbury Hall IC, LLC and ClinForce, Inc. (9)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated February 24, 2005, between Blevens Family Storage, L.P., and Cross
Country Seminars, Inc. (10)
Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated December 15, 2005, by and between Canterbury Hall, IC, LLC, and
Clinforce, Inc. (13)
Lease Agreement, dated February 24, 2006, between MedStaff, Inc. and Campus Investors D Building, L.P. (13)
Lease Guaranty Agreement by and between Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and Campus Investors D Building, L.P.
dated February 17, 2006. (13)
Credit Agreement, dated November 10, 2005, with the Lenders referenced therein, and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender, General Electric Capital Corporation, as
Syndication Agent, Bank of America, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Co-
Documentation Agent, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager (13)
55
No.
10.41
10.42
10.43
10.44
10.45
10.46
10.47
10.48
10.49
10.50
10.51
10.52
10.53
10.54
10.55
10.56
10.57
10.58
10.59
10.60
10.61
10.62
10.63
10.64
10.65
10.66
EXHIBIT INDEX (CONTINUED)
Description
Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2005, by and among certain subsidiaries of Cross
Country Healthcare, Inc., as Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
Administrative Agent (13)
Collateral Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2005, by and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and certain of
its subsidiaries as grantors, in favor of Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (13)
Joinder Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2006, to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and the Collateral
Agreement by and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., ClinForce, LLC, Cross Country Education, LLC and
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (13)
Lease Agreement between Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates,
LLC, dated December 2, 2005 (12)
Sublease between Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP and Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC, dated June 5,
2003 (12)
Sublease between Port City Press, Inc. and ARM Acquisition, Inc., dated August 31, 2006 (12)
Lease Agreement between Cornerstone Opportunity Ventures, LLC and Cejka Search, Inc., dated February 2,
2007 (15)
Lease Agreement between Self Service Mini Storage, L.P. and Cross Country Education, LLC, dated February 2,
2007 (15)
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Meridian Commercial Properties Limited Partnership and
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., dated February 17, 2007 (15)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated March 30, 2004, between Goldberg Brothers Real Estate, LLC and
TVCM, Inc. (23)
Fifth Amendment to Lease Agreement dated March 5, 2008, by and between Canterbury hall IC, LLC and Principal
Life Insurance Company, tenants in common, and ClinForce, Inc. (24)
Credit Agreement dated November 5, 2005 and Amended and Restated as of September 9, 2008 by and among Cross
Country Healthcare, Inc. as Borrower and the Lenders referenced therein (25)
Lease Agreement dated February 1, 2007, by and between MDA Holdings, Inc. and ADKS Realty Corporation (26)
Lease Agreement dated March 1, 2999 by and between Medical Doctors Associates, Inc. and ADKS Realty
Corporation (26)
Lease Agreement dated as of October 29, 2007, by and between Crestline Office Center Associates, LLC and MDA
Holdings, Inc. (26)
Lease Agreement dated as of September 21, 2004, by and between TGS American Realty Limited Partnership and
Medical Doctor Associates, Inc. (26)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of September 1, 2007, by and between Cornerstone Opportunity
Ventures, LLC and Cejka Search, Inc. (26)
Joinder Agreement dated September 9, 2008 to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and the Collateral Agreement by
and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., StoneCo H, Inc., StoneCo C, LLC, StoneCo M, LLC CC Local, Inc. and
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent
Lease Agreement dated August, 2006, between Brandywine Operating Partnership, L.P. and ClinForce, Inc.
First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated January 2, 2007, by and between Brandywine Operating Partnership,
L.P. and ClinForce, Inc.
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement dated September 23, 2008, by and between G &I VI 321/323
NORRISTOWN FE LLC (successor to Brandywine Operating Partnership, L.P.) and ClinForce, Inc.
Employment Agreement by and between Jim Ginter and StoneCo H, Inc. (14)
Employment Agreement by and between Mike Pretiger and StoneCo H, Inc. (14)
Employment Agreement by and between Anne Anderson and StoneCo H, Inc. (14)
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (14)(28)
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive
Plan (14)(21)
56
No.
10.67
10.68
10.69
14.1
21.1
23.1
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
EXHIBIT INDEX (CONTINUED)
Description
Third Amendment to Lease Agreement dated October 30, 2008, by and between G &I VI 321/323 NORRISTOWN
FE LLC (successor to Brandywine Operating Partnership, L.P.) and ClinForce, Inc.
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Policy of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. dated as of January 1,
2008 (14)
First Amendment and Consent to Credit Agreement, dated June 2007 (17)
Code of Ethics (8)
List of subsidiaries of the Registrant
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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
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
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
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
———————
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Commission File No. 333-
64914, and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Commission File No. 333-
83450, and incorporated by reference herein.
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.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 5, 2003, and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 and
incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Previously filed as exhibits in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 12, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 15, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 13, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and incorporated by
reference herein.
57
EXHIBIT INDEX (CONTINUED)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(26)
(27)
(28)
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated May 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 25, 2008 and incorporated herein by
reference.
Previously filed as exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and incorporated by
reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 11, 2008 and incorporated by reference
herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and
incorporated by reference herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 25, 2008 and incorporated by reference
herein.
Previously filed as an exhibit in the Company’s S-8 dated August 15, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.
58
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm .......................................................................................
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 .............................................................................
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 ..........................................................................................................................
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 .....................................................................................................
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 ..........................................................................................................................
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ..............................................................................................................
Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 ..........................................................................................................................
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.
Page
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
II-1
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, 2008
and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the
Index at Item 15. 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, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and
its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, 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.
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the
provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an
Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.
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, 2008, 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 12, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
West Palm Beach, Florida
March 12, 2009
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Certified Public Accountants
F-2
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
2008
2007
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents .............................................................................................
Restricted cash ..............................................................................................................
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $6,408,772 in 2008 and $5,585,286 in 2007 ..........................................................
Deferred tax assets ........................................................................................................
Income taxes receivable ................................................................................................
Prepaid rent on field employees' apartments .................................................................
Other prepaid expenses .................................................................................................
Deposits on field employees' apartments, net of allowance
of $187,726 in 2008 and $280,681 in 2007 ................................................................
Insurance recoveries receivable ....................................................................................
Other current assets .......................................................................................................
Total current assets ............................................................................................................
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and
amortization of $33,252,084 in 2008 and $26,121,576 in 2007 ......................................
Trademarks, net .................................................................................................................
Goodwill, net .....................................................................................................................
Other identifiable intangible assets, net .............................................................................
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization
$
10,172,841
5,000,000
$
9,066,537
––
117,793,812
11,287,126
977,539
2,734,701
11,189,929
116,132,763
5,869,361
––
3,661,880
11,321,224
585,245
450,573
1,188,263
161,380,029
797,836
428,932
1,558,220
148,836,753
25,984,710
64,443,351
122,597,725
32,459,083
23,460,030
19,152,629
326,118,839
15,995,632
2,675,608
of $705,372 in 2008 and $321,633 in 2007 .....................................................................
15,064,598
Non-current deferred tax assets .........................................................................................
Other long-term assets .......................................................................................................
1,244,340
Total assets ........................................................................................................................ $ 425,849,444
423,872
––
1,017,034
$ 535,004,789
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses .......................................................................
Accrued compensation and benefits ..............................................................................
Current portion of long-term debt .................................................................................
Income taxes payable ....................................................................................................
Other current liabilities .................................................................................................
Total current liabilities .......................................................................................................
$
12,440,207
21,333,514
15,825,642
––
6,682,120
56,281,483
$
10,202,777
26,102,213
5,066,757
1,222,191
7,815,181
50,409,119
Non-current deferred tax liabilities ....................................................................................
Long-term debt .................................................................................................................
Interest rate swaps ..............................................................................................................
Other long-term liabilities ..................................................................................................
Total liabilities ...................................................................................................................
––
117,254,854
2,382,444
15,907,551
191,826,332
49,244,028
34,384,717
––
10,529,727
144,567,591
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock—$0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares
authorized; 30,774,868 and 31,576,959 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively .........................................
Additional paid-in capital ..............................................................................................
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income .........................................................
Retained earnings ..........................................................................................................
3,077
237,371,902
(4,834,397)
1,482,530
3,158
245,843,655
163,242
144,427,143
Total stockholders' equity ..................................................................................................
234,023,112
390,437,198
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ............................................................................ $ 425,849,444
$ 535,004,789
See accompanying notes.
F-3
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31,
Revenue from services .......................................................................
Operating expenses:
2008
2007
$ 734,246,671 $ 718,272,469 $ 655,151,931
2006
Direct operating expenses .............................................................
Selling, general and administrative expenses ................................
Bad debt expense ..........................................................................
Depreciation ..................................................................................
Amortization .................................................................................
Impairment charges .......................................................................
Legal settlement charge ................................................................
Secondary offering costs ...............................................................
Total operating expenses ..........................................................
541,659,776
136,815,286
950,711
7,636,712
3,165,797
244,094,000
––
––
934,322,282
543,608,163
122,692,133
1,558,626
6,309,538
2,051,311
––
33,654
––
676,253,425
502,467,737
110,172,095
459,368
5,448,441
1,570,005
––
6,704,392
153,450
626,975,488
(Loss) income from operations ..........................................................
(200,075,611)
42,019,044
28,176,443
Other expenses:
Foreign exchange (income) loss ....................................................
Interest expense, net ......................................................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes .......
Income tax (benefit) expense .............................................................
(Loss) income from continuing operations ........................................
Income from discontinued operations ................................................
Net (loss) income ...............................................................................
(131,956)
4,224,537
(204,168,192)
(61,223,579)
(142,944,613)
––
92,937
2,587,398
39,338,709
14,759,200
24,579,509
––
$ (142,944,613) $
24,579,509 $
––
1,464,223
26,712,220
10,145,868
16,566,352
70,037
16,636,389
Net (loss) income per common share—basic:
(Loss) income from continuing operations ...................................
Discontinued operations ................................................................
Net (loss) income ...............................................................................
Net (loss) income per common share—diluted:
(Loss) income from continuing operations ...................................
Discontinued operations ................................................................
Net (loss) income ...............................................................................
$
$
$
$
(4.64) $
––
(4.64) $
(4.61) $
––
(4.61) $
0.77 $
––
0.77 $
0.76 $
––
0.76 $
0.52
0.00
0.52
0.51
0.00
0.51
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic .....................
30,825,099
31,972,681
32,077,240
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted ..................
31,007,352
32,484,241
32,737,419
See accompanying notes.
F-4
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Balance at December 31, 2005 ..........
Exercise of stock options .............
Tax benefit of stock option
exercises ....................................
Stock repurchase and retirement ..
Amortization of unearned
Common Stock
Shares
Dollars
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Retained
Earnings
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
32,132,959 $
130,286
3,213 $ 255,339,487
1,292,784
13
— $ 103,943,344 $ 359,286,044
1,292,797
—
—
—
(163,900)
—
(16)
357,843
(2,764,277)
—
—
—
—
357,843
(2,764,293)
compensation under restricted
stock plan ..................................
Equity compensation ...................
Net income ...................................
—
—
—
Balance at December 31, 2006 .......... 32,099,345
—
—
—
15,675
31,123
—
3,210 254,272,635
—
18
—
(70)
—
—
—
—
1,899,196
276,967
(10,881,806)
276,663
—
—
—
—
16,636,389
15,675
—
31,123
—
16,636,389
—
— 120,579,733 374,855,578
—
—
—
—
—
(732,099)
—
(732,099)
1,899,214
—
—
—
276,967
(10,881,876)
276,663
163,242
—
163,242
—
24,579,509
—
182,112
—
(704,498)
—
—
—
31,576,959
104,626
17,518
3,158
10
1
245,843,655
1,013,863
(92,236)
163,242
—
—
144,427,143
—
—
Cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle ..................
Exercise of stock options .............
Tax benefit of stock option
exercises ....................................
Stock repurchase and retirement ..
Equity compensation ...................
Comprehensive income:
Foreign currency cumulative
translation adjustment ..........
Net income .............................
Total comprehensive income .......
Balance at December 31, 2007 ..........
Exercise of stock options .............
Vesting of restricted stock ...........
Tax benefit of stock option
exercises ....................................
Stock repurchase and retirement ..
Equity compensation ...................
Comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency cumulative
translation adjustment ..........
Net unrealized losses on
hedging transactions ............
Net loss ...................................
Total comprehensive loss .............
Balance at December 31, 2008 ..........
24,579,509
24,742,751
390,437,198
1,013,873
(92,235)
—
—
—
—
—
151,865
(10,775,405)
1,230,068
(3,541,727)
(1,455,912)
(142,944,613)
(142,944,613)
(147,942,252)
1,482,530 $ 234,023,112
—
(924,235)
—
—
(92)
—
151,865
(10,775,313)
1,230,068
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(3,541,727)
—
(1,455,912)
—
—
30,774,868 $
3,077 $ 237,371,902 $
(4,834,397) $
See accompanying notes.
F-5
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Operating activities
Net (loss) income ...........................................................................
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Bad debt expense .......................................................................
Depreciation ..............................................................................
Amortization .............................................................................
Impairment charges ...................................................................
Legal settlement charge .............................................................
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense ......................................
Amortization of debt issuance costs ..........................................
Equity compensation .................................................................
Other noncash charges ..............................................................
Income from discontinued operations .......................................
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable ..............................................................
Prepaid rent, deposits, and other current assets ....................
Income taxes .........................................................................
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ..............................
Accrued legal settlement charge ...........................................
Other current liabilities .........................................................
Net cash provided by continuing operations .............................
Net cash provided by discontinued operations ..........................
Net cash provided by operating activities ......................................
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment, net .....................................
Acquisition of MDA Holdings, Inc., net of cash acquired .............
Acquisition of Assent Consulting, net of cash acquired .................
Acquisition of AKOS Limited, net of cash acquired .....................
Acquisition of assets of Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC
and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC .................
Net cash used in investing activities ..............................................
Financing activities
Debt issuance costs ........................................................................
Exercise of stock options ...............................................................
Tax benefit of stock option exercises .............................................
Stock repurchase and retirement ....................................................
Repayment of debt and note payable .............................................
Proceeds from issuance of debt ......................................................
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .......................
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash ........................................
Change in cash and cash equivalents .............................................
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year .............................
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year .......................................
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing
activities
Equipment purchased through capital lease obligations ................
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest paid ....................................................................................
Income taxes paid ..........................................................................
Year Ended December 31,
2008
2007
2006
$ (142,944,613)
$
24,579,509
$
16,636,389
950,711
7,636,712
3,165,797
244,094,000
––
(68,223,408)
383,739
1,230,068
––
––
19,255,354
3,537,056
(2,249,691)
(14,878,174)
––
(964,378)
50,993,173
––
50,993,173
1,558,626
6,309,538
2,051,311
––
––
11,347,518
150,318
276,663
75,987
––
84,988
494,414
––
(8,327,094 )
(6,704,392 )
3,982,408
35,879,794
––
35,879,794
(4,688,610)
(111,740,667)
(4,551,715)
(2,143,648)
(8,277,884 )
––
(18,551,859 )
(7,983,185 )
459,368
5,448,441
1,570,005
––
6,704,392
7,038,932
147,552
46,798
210,555
(70,037)
(3,674,803)
4,835,667
––
(8,343,755)
––
1,659,479
32,668,983
248,687
32,917,670
(9,310,075)
––
––
––
(6,436,000)
(129,560,640)
(515,167 )
(35,328,095 )
(18,537,444)
(27,847,519)
(2,635,475)
1,013,873
151,865
(10,775,405)
(99,494,759)
191,817,000
80,077,099
(403,328)
1,106,304
9,066,537
10,172,841
1,306,781
3,809,038
8,632,450
$
$
$
$
(11,298 )
1,899,214
276,967
(10,881,876 )
(162,335,324 )
179,483,000
8,430,683
84,155
9,066,537
––
9,066,537
775,083
2,170,975
2,413,120
$
$
$
$
(21,331)
1,292,797
411,426
(2,764,293)
(92,458,750)
88,470,000
(5,070,151)
––
––
––
––
113,097
1,395,068
3,343,756
$
$
$
$
See accompanying notes.
F-6
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2008
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 related to 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 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.
On December 16, 1999, CCS entered into a Plan of Merger with TravCorps Corporation (TravCorps). TravCorps and its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Cejka & Company (Cejka), provided travel nurse and allied staffing, retained search, consulting,
and related outsourced services to healthcare providers throughout the United States. Pursuant to the Plan of Merger on
December 16, 1999, all outstanding shares of TravCorps’ common stock were exchanged for common stock in CCS and
TravCorps became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCS.
Effective October 1, 2000, TravCorps changed its name to TVCM, Inc. Effective October 10, 2000, CCS changed its name to
Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. Subsequent to December 31, 2000, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. changed its name to Cross
Country, Inc. In May 2003, Cross Country, Inc. changed its name to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the Company).
Subsequent acquisitions and dispositions were made and currently, the Company is 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, a provider of clinical trials services to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers, as well as a provider of
other human capital management services focused on healthcare.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned direct and indirect
subsidiaries: CC Staffing, Inc., Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., TVCM, Inc. (f/k/a TravCorps), MCVT, Inc., Cross Country
Local, Inc. (f/k/a Flexstaff, Inc.), CC Local, Inc., Med-Staff, Inc. (MedStaff) (f/k/a Cross Country Nurses, Inc.),
HealthStaffers, Inc., Assignment America, Inc., NovaPro, Inc., ClinForce, LLC (ClinForce)( f/k/a Clinforce, Inc.),
Metropolitan Research Associates, Inc., Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, Inc., Cejka Search, Inc. (f/k/a Cejka &
Company), MRA Search, Inc., Cross Country Education, LLC (f/k/a Cross Country Education, Inc. and CCS/Heritage
Acquisition Corp.), Cross Country Capital, Inc., Cross Country Infotech, Pvt Ltd. (India), Assent Consulting, Cross Country
Holdco (Cyprus) Limited, Cross Country Healthcare UK HoldCo Limited, AKOS Limited (UK), Cross Country Consulting,
Inc., MDA Holdings, Inc., Medical Doctor Associates, LLC, Allied Health Group, LLC, Credent Verification and Licensing
Services, LLC, and Jamestown Indemnity, Ltd. In December 2007, TVCM, Inc. was merged into the Company and NovaPro,
Inc. was merged into Cross Country Travcorps, Inc. In December 2005, Cross Country Consulting, Inc. was dissolved. 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all investments with original maturities of less than three months to be cash and cash equivalents.
The Company typically invests its excess cash in highly rated overnight funds and other highly rated liquid accounts.
F-7
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
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 pharmaceutical and biotech companies 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 collectibility 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 2008 and 4% during 2007 or 2006. An
aggregate of approximately 11% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, were
due from five customers.
Prepaid Rent and Deposits
The Company leases a number of apartments for its field employees under short-term cancelable 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 shown on the consolidated balance
sheets relate to these short-term agreements.
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 3-7 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 Statement of Position 98-1,
Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. 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 amortized
using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives which range from 1 to 15 years (See Note 3 – Goodwill and
Other Identifiable Intangible Assets). Goodwill and certain intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Instead,
in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,
these assets are reviewed for impairment annually with any related losses recognized in earnings.
The impairment test requires the Company to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the reporting
unit’s carrying amount. The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flow
methodology. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had five reporting units: 1) nurse and allied staffing, 2) physician
staffing, 3) clinical trials services, 4) retained search and 5) education and training. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the
Company performed its annual impairment testing and determined that the fair value of the goodwill related to its nurse and
allied staffing reporting unit was lower than its carrying value. A number of significant assumptions and estimates are
F-8
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
involved in the application of the discounted cash flow methodology to forecasted operating cash flows, including sales
volumes and prices, discount rate, and working capital changes. 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. As a result of its analysis, a non-cash
pretax charge of approximately $241,000,000 was recorded to reduce the carrying value of goodwill related to its nurse and
allied staffing reporting unit to its estimated fair value. This charge is reflected in impairment charges in the consolidated
statements of operations. See Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets. During the fourth quarter of 2007,
the Company performed its annual impairment testing and determined there was no impairment of goodwill or indefinite-
lived intangible assets related to assets held and used as of December 31, 2007.
Long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets with definite lives are evaluated for impairment in accordance with FASB
Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. In accordance with FASB Statement
No. 144, long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying
amount may not be recoverable. The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets,
to determine if any impairment exists. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a non-cash pretax
impairment charge of approximately $3,094,000 related to a particular customer relationship in its clinical trials services
reporting unit. This charge is reflected in impairment charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
See Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.
Recoverability of intangible assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to net future cash flows
expected to be generated from the asset. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company believes no other impairment of
long-lived assets or identifiable intangible assets existed.
Reserves for Claims
The Company provides its eligible temporary healthcare professionals with professional liability insurance policies. 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. The health care insurance accrual is for 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 costs will depend on actual costs incurred to settle the claims and may differ from the amounts reserved by
the Company for those claims.
Workers’ compensation benefits are provided under a partially self-insured plan. For workers’ compensation claims reported
prior to September 1, 2008, the insurance carrier required the Company to fund a reserve for payment of claims. Those funds
are maintained by the insurance carrier. The Company had approximately $5,025,000 and $6,719,000 recorded as prepaid
workers’ compensation expense included in other prepaid expenses on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively. Effective September 1, 2008, the Company has moved from a pre-funded program to a letter of credit
structure to guarantee payments of claims. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $3,340,000 of outstanding standby
letters of credit related to this new structure.
Professional liability benefits are provided under various self-insured, claims made and occurrence based plans depending on
the subsidiary and the applicable policy year. Effective October 2004, the Company implemented individual occurrence-
based professional liability insurance policies with no deductible, for virtually all of its working nurses and allied
professionals, other than those employed through its MedStaff subsidiary. This coverage substantially replaced a $2,000,000
per-claim layer of self-insured exposure. The Company provides primary coverage with a $2,000,000 self-insured retention
for nurses and allied professionals who did not qualify for this coverage during the years, as well as for the Company’s
independent liabilities (such as negligent hiring) during these policy years. Effective October 1, 2008, the individual
professional liability insurance policies were replaced with one policy that insures each individual nurse for $2,000,000 per
occurrence and $4,000,000 in the aggregate, as well as the corporation which shares those limits. This policy has no
deductible and does not cover healthcare professionals working through MedStaff or MDA Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries
(collectively, MDA).
F-9
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Separately, the Company’s MedStaff subsidiary has 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. In addition, 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, 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 it is required to guarantee the payment of claims to its insured party’s
primary medical malpractice insurance carrier via a $5,000,000 letter of credit. The value of the letter of credit is secured by
$5,000,000 of cash held by the Captive as restricted cash.
Subject to certain limitations, the Company also has $5,000,000 per occurrence and $10,000,000 in the aggregate in umbrella
liability insurance coverage, after the individual policies, MedStaff’s policy and the $2,000,000 self-insured primary
coverage, as applicable, have been exhausted.
The Company records the receivable portion of its claims-made policy insurance claims in accordance with Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) No. 03-8, Accounting for Claims-Made Insurance and Retroactive Insurance Contracts by the Insured
Entity. The Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 reflects the current portion of the
receivable of its claims-made insurance claims as insurance recoveries receivable and the long-term portion as other long-
term assets. The related current liability is included in accrued compensation and benefits and the long-term portion of the
liability is recorded in other long-term liabilities. See Note 6 – Accrued Compensation and Benefits.
Debt Issuance Costs
Deferred costs related to the issuance of the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility (see Note 7 – Long-term
Debt) have been capitalized and are being amortized using the straight line method, over the five-year term of the debt.
Deferred costs related to the Company’s senior secured term loan facility have been capitalized and are being amortized
using the effective interest method over the respective five-year term of the related debt.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from services consists primarily of temporary staffing revenue. 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. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the amounts accrued are approximately $20,465,000 and $16,149,000,
respectively.
The Company has entered into certain contracts with acute care facilities to provide comprehensive vendor management
services. Under these contract arrangements, the Company uses its nurses along with those of third party subcontractors to
fulfill customer orders. If a subcontractor is used, revenue is recorded at the time of billing, net of any related subcontractor
liability. The resulting net revenue represents the administrative fee charged by the Company for its vendor management
services. The subcontractor is paid once the Company has received payment from the acute care facility. Management fees
are included in some of the Company’s clinical research contracts that cover the life of a project. These fees are recognized
on a straight-line basis for the specific length of the project.
Revenue on permanent placements is recognized when services provided are substantially completed. 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 2008, 2007 and 2006, such losses were nominal.
Revenue from the Company’s education and training services is recognized as the instructor-led seminars are performed and
the related learning materials are delivered.
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. Under FASB Statement No. 123(R) – Share-Based Payments, companies may choose from
F-10
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
alternative valuation models. The Company uses the Black-Scholes method of valuing its options and stock appreciation rights.
The Company will consider the use of another model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates
another model would be more appropriate for the Company, or, if grants issued in future periods have characteristics that
cannot be reasonably estimated using Black-Scholes. 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 is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and totaled
approximately $1,230,000, during the year ended December 31, 2008. Related deferred tax benefits of approximately
$436,000 were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2008. Compensation expense and related tax benefits during the
years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were immaterial.
See Note 13 – Stockholders’ Equity for more 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 that are not considered direct response are expensed as incurred and were
approximately $6,419,000, $5,936,000, and $5,279,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Direct response advertising costs associated with the Company’s education and training services are capitalized and expensed
when the related event takes place. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately $1,553,000 and $1,336,000, respectively,
of these costs are included in other 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 FASB Statement No. 13, Accounting for Leases, 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 FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. 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.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation
of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions. FIN 48 requires
that the Company recognize 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 provisions of FIN 48 became effective for the
Company on January 1, 2007, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to
opening retained earnings. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the
provision for income taxes. See Note 12 - Income Taxes for more information.
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Total comprehensive (loss) income includes net (loss) income, net change in derivative transactions (net of related deferred
taxes) and foreign currency translation adjustments. There were no other components of comprehensive (loss) income other
than net income during the year ended December 31, 2006.
The Company’s foreign operations use their respective local currency as their functional currency. In accordance with FASB
Statement No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation, assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the exchange rates
in effect on the balance sheet date. Statement of operation items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period.
F-11
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
The impact of currency fluctuation is included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income on the consolidated
balance sheets and was approximately $3,378,000 and $163,000, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The impact
of net changes in derivative instruments included in other comprehensive (loss) income on the consolidated balance sheets
was approximately $1,456,000, net of deferred taxes, at December 31, 2008. See Interest Rate Swap Agreements below and
Note 8 - Interest Rate Swap Agreements for further information.
Total comprehensive (loss) income is stated on the face of the Company’s Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.
Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued
expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying amounts of the revolving
loan facility and term loan approximate fair value as the interest rates are tied to a quoted variable index. Derivative financial
instruments (interest rate swap agreements) are recorded at fair value based on available quotations provided by a recognized
dealer in such hedging agreements.
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, 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. In the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company’s only financial
asset/liability required to be measured on a recurring basis was its interest rate swap agreements. See Note 8 - Interest Rate
Swap Agreements and Note 9 – Fair Value Measurements for relevant disclosures.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended (FASB Statement
No. 133(R)) 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 uses derivative instruments to manage the fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk on
variable-rate debt financing. The objective of the hedges is to reduce the exposure to adverse 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 involve 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. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 53% of the
Company’s variable rate debt had its interest payments designated as the hedged forecasted transactions. The Company has
formally documented the hedging relationships and accounts for these derivatives as cash flow hedges. Gains or losses
resulting from changes in the fair value of these agreements are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, until the
hedged item is recognized in earnings. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing
basis, whether the derivatives that are used in the hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values
or cash flows of the hedged items. Any ineffectiveness would be recorded directly to earnings.
The Company has elected to early adopt FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 in conjunction with its only derivatives and hedging activities, interest
rate swap agreements. See Note 8 - Interest Rate Swap Agreements for full disclosures of interest rate swap agreements
entered into in 2008.
Reclassifications
Certain 2007 and 2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets, which
amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful
life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142. The intent of FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 is to
F-12
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142 and the
period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FASB Statement No. 141(R) , Business
Combinations (FASB 141R) and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption
is prohibited. The Company will implement FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 on January 1, 2009. The Company expects that
FASB Staff Position No. 142-3 could have an impact on its future consolidated financial statements when effective, but the
nature and magnitude of the specific effects will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions the Company
consummates after the effective date.
In February 2008, the FASB Staff Position No. 157-2 was issued, which delays the effective date for nonfinancial assets and
nonfinancial liabilities included in FASB Statement No. 157, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in
the financial statements on a recurring basis. The effective date has been deferred to fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2008 for these nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company does not expect the deferred portion of the
adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB 141R, which replaces FASB Statement No. 141, Business Combinations.
FASB 141R applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity obtains control of one or more businesses and
requires that all assets and liabilities of an acquired business as well as any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree be recorded
at their fair values at the acquisition date. Among other things, FASB 141R requires the expensing of direct transaction costs,
including deal costs and restructuring costs as incurred. In addition, contingent consideration arrangements will be
recognized at their acquisition date fair values, with subsequent changes in fair value generally reflected in earnings. Pre-
acquisition contingencies will also typically be recognized at their acquisition date fair values. In subsequent periods,
contingent liabilities will be measured at the higher of their acquisition date fair values or the estimated amounts to be
realized. In addition, material adjustments made to the initial acquisition purchase accounting will be required to be recorded
back to the acquisition date. This will cause companies to revise previously reported results when reporting comparative
financial information in subsequent filings. The statement is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition
date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company
expects that FASB 141R could have an impact on its future consolidated financial statements when effective, but the nature
and magnitude of the specific effects will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions the Company
consummates after the effective date.
3.
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had the following acquired intangible assets:
Gross Carrying
Amount
December 31, 2008
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Amount
Gross Carrying
Amount
December 31, 2007
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Amount
Intangible assets subject
to amortization:
Databases ..................
Customer relations ....
Non-compete
agreements .............
Trademark ................
Intangible assets not
subject to amortization:
Goodwill ...................
Trademarks ...............
4,153,000
340,000
53,589,954
$
$ 124,490,569
65,835,076
$ 190,325,645
$
$
$
$
14,268,522
34,828,432
$
12,166,806
5,814,065
$
$
2,101,716
29,014,367
1,343,000
9,444
32,468,527
$
$
13,268,510
17,841,001
$
11,788,255
4,118,707
3,153,000
340,000
34,602,511
2,359,917
103,889
18,370,768
$
$
1,480,255
13,722,294
793,083
236,111
16,231,743
2,810,000
330,556
21,121,427
$
$
$
20,617,670
1,401,169
22,018,839
$ 326,118,839
18,916,518
$ 345,035,357
1,892,844
1,401,169
3,294,013
$ 122,597,725
64,433,907
$ 187,031,632
$ 346,736,509
20,317,687
$ 367,054,196
F-13
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
3.
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets (continued)
Estimated annual amortization expense is approximately as follows:
Year Ending December 31:
2009 .............................................................................................................. $ 4,000,000
3,858,000
2010 ..............................................................................................................
3,472,000
2011 ..............................................................................................................
3,220,000
2012 ..............................................................................................................
3,069,000
2013 ..............................................................................................................
14,850,000
Thereafter ......................................................................................................
$ 32,469,000
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2007 ................
Acquisition of MDA ....................................
Earnout payment for Assent Consulting ......
Earnout payment for Metropolitan
Research ....................................................
Earnout payment and net working
capital adjustment for AKOS ....................
Impairment charge........................................
Currency translation adjustment for
AKOS .......................................................
Balance as of December 31, 2008 ................
Nurse and
Allied
Segment
$ 257,667,352
1,173,859
––
Physician
Staffing
Segment
$
––
24,666,270
––
Clinical
Trials
Services
Segment
$ 49,144,425
––
4,551,715
Other Human
Capital
Management
Services
Segment
$ 19,307,062
––
––
Total
$ 326,118,839
25,840,129
4,551,715
––
––
(241,000,000)
––
––
––
6,436,000
2,507,134
––
––
––
––
6,436,000
2,507,134
(241,000,000)
––
17,841,211
––
$ 24,666,270
(1,856,092)
$ 60,783,182
––
$ 19,307,062
(1,856,092)
$ 122,597,725
$
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
In accordance with FASB Statement No. 142, during the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company determined that the fair value
of the goodwill related to its nurse and allied staffing reporting unit was lower than its carrying value. See Note 2 - Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies. The decrease in value results from a combination of depressed equity market values and
lower projected near-term growth rates for the nurse and allied staffing business arising from the significant down-turn in the
U.S. economy and adverse labor and financial markets that rapidly deteriorated during the fourth quarter of 2008. The
majority of the goodwill impairment is 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. A non-cash pretax charge of approximately $241,000,000 was recorded to reduce the carrying value of
goodwill to its estimated fair value. This charge is included in impairment charges on the consolidated statements of
operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 144, the Company conducted an assessment of a
particular customer relationship in its clinical trials services segment due to a change in circumstance that indicated the
carrying amount of this intangible asset may not be recoverable. The relationship with this customer remains in good
standing; however, the customer has begun to use offshore staffing to meet some of its needs and will not be renewing one of
its contracts due to expire in the first quarter of 2009. The expiration of this particular contract has impacted the projected
revenue stream utilized in assessing the value of this intangible asset. The Company does have other ongoing contracts with
this customer that are expected to continue to generate business, but they are not significant or sufficient enough to replace
the revenue stream that will be ending in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, the Company was unable to estimate any
significant revenue stream in order to properly calculate an estimated fair value of this relationship. Based on these
circumstances, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge which represented the entire carrying value of
this customer relationship of approximately $3,094,000. This charge is also included in impairment charges on the
consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
F-14
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
4.
Acquisitions
MDA Holdings, Inc.
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). The Company paid $115,870,000 in cash at closing, which included $3,554,000 as an estimated net working capital
adjustment which was subject to final adjustments. Of the cash paid at closing, approximately $8,690,000 was being held in
escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities (Indemnification Escrow) and $250,000 was being held in escrow to cover any
net working capital adjustments (Net Working Capital Escrow). During the fourth quarter of 2008, approximately $1,590,000
of the Indemnification Escrow was released to the Company and recorded to goodwill as a reduction in purchase price. Also
during the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company finalized the net working capital adjustment and calculated an additional
payment to the sellers of approximately $100,000 which was paid and included in goodwill as additional purchase price. In
connection with this net working capital adjustment, the entire Net Working Capital Escrow of $250,000 was also released to
the sellers. Additionally, a post-closing adjustment to the purchase price of approximately $302,000 was paid to the sellers in
the fourth quarter of 2008 and included in goodwill as additional purchase price.
The transaction also includes an earnout provision based on 2008 and 2009 performance criteria. This contingent
consideration is not related to the sellers’ employment. If the earnout payments are made, they will be allocated to goodwill
as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company
expects to pay an earnout related to the 2008 performance, which amount has not been finalized at the date of this filing.
The Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility was amended and restated in connection with the acquisition of
MDA. The $200,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2005 and Amended and Restated as of September 9,
2008 (the Credit Agreement) kept in place an existing $75,000,000 revolving loan facility and provided for a 5-year
$125,000,000 term loan facility with Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities
LLC and certain other lenders. The proceeds from the term loan were used to fund the acquisition, pay financing related fees,
and pay certain acquisition expenses. The remainder of the proceeds was used to reduce borrowings under its revolving loan
facility. See Note 7- Long-term Debt for more information.
Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, MDA provides multi-specialty locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) and allied
staffing services to the healthcare industry in all 50 states. MDA is a provider of locum tenens staffing solutions through its
independent contract physicians. In addition, MDA has an in-house Credentials Verification Organization that is certified by
the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA verifies critical credentials prior to physician
assignments. It also offers its physicians occurrence-based malpractice coverage. See Note 2 – Reserves for Claims for
additional information. The Company acquired MDA to solidify its position as a national provider of healthcare staffing
solutions. The Company expects to benefit from a more diversified revenue stream as physicians are viewed as revenue
generators by its hospital clients, as compared to nurses who represent a cost center. The Company is also able to offer a
more comprehensive suite of services to its healthcare clients and recognizes there may be some potential synergies with its
physician search business.
The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141, using the purchase method. The results
of MDA’s operations have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since September 1, 2008, the agreed
upon accounting date of the acquisition. MDA’s allied staffing services have been combined with the Company’s nurse and
allied staffing business segment. MDA’s physician staffing services have been reported as a new business segment for the
Company, Physician Staffing, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 131, Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information.
F-15
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
4.
Acquisitions (continued)
The estimates of assets acquired and liabilities assumed were revised, during the fourth quarter of 2008, based on final
financial statements and the final independent third-party appraisal. The following table summarizes the approximate fair
values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Current assets:
Cash .............................................................................................................................................................
Restricted cash .............................................................................................................................................
Accounts receivable, net ..............................................................................................................................
Other current assets ......................................................................................................................................
Total current assets ...........................................................................................................................................
Property and equipment ....................................................................................................................................
Trademarks .......................................................................................................................................................
Goodwill ...........................................................................................................................................................
Other identifiable intangible assets ...................................................................................................................
Total assets acquired .........................................................................................................................................
$
3,550,000
5,000,000
22,463,000
2,302,000
33,315,000
4,304,000
46,000,000
26,419,000
23,100,000
133,138,000
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ......................................................................................................
Accrued employee compensation and benefits ............................................................................................
5,735,000
11,533,000
Total liabilities assumed ...................................................................................................................................
17,268,000
Net assets acquired ...........................................................................................................................................
$ 115,870,000
Based on the final independent third-party appraisal, the Company assigned the following values to intangible assets:
$46,000,000 to trademarks with an indefinite life and not subject to amortization, $21,000,000 for customer relations with a
useful life of 12 years, $1,100,000 to database with a useful life of 9 years, and $1,000,000 to noncompete agreements with a
weighted average useful life of 4 years. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets
acquired approximated $26,419,000 and was recorded as goodwill, which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes
Additional acquisition costs of approximately $610,000 were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2008, and are
included as goodwill on the consolidated balance sheet.
The following unaudited pro forma financial information approximates the consolidated results of operations of the Company
as if the MDA acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of each period presented, after giving effect to certain
adjustments, including amortization of specifically identifiable intangible assets, deduction of net expenses related to the
previous Employee Stock Ownership Plan of MDA, incremental interest expense and related income tax effects.
Revenue from services .......................................................................................................... $
849,780 $
876,294
Net (loss) income ..................................................................................................................
(141,654)
26,394
Net (loss) income per common share – basic .......................................................................
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted .....................................................................
$
$
(4.60)
(4.57)
$
$
0.83
0.81
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
(unaudited, amounts in thousands)
F-16
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
4.
Acquisitions (continued)
Assent Consulting
On July 18, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the shares of privately-held Assent Consulting (Assent)
for approximately $19,573,000 in cash paid at closing, including $1,000,000 which was held in escrow to cover any post-
closing liabilities. The purchase price was subject to a working capital adjustment of approximately $490,000 that was settled
with a payment to the Company in the fourth quarter of 2007. This transaction also included an earnout provision up to a
maximum of $4,900,000 based on 2007 and 2008 performance criteria. This contingent consideration was not related to the
sellers’ employment. In the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid $4,552,000 related to 2007 performance
satisfying all earnout amounts potentially due to the seller in accordance with the asset purchase agreement. Approximately
$2,000,000 of the payment was being held in escrow, subject to forfeiture to the Company, to the extent a 2008 performance
milestone was not achieved. Based on 2008 performance, the full amount was released in the first quarter of 2009. The entire
payment was allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141. In addition, in
the first quarter of 2009, the escrow of $1.0 million was released to the sellers. The Company financed this acquisition using
its revolving loan facility.
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Assent provides staffing services primarily consisting of highly qualified clinical
research, biostatistics and drug safety professionals to companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This
acquisition provides a greater geographical presence on the West Coast of the U.S. and broadens the Company’s client base
for its clinical trials services business.
The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method and is included in the clinical trials services business
segment. The results of Assent’s operations have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since the date of
acquisition, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141.
The purchase price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimates of fair value at the date of
acquisition, utilizing unaudited financial statements and an independent third-party appraisal. The following table
summarizes the approximate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
Current assets:
Cash ............................................................................................................................................................ $
Accounts receivable, net .............................................................................................................................
Other current assets ....................................................................................................................................
Total current assets ..........................................................................................................................................
Property and equipment ...................................................................................................................................
Goodwill ..........................................................................................................................................................
Trademarks ......................................................................................................................................................
Other identifiable intangible assets ..................................................................................................................
Total assets acquired ........................................................................................................................................
Current liabilities:
644,000
1,951,000
29,000
2,624,000
63,000
11,580,000
340,000
6,040,000
20,647,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ....................................................................................................
769,000
Accrued employee compensation and benefits ...........................................................................................
305,000
1,074,000
Total liabilities assumed ..................................................................................................................................
Net assets acquired .......................................................................................................................................... $ 19,573,000
Based on an independent third-party appraisal, the Company assigned the following values to intangible assets: $5,200,000
for customer relations with a useful life of 10 years, $480,000 to database with a useful life of 6 years, $360,000 to a
noncompete agreement with a useful life of 5 years, and $340,000 to trademarks with a useful life of 1.5 years. The excess of
purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is expected
to be deductible for tax purposes. Additional direct acquisition costs of approximately $113,000 were incurred during the
year ended December 31, 2007 and are included as goodwill in the consolidated balance sheets.
F-17
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
4.
Acquisitions (continued)
AKOS Limited
On June 6, 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of privately-held AKOS Limited (AKOS), based in the United
Kingdom, for a total purchase price of up to £7,179,000, consisting of an up-front payment of £3,971,000 and potential
earnout payments up to a maximum of £3,209,000 in 2007 and 2008. The share purchase agreement also specified an
estimated additional payment of £500,000, paid at closing, consisting of cash purchased, along with a post-closing net
working capital adjustment. An additional amount of £175,000 was paid in the third quarter of 2007, based on changes in net
working capital, as defined by the share purchase agreement.
The consideration for this acquisition equated to approximately $8,867,000 in cash paid at closing, which included
approximately $992,000 for the additional payment and $763,000 which was held in escrow to cover any post-closing
liabilities. The post-closing working capital adjustment equated to approximately $349,000. The Company financed this
transaction using its revolving loan facility.
The potential earnout payments are based on 2007 and 2008 performance, as defined by the share purchase agreement and
would be recorded in U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at the time of payment. This contingent consideration is not related
to the sellers’ employment. In 2008, the Company paid £1,054,000 (approximately $2,111,000) related to the 2007
performance. In the first quarter of 2009, the Company expects to pay approximately £500,000 related to the 2008
performance. The payments have been or will be allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with
FASB Statement No. 141. During the fourth quarter of 2008, all of the funds held in escrow were released to the sellers.
AKOS, conducting business since 1986, is a provider of drug safety, regulatory and clinical trial services to pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies in Europe, the United States, Canada and Asia. AKOS is based approximately 30 miles north
of London, England, and strategically located inside what is considered to be the United Kingdom’s research triangle that
extends outward from London to Cambridge and Oxford Universities. The Company believes, with the addition of AKOS, it
will provide a more global and comprehensive range of contract staffing and outsourcing services to pharmaceutical and
biotech customers.
The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method and is included in the clinical trials services segment. The
results of AKOS’ operations have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since the date of acquisition, in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 141. The purchase price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based
on estimates of fair value at the date of acquisition, utilizing unaudited financial statements and an independent third-party
appraisal. The following table summarizes the approximate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the
date of acquisition:
Current assets:
Cash ............................................................................................................................................................ $
Accounts receivable, net .............................................................................................................................
Other current assets ....................................................................................................................................
Total current assets ..........................................................................................................................................
Property and equipment ...................................................................................................................................
Trademarks ......................................................................................................................................................
Goodwill ..........................................................................................................................................................
Other identifiable intangible assets ..................................................................................................................
Total assets acquired ........................................................................................................................................
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ....................................................................................................
Income taxes payable .................................................................................................................................
Other current liabilities ...............................................................................................................................
Deferred taxes .............................................................................................................................................
Total liabilities assumed ..................................................................................................................................
Net assets acquired .......................................................................................................................................... $
1,257,000
1,078,000
106,000
2,441,000
165,000
1,707,000
3,849,000
2,581,000
10,743,000
175,000
52,000
405,000
1,244,000
1,876,000
8,867,000
F-18
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
4.
Acquisitions (continued)
Based on an independent third-party appraisal, the Company assigned $1,707,000 to trademarks with an indefinite life and
not subject to amortization. In addition, the Company assigned $2,581,000 to total other identifiable intangible assets subject
to amortization, as follows: $2,213,000 was assigned to customer relations with a useful life of 8.6 years, and $368,000 was
assigned to other intangibles with an estimated useful life of 6 years. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net
tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is not deductible locally for tax purposes. Additional
direct acquisition costs of approximately $373,000 were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2007 and are included
as goodwill in the consolidated balance sheets.
Metropolitan Research
On August 31, 2006, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held Metropolitan Research
Associates, LLC and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC (collectively “Metropolitan Research”) for a purchase
price of approximately $18,600,000. The consideration for this acquisition was approximately $16,100,000 in cash paid at
closing. The remaining approximate $2,500,000 of the purchase price was paid during the fourth quarter of 2006 as the
associated milestones defined by the asset purchase agreement were reached. These payments were allocated to goodwill as
additional purchase price. The Company financed this transaction using its revolving loan facility. During the year ended
December 31, 2007, a post-closing adjustment of approximately $510,000, which included a net working capital adjustment,
was paid and allocated to goodwill.
The asset purchase agreement also provided for a potential earnout payment of up to a maximum of $6,436,000 based on
2006 and 2007 performance, as defined. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid the entire $6,436,000
satisfying all earnout payments. This contingent consideration was not related to the sellers’ employment and was allocated
to goodwill as additional purchase price, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141.
5.
Property and Equipment
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, property and equipment consist of the following:
Computer equipment ...............................................................................
Computer software ...................................................................................
Office equipment .....................................................................................
Furniture and fixtures ..............................................................................
Leasehold improvements .........................................................................
Useful Lives
3-5 years
3-5 years
5-7 years
5-7 years
(a)
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ....................................
———————
(a) See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
6. Accrued Compensation and Benefits
December 31,
2008
11,358,404 $
37,551,372
3,875,451
3,495,817
2,955,750
59,236,794
(33,252,084)
25,984,710 $
2007
9,267,318
30,880,711
3,692,390
3,268,976
2,472,210
49,581,605
(26,121,575)
23,460,030
$
$
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, accrued compensation and benefits consist of the following:
Salaries and payroll taxes .................................................................................................. $
Bonuses ..............................................................................................................................
Accrual for workers’ compensation claims .......................................................................
Accrual for health care benefits .........................................................................................
Accrual for professional liability insurance .......................................................................
Accrual for vacation ..........................................................................................................
$
December 31,
2008
8,730,101 $
4,160,245
2,446,313
2,027,380
2,040,764
1,928,711
21,333,514 $
2007
13,451,314
4,897,946
2,608,767
1,921,190
1,550,148
1,672,848
26,102,213
F-19
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
6. Accrued Compensation and Benefits (continued)
Workers’ compensation and professional liability amounts are also included in the following accounts, as follows:
Insurance recoveries receivable:
Insurance recovery for workers' compensation ............................................................. $
Insurance recovery for professional liability .................................................................
Other long-term assets:
Insurance recovery for workers' compensation - long-term ..........................................
Insurance recovery for professional liability - long-term ..............................................
Other long-term liabilities:
Unrecognized tax benefits - long-term ..........................................................................
Accrual for workers' compensation claims - long-term ................................................
Accrual for professional liability insurance - long-term ...............................................
$
$
$
$
$
7.
Long-term Debt
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, long-term debt consists of the following:
December 31,
2008
2007
312,573 $
138,000
450,573
$
346,932
82,000
428,932
362,602
881,738
1,244,340
1,831,937
2,837,862
11,237,752
15,907,551
$
$
$
$
396,680
620,354
1,017,034
1,751,675
2,982,846
5,795,206
10,529,727
Term loan, interest at 4.33%
Revolving Loan Facility, weighted average interest rate of 2.97% and 6.81%
December 31,
2008
2007
$ 123,437,500
$
—
at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively ................................................................
Capital lease obligations ...................................................................................................
Less current portion ..........................................................................................................
7,500,000
2,142,996
133,080,496
(15,825,642)
$ 117,254,854 $
38,000,000
1,451,474
39,451,474
(5,066,757)
34,384,717
The Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility entered into on November 10, 2005 was amended and restated as of
September 9, 2008 in connection with the acquisition of MDA. The Credit Agreement keeps in place an existing $75,000,000
revolving loan facility, maturing in November 2010, and provides for a 5 year $125,000,000 term loan facility with
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and certain of its affiliates, Banc of America Securities LLC and certain other lenders. The
revolving loan facility and term loan bear interest at a rate of, at the Company’s option, either: (i) London Interbank Offered
Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a leverage-based margin or (ii) Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a leverage-based
margin.
The Credit Agreement was also amended for customary covenants for similar leveraged deals such as: 1) requiring the
Company to hedge at least 40% of its floating rate exposure for 2 years; and 2) adding a mandatory prepayment provision
from Excess Cash as defined by the Credit Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, in
October 2008, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements to effectively fix the interest on $70,000,000 of its
term debt for a period of 2 years at 3.04%, plus the applicable LIBOR spread.
The $75,000,000 revolving loan facility has a $10,000,000 sublimit for the issuance of Swingline Loans (as defined by the
Credit Agreement) and a $35,000,000 sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. Swingline Loans and letters of
credit issued under this facility reduce the revolving loan facility on a dollar for dollar basis. The revolving loan facility is
F-20
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
7.
Long-term Debt (continued)
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, 2008, interest on the credit facility was based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or Base Rate plus a
margin of 1.50%. The Company is required to pay a quarterly commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the
revolving loan facility, which, as of December 31, 2008, was 0.50%. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had
$3,340,000 of standby letters of credit outstanding under this facility, leaving $64,160,000 available for borrowing under the
revolving loan facility. In addition, the Company has a $5,000,000 letter of credit outstanding outside the Credit Agreement
relating to MDA’s Captive. See Note 2- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies -Reserves for Claims.
The provisions of the revolving loan portion generally allow the Company to borrow, repay and re-borrow debt for an
uninterrupted period until the maturity date of the credit facility which extended beyond one year from the balance sheet date.
Borrowings under the facility are generally not callable unless an event of default exists, and there are no subjective
acceleration clauses. Accordingly, as per the provisions of FASB Statement No. 6, Classification of Short-term Obligations
Expected to Be Refinanced, $33,500,000 of borrowings under this facility is classified as long-term as of December 31, 2007.
Short-term borrowings under this facility consist of borrowings that the Company intends to or has repaid as of the date of
the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
In addition to the above mentioned terms, the terms of the Credit Agreement include customary covenants and events of
default. As of December 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants and other covenants
contained in the agreement. Specifically, the table below summarizes what the Company believes are the key financial
covenants, as defined by the Credit Agreement, and its corresponding actual performance as of December 31, 2008.
Requirement
2.75 to 1.00
5.00 to 1.00
$21.7 million
Actual
2.08 to 1.00
7.30 to 1.00
$4.7 million
Maximum Permitted Leverage Ratio (a) ..........................................................
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio ....................................................................
Maximum Capital Expenditures for 2008 (b) ...................................................
———————
(a) The limitation on the Company’s Leverage Ratio changes as of September 30, 2009 where it remains throughout the
term of the Credit Agreement. At that time the Company’s Leverage Ratio must not be greater than 2.50 to 1.00.
(b) Aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year may not exceed $15,000,000, but may be increased in any
fiscal year by the amount of Capital Expenditures that were permitted but not made in the immediately preceding fiscal
year.
The agreement includes a mandatory prepayment provision, which requires 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. The
dividends and distribution covenant limits the Company’s ability to repurchase its common stock and declare and pay cash
dividends on its common stock. The Credit Agreement provides for an amount allowed for stock repurchases/dividends. The
limitation increases each year by 25% of net income provided that the Company’s Debt/EBITDA ratio (as defined in the
Credit Agreement) is less than 2.00 to 1.00 and it has $15,000,000 in cash or available cash under the revolving loan facility.
The Company’s net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008, has had the effect of eliminating the allowable amount. The
Company is also required to obtain the consent of its lenders to complete any acquisition which exceeds $25,000,000
(excluding the MDA acquisition) or would cause the Company to exceed $125,000,000 (excluding the MDA acquisition) in
aggregate payments during the term of the agreement. The commitments under the Credit Agreement are secured by
substantially all of the Company’s assets.
Long-term debt includes capital lease obligations that are subordinate to the Company’s senior secured facility. As of
December 31, 2008, the Company’s capital lease obligations are shown in the preceding table and mature serially through
December 31 as follows: 2009 - $1,294,392; 2010 - $845,599; and 2011 - $3,005.
F-21
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
7.
Long-term Debt (continued)
As of December 31, 2008, the aggregate scheduled maturities of term debt are as follows:
Through Year Ending December 31:
2009 ........................................................................................................ $
2010 ........................................................................................................
2011 ........................................................................................................
2012 ........................................................................................................
2013 ........................................................................................................
7,031,250
10,156,250
15,625,000
36,718,750
53,906,250
$ 123,437,500
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, the Company repaid $7,500,000 on its revolving loan facility. However, the Company is
able to reborrow that amount through November 10, 2010. In addition, the Company made an optional prepayment of
$6,000,000 of its borrowings under the term loan portion of its senior credit facility. Optional prepayments are applied pro
rata to the remaining scheduled maturities, as per the terms of the Credit Agreement.
8.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
Pursuant to the provisions of the Credit Agreement 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 require 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 fix 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.
Changes in the cash flows of the interest rate swap are expected to be highly effective at offsetting the changes in overall cash
flows (i.e. changes in interest payments) attributable to fluctuations in the risk-free LIBOR rates on the Company’s variable-
rate debt. The Company considers the interest rate swaps to be cash flow hedges and eligible for hedge accounting. Changes
in the fair value of derivatives deemed to be eligible for hedge accounting are reported in accumulated other comprehensive
income.
As of December 31, 2008, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was approximately $(2,382,000) and was
recorded as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet with an offset to other comprehensive income. A deferred tax benefit
was also recorded to other comprehensive (loss) income, leaving a balance of approximately $1,456,000 in other
comprehensive income related to these swap agreements. The Company expects that approximately $923,000 of the net
estimated pretax fair value recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income will be reclassified to interest expense over the
next twelve months coinciding with interest payments on the underlying term loan portion that is hedged. Interest rate swap
payments are included in net cash provided by operating activities on the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows.
9.
Fair Value Measurements
FASB Statement No. 157 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. FASB Statement No. 157 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.
F-22
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
9.
Fair Value Measurements (continued)
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.
In the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company’s only financial asset/liability required to be measured on a recurring
basis was the interest rate swap agreements. See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company utilizes
Level 2 inputs to value the interest rate swap agreements. In addition, FASB Statement No. 157 states that the fair value
measurement of a financial asset or financial liability must reflect the nonperformance risk of the entity and the counterparty.
Therefore, the impact of the counterparty’s creditworthiness will be considered when in an asset position and the Company’s
credit worthiness will be considered when it is in a liability position. As of December 31, 2008, both counterparties are
expected to continue to perform under their contractual terms of the instrument and the creditworthiness did not have a
material impact on the fair value of our interest rate swap agreements.
The table below summarizes the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial liabilities measured on a recurring basis as
of December 31, 2008:
Financial Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps .......................................................................................
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
$
$
––
––
$ 2,382,000
$ 2,382,000
$
$
––
––
10.
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. Eligible MDA employees were covered under this plan as of October 1, 2008. 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. Eligible employees who elect to
participate in the plan are generally vested in any matching contribution after three years of service with the Company.
Contributions by the Company, net of forfeitures, under this plan approximated $2,666,000, $2,766,000 and $2,627,000 for
the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Certain MedStaff employees are covered under a separate benefit plan. The plan allows eligible employees to defer a portion
of their annual compensation pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan is a voluntary defined
contribution 401(k) profit-sharing plan covering substantially all eligible employees as defined in the plan documents.
Eligible employees who elected to participate in the plan are generally fully vested in any matching contribution after six
years of service with the Company. Contributions by the Company, net of forfeitures, under this plan amounted to
approximately $46,000, $27,000 and $78,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
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 current liabilities and approximated $1,094,000 and $1,131,000 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
F-23
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
11.
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, 2008, associated with these agreements
with terms of one year or more are approximately as follows:
Through Year Ending December 31:
2009 ........................................................................................................ $ 6,992,000
6,165,000
2010 ........................................................................................................
5,829,000
2011 ........................................................................................................
5,507,000
2012 ........................................................................................................
4,761,000
2013 ........................................................................................................
9,373,000
Thereafter ................................................................................................
$ 38,627,000
Total operating lease expense from continuing operations included in selling, general and administrative expenses was
approximately $7,885,000, $7,310,000 and $6,099,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
Contingencies:
Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.
On February 18, 2005, the Company’s MedStaff subsidiary became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Maureen
Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.) filed in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County. The lawsuit
relates to only MedStaff corporate employees working in California. The claims alleged under this lawsuit are generally
similar in nature to those brought by Darrelyn Renee Henry in a lawsuit against the Company, which was dismissed
(Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., et. al.).
The lawsuit alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the California Labor Code, the California Business
and Professions Code, and recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. MedStaff currently has less than 50 corporate employees
in California. The Plaintiffs, Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda, purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others
similarly situated, and allege that MedStaff failed, under California law, to provide meal periods and rest breaks and pay for
those missed meal periods and rest breaks; failed to compensate the employees for all hours worked; failed to compensate the
employees for working overtime; failed to keep appropriate records to keep track of time worked; failed to pay Plaintiffs and
their purported class as required by law. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining MedStaff from engaging in
the practices challenged in the complaint and for full restitution of all monies, for interest, for certain penalties provided for
by the California Labor Code and for attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 5, 2007, the court granted class certification. On
October 16, 2008, MedStaff, Inc. filed a Motion to Decertify the class which was denied on December 19, 2008. The
Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.
Cossack, et. al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company paid $6,704,392 to settle the California wage and hour class action
lawsuit filed against a subsidiary of the Company in Superior Court in Orange County, California, in August of 2003.
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 material effect on the Company’s consolidated
financial position or results of operations.
F-24
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
12.
Income Taxes
The components of the Company’s income tax (benefit) expense are as follows:
2008
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2006
Continuing operations:
Current
Federal .................................................................................................
State .....................................................................................................
Foreign ................................................................................................
Deferred ...................................................................................................
$ 4,883,160
1,541,492
575,177
6,999,829
(68,223,408)
(61,223,579)
$ 2,628,622
258,504
524,556
3,411,682
11,347,518
14,759,200
$ 2,398,737
646,642
61,557
3,106,936
7,038,932
10,145,868
Discontinued operations-current
Tax benefit on loss from discontinued operations ....................................
—
—
(4,299)
Discontinued operations-deferred
Tax expense from discontinued operations ..............................................
—
—
$(61,223,579) $ 14,759,200
—
—
141,040
136,741
$ 10,282,609
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.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
Current deferred tax assets:
Accrued other and prepaid expenses .........................................................................
Accrued professional liability ...................................................................................
Allowance for doubtful accounts ..............................................................................
Impairment charges ...................................................................................................
Other .........................................................................................................................
Gross deferred tax assets............................................................................................
Valuation allowance ..................................................................................................
Deferred tax assets ....................................................................................................
Non-current deferred tax (liabilities) and assets:
Amortization .............................................................................................................
Depreciation ..............................................................................................................
Identifiable intangibles ..............................................................................................
Noncurrent deferred tax assets ..................................................................................
Impairment charges ...................................................................................................
State net operating loss carryforwards ......................................................................
Gross deferred tax assets (liabilities) ........................................................................
Valuation allowance ..................................................................................................
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) ..................................................................................
Net deferred taxes ..........................................................................................................
December 31,
2008
2007
$
4,006,062
188,297
1,791,125
5,195,666
452,417
11,633,567
(346,441 )
11,287,126
3,163,992
560,145
1,676,712
—
771,284
6,172,133
(302,772)
5,869,361
(52,499,218 )
(5,040,910 )
(3,201,513 )
3,452,944
72,734,484
1,955,323
17,401,110
(2,336,512 )
15,064,598
26,351,724
(45,256,147)
(5,061,766)
(3,465,175)
3,529,833
—
1,229,417
(49,023,838)
(220,189)
(49,244,027)
$ (43,374,666)
$
$
F-25
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
12.
Income Taxes (continued)
FASB Statement No. 109 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,
2008 and 2007, respectively, the Company had deferred tax assets of approximately $1,955,000 and $1,229,000 related to
state net operating loss carryforwards. The state carry forwards will expire between 2009 and 2027. A valuation allowance
for the state net operating losses has been recorded at December 31, 2008 and 2007, to reduce the Company’s deferred tax
asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. As of December 31, 2008, the Company has deferred tax assets
of approximately $77,930,000 related to goodwill impairment. The Company has recorded 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.
The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U. S. federal statutory rate to income tax (benefit) expense is as follows:
Year Ended
December 31,
Tax at U.S. statutory rate ................................................................................................ $ (72,715,908 ) $
State taxes, net of federal benefit ....................................................................................
Non-deductible meals and entertainment ........................................................................
Non-deductible other ......................................................................................................
Foreign tax expense .........................................................................................................
Valuation allowances.......................................................................................................
Nondeductible goodwill impairment ...............................................................................
Other ...............................................................................................................................
Total income tax (benefit) expense ................................................................................. $ (61,223,579 ) $
(5,147,143 )
849,734
32,638
575,177
2,159,993
14,123,967
(1,102,037 )
2008
2007
12,704,282
881,449
60,742
35,100
654,958
202,912
—
219,757
14,759,200
The Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, as of January 1, 2007. As a
result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized an approximate $1,734,000 increase in the liability for
unrecognized tax benefits of which, $732,000 was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained
earnings.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Balance at January 1, 2008 ............................................................................................................................ $ 2,606,000
1,051,000
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year ..........................................................................
(798,000)
Settlements of tax positions related to prior years .........................................................................................
(231,000)
Reductions for tax positions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations ............................
Balance at December 31, 2008 .......................................................................................................................
$ 2,628,000
As of the date of adoption, the Company had approximately $1,330,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, which would affect the
effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2008 the Company had approximately $1,914,000 of unrecognized tax
benefits, which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. During the year, the Company had gross increases of
$1,051,000 to its current year unrecognized tax benefits, related to federal and state tax issues. In addition, the Company had
gross decreases of $1,029,000 to its unrecognized tax benefits related to both the closure of a certain federal tax controversies
and the closure of open tax years.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. The
Company had accrued approximately $515,000 and $672,000 for the payment of interest penalties at December 31, 2008 and
2007, respectively.
The tax years 2005 through 2008 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is
subject.
F-26
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
13.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stock Repurchase Programs
On May 10, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may
purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its common stock. This repurchase program was completed and on February 28, 2008, the
Company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program, whereby it may purchase up to an
additional 1,500,000 shares of its common stock, subject to the 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. The Company commenced repurchases under the February 2008 authorization during the first quarter
of 2008 upon the completion of the May 2006 authorization.
In November 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may
purchase up to 1,500,000 of its common shares at an aggregate price not to exceed $25,000,000. Under this program, the
Company purchased and retired 1,500,000 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $15.04 per share pursuant to the
authorization. All of the common stock was retired. The cost of such purchases was approximately $22,557,000. During the
year ended December 31, 2007, the November 2002 stock repurchase program was depleted and, accordingly, the Company
commenced purchases under the May 2006 authorization.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company repurchased and retired, under both the May 2006 and
February 2008 programs, a total of 924,235 shares at an average price of $11.66. The cost of such purchases was
approximately $10,775,000. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased and retired, under both the
November 2002 and the May 2006 programs, a total of 704,498 shares at an average cost of $15.45 per share. The cost of
such purchases was approximately $10,882,000. At December 31, 2008, the Company had 1,441,139 shares of common
stock left remaining to repurchase under its February 2008 Authorization, subject to the constraints of the Company’s Credit
Agreement. See Note 7- Long-term Debt.
Stock Options
2007 Stock Incentive Plan
The Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (2007 Plan) was approved by its stockholders at its 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, held in May of 2007. 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 1,500,000 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 1,200,000 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). Due to the adoption of the 2007
Plan, no further grants will be issued under the Company’s 1999 Plans referred to below.
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 stock holder). In the case of
restricted stock, the purchase price may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, a total of 8,700 stock options, 170,500 stock appreciation rights and 92,775
shares of restricted stock were granted under the 2007 Plan to the Company’s Directors and management team. An additional
158,664 stock appreciation rights and 110,310 shares of restricted stock were granted to the Company’s Directors and
management team during the year ended December 31, 2008. The stock appreciation rights can only be settled with stock.
The awards granted vest over a 4 year period. Upon exercise, 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.
F-27
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
13.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
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. In the fourth quarter of 2005, all unvested and outstanding options as of December 31, 2005 were
modified to accelerate vesting effective December 31, 2005.
Share option changes, under both plans, during the year ended December 31, 2008, were as follows:
December 31, 2008
Shares
Option Price
Share options outstanding at beginning of year ..........................................
Granted .......................................................................................................
Canceled .....................................................................................................
Exercised ....................................................................................................
2,363,983
158,664
(32,286)
(109,218)
$7.75-37.13
$11.07-$13.02
$7.75-$26.15
$7.75-$15.50
Share options outstanding at end of year ....................................................
Share options exercisable at end of year .....................................................
2,381,143
2,088,458
$7.75-$37.13
$7.75-$37.13
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
$14.83
$12.98
$17.10
$9.99
$14.90
$14.83
As of December 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding 2,345,086 share options that were fully vested or expected to vest at
a weighted average exercise price of $14.89, aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $244,000, and weighted average
contractual life of 2.7 years. As of December 31, 2008, 87.7% of share options outstanding, or 2,088,458 share options, were
fully exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of $14.83, an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $244,000 and
a remaining contractual life of 2.2 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, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company only issued options and stock appreciation
rights at market price.
Share option grants ...............................................................................................
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2006
2008
158,664
187,000
27,650
the period ...........................................................................................................
Total intrinsic value of options exercised ............................................................
$
$
6.38
$
9.24 $
9.26
577,558
$ 1,606,538
$ 1,436,792
The fair value of options granted were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on
the following weighted average assumptions:
Expected dividend yield .......................................................................................
Expected volatility ...............................................................................................
Risk-free interest rate ...........................................................................................
Expected life ........................................................................................................
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2006
2008
0.00%
48.02
3.56%
0.00%
49.06
4.27%
6 years
6 years
0.00%
52.34
4.82%
5 years
The expected life of the options is based on historical exercise behavior. The Company computes expected volatility using
the historical volatility of the market price of the Company’s common stock.
F-28
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
13.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
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. During the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company issued
110,310 shares of restricted stock and 92,775 shares of restricted stock, respectively. 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, 2008:
Unvested restricted stock awards, January 1, 2008 ..................................................................
Granted ................................................................................................................................
Vested .................................................................................................................................
Forfeited ..............................................................................................................................
Unvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2008 .........................................................
92,775 $
$
$
110,310
(23,201)
––
179,884
$
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
18.26
13.24
18.26
––
15.18
As of December 31, 2008, there was approximately $2,374,000 pretax total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-
vested restricted stock awards which will be adjusted for future changes in forfeitures. The Company expects to recognize
such cost over a period of 3.1 years.
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 13, 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. However, the Company incurred all fees and expenses relating to the registration statement which
were approximately $153,000 and are recorded as secondary offering costs in the consolidated statements of operations for
the year ended December 31, 2006.
14.
Earnings Per Share
In accordance with the requirements of FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, 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 have been excluded from the
2008, 2007 and 2006 per share calculations because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Such shares amounted to
1,665,690, 636,167, and 347,019 during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. For the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, 182,253, 511,561 and 660,179 incremental shares of common stock
were included in diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
15.
Related Party Transactions
The Company provides services to hospitals which are affiliated with certain members of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Pricing for the Company’s services is consistent with its other hospital customers. There are no contractual obligations with
these hospitals. Revenue related to these transactions amounted to approximately $3,077,000, $3,896,000 and $4,656,000, in
2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Accounts receivable due from these hospitals at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were
approximately $231,000 and $613,000, respectively.
F-29
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
16.
Segment Information
The nurse and allied staffing business segment primarily provides travel nurse and allied staffing services and per diem nurse
services to primarily acute care hospitals which include 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.
In the third quarter of 2008, the Company added a physician staffing business segment as a result of the MDA acquisition
(See Note 4- Acquisitions). MDA provides multi-specialty locum tenens and allied staffing services to the healthcare industry
in all 50 states. MDA’s locum tenens business comprises the physician staffing business segment while MDA’s allied
staffing services have been aggregated with the Company’s nurse and allied staffing business segment.
The clinical trials services business segment provides clinical trials, drug safety, and regulatory professionals 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, Canada and Europe.
The other human capital management services business segment includes the combined results of the Company’s education
and training and retained search businesses.
The Company’s management evaluates performance of each segment primarily based on revenue and contribution income
(which is defined as (loss) income from operations before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and corporate
expenses not specifically identified to a reported segment). 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 3 – Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets. 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 operations for the periods
indicated are as follows:
Revenue from unaffiliated customers:
Nurse and allied staffing ...........................................................
Physician staffing ......................................................................
Clinical trials services ...............................................................
Other human capital management services ...............................
2008
Year ended December 31,
2007
2006
$ 525,771,381
56,558,079
99,128,952
52,788,259
$ 734,246,671
$ 576,779,440
—
90,613,046
50,879,983
$ 718,272,469
$ 554,899,857
—
53,347,791
46,904,283
$ 655,151,931
Contribution income (a):
Nurse and allied staffing ...........................................................
Physician staffing ......................................................................
Clinical trials services ...............................................................
Other human capital management services ...............................
$
53,821,735
5,710,995
15,300,776
7,444,039
82,277,545
$
$
54,941,170
—
14,425,052
7,609,281
76,975,503
52,949,624
—
6,927,662
9,048,367
68,925,653
Unallocated corporate overhead ....................................................
Depreciation ...................................................................................
Amortization ..................................................................................
Impairment charges .......................................................................
Legal settlement charge .................................................................
Secondary offering costs ................................................................
(Loss) income from operations ......................................................
———————
(a) The Company defines contribution income as (loss) income from operations before depreciation, amortization,
26,561,956
6,309,538
2,051,311
—
33,654
—
42,019,044
—
—
$ (200,075,611) $
27,456,647
7,636,712
3,165,797
244,094,000
26,872,922
5,448,441
1,570,005
—
6,704,392
153,450
28,176,443
$
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 FASB No. 131,
Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.
F-30
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31, 2008
17.
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
2008
Revenue from services ................................................
$ 179,251,306 $ 170,950,829 $ 178,133,832 $ 205,910,704
Gross profit ..................................................................
$ 45,177,234
$ 45,639,904
$ 47,437,381
$
54,332,376
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter(a)
Fourth
Quarter (b)
Net income (loss) .........................................................
Net income (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss) – basic ............................................
Net income (loss) –diluted ...........................................
$
$
$
5,850,488
0.19
0.19
$
$
$
6,370,077
$
6,171,128
$ (161,336,306)
0.21
0.21
$
$
0.20
0.20
$
$
(5.24)
(5.22)
2007
Revenue from services ................................................
$ 176,092,899 $ 175,339,421 $ 185,124,029 $ 181,716,120
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter (c)
Third
Quarter(d)
Fourth
Quarter
Gross profit ..................................................................
$ 40,488,529
$ 41,604,110
$ 45,857,977
Net income ..................................................................
$
4,802,204
$
5,460,881
$
7,049,107
$
$
46,713,690
7,267,317
Net income per common share:
Net income– basic .......................................................
Net income– diluted ....................................................
———————
(a) During the third quarter of 2008, the Company completed its acquisition of MDA Holdings, Inc. Refer to discussion in
0.17
0.17
0.15
0.15
0.22
0.22
0.23
0.23
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Note 4 – Acquisitions.
(b) During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded impairment charges of $244,094,000. As a result of its annual
goodwill impairment analysis, the Company recorded $241,000,000 as goodwill impairment related to its nurse and
allied staffing business segment. In addition, the Company recorded a $3,094,000 impairment charge related to a
specific customer relationship in its clinical trials services business segment. Refer to discussion in Note 3 – Goodwill
and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.
(c) During the second quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of AKOS Limited. Refer to discussion in
Note 4 – Acquisitions.
(d) During the third quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of Assent Consulting. Refer to discussion in
Note 4 – Acquisitions.
F-31
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CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007, AND 2006
Schedule II
Balance at
Beginning
of Period
Charged to
Costs and
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Expenses
Year ended December 31, 2008 .... $5,585,286 $ 950,711
1,558,626
Year ended December 31, 2007 .... 4,373,799
Year ended December 31, 2006 .... 4,206,162
459,368
———————
(a)
Write-offs
$(1,072,319)
(472,690)
(519,245)
Recoveries
$ 40,944
60,596
137,514
Other
Changes
$904,150(a)
64,955(b)
90,000(c)
Balance at
End
of Period
$6,408,772
5,585,286
4,373,799
Includes the allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables acquired in the MDA acquisition.
(b)
Includes the allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables acquired in the AKOS and Assent acquisitions.
(c)
Includes the allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables acquired in the Metropolitan Research acquisition.
II-1
[This page intentionally left blank]
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
Exhibit 21.1
Subsidiary
Place of Incorporation
Akos Limited
Allied Health Group, LLC
Assent Consulting
Assignment America, Inc.
Cejka Search, Inc.
CC Staffing, Inc.
ClinForce, LLC (f/k/a ClinForce, Inc.)
Credent Verification and Licensing Services, LLC
Cross Country Capital, Inc.
Cross Country Healthcare UK Holdco
Cross Country Holdco (Cyprus) Limited
Cross Country Infotech, Pvt, Ltd.
Cross Country Local, Inc. (f/k/a Flex Staff, Inc.)
Cross Country Education, LLC (f/k/a Cross Country Education, Inc.,
Cross Country Seminars, Inc., and CCS /Heritage Acquisition
Corp.)
Cross Country TravCorps, Inc.
HealthStaffers, Inc.
Jamestown Indemnity, Ltd.
MCVT, Inc.
MDA Holdings, Inc.
Med-Staff, Inc. (f/k/a Cross Country Nurses, Inc.)
Medical Doctor Associates, LLC
Metropolitan Research Associates, Inc.
Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, Inc.
MRA Search, Inc.
United Kingdom
Delaware
California
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
United Kingdom
Cyprus
India
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Cayman Islands
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:
(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.’s Amended
and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan and Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s Amended and Restated Equity
Participation Plan; and
(3) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-145484) pertaining to Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.’s 2007 Stock
Incentive Plan
of our report dated March 12, 2009, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Cross
Country Healthcare, Inc., and our report dated March 12, 2009, with respect to the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Certified Public Accountants
West Palm Beach, Florida
March 12, 2009
Exhibit 31.1
I, Joseph A. Boshart, certify that:
CERTIFICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.;
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;
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;
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)
b)
c)
d)
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;
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;
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
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)
b)
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
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 13, 2009
/s/ JOSEPH A. BOSHART
Joseph A. Boshart
President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2
I, Emil Hensel, certify that:
CERTIFICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10K of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.;
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;
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;
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)
b)
c)
d)
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;
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;
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
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)
b)
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
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 13, 2009
/s/ EMIL HENSEL
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer
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, 2008 (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 13, 2009
The foregoing certification is provided solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
/s/ JOSEPH A. BOSHART
Joseph A. Boshart
Chief Executive Officer
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, 2008 (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 13, 2009
The foregoing certification is provided solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
/s/ EMIL HENSEL
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer
Corporate Information
Board of Directors
Executive Offi cers
Joseph A. Boshart
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
W. Larry Cash (a)(b)
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer,
Community Health Systems
C. Taylor Cole, Jr. (a)
Partner,
Charterhouse Group, Inc.
Thomas C. Dircks (b)(c)
Managing Partner,
Charterhouse Group, Inc.
Gale Fitzgerald (a)
Principal,
TranSpend, Inc.
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Joseph Trunfi o (a)(c)
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Atlantic Health Systems
(a) Member of the Audit Committee
(b) Member of the Compensation Committee
(c) Member of the Nominating Committee
Joseph A. Boshart
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Emil Hensel
Chief Financial Officer,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Vickie Anenberg
Executive Vice President,
Cross Country Staffing
Susan E. Ball, RN
General Counsel,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Greg Greene
President, Cross Country Education
Victor Kalafa
Vice President of Corporate Development,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Daniel J. Lewis
Principal Accounting Officer,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Dr. Franklin A. Shaffer, EdD, RN, FAAN
Chief Nursing Officer,
Cross Country Staffing
Tony Sims
President, ClinForce
Jonathan W. Ward
President, Cross Country Staffing
Carol Westfall
President, Cejka Search
Forward-Looking Statements
Information concerning forward-looking statements can be found on page 1 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as well as in quarterly and other reports to be filed
by us during 2009.
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
One Clearlake Centre, Suite 900
250 South Australian Avenue
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Transfer Agent
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 358015
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15252
Toll-Free Phone:
877.219.7066
Corporate Headquarters
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
Phone: 561.998.2232
www.crosscountryhealthcare.com
Stockholder Inquiries
News releases, SEC filings, annual reports,
corporate governance matters and additional
information about Cross Country Healthcare,
Inc. are available on our corporate website at
no cost. Current and prospective investors can
also register to automatically receive by email
our press releases, SEC filings and other notices.
Information about the Company can also be
obtained by writing or contacting:
Howard A. Goldman
Director of Investor & Corporate Relations
Phone: 561.998.2232 | Toll-Free: 877.686.9779
Email: ir@crosscountry.com
Certain exhibits in our Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the
SEC, are not included in the Form 10-K enclosed
as part of this Annual Report. Our Form 10-K,
including all exhibits, is available on our corporate
website or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov
Stock Listing
Our common stock trades under the symbol
“CCRN” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market,
a market tier created by the NASDAQ Stock
Market that became eff ective on July 1, 2006.
NASDAQ became operational as a stock exchange
on August 1, 2006. Our common stock commenced
trading on the NASDAQ National Market under
the symbol “CCRN” on October 25, 2001.
Corporate Governance
our
concerning
corporate
Information
governance practices, including our Code of
Conduct, Code of Ethics, Committee Charters,
and Certifi cation of Financial Statements,
is available on our corporate website at
www.crosscountryhealthcare.com
We also have established a toll-free phone
number and an email address for stockholders
to communicate with our Board of Directors.
All such communications will be kept confi dential
and forwarded directly to the appropriate party,
as applicable.
Governance Hotline: 800.354.7197
Governance Email Address:
governance@crosscountry.com
6551 Park of Commerce Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 | 561.998.2232 | CrossCountryHealthcare.com