ICON Public Company
Annual Report 2009

Plain-text annual report

ICON plc and Subsidiaries Annual Report 2009 Registered number 145835 24 hours in the life of ICON No matter the hour of the day there’s an ICON expert somewhere around the world working to deliver results. Directors’ Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Contents Directors and Other Information  Directors’ Report  Report on Directors’ Remuneration  Directors’ Responsibilities Statement  Independent Auditor’s Report  Statement of Accounting Policies  Consolidated Income Statement  Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense  Consolidated Statement of Financial Position  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows  Company Statement of Financial Position  Company Statement of Changes in Equity  Company Statement of Cash Flows  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements  Reconciliation between IFRS and US Accounting Principles  Page 2 3 21 27 28 30 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 108 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009    ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Directors and Other Information Directors  Secretary  Registered office  Auditors  Bankers  Solicitors  Dr. Bruce Given (American-Chairman of the Board) (2) (3) (4) Peter Gray (Irish-Chief Executive Officer) (4) Dr. John Climax (Irish – Non-Executive) Dr. Ronan Lambe (Irish – Non-Executive) (5) Thomas Lynch (British – Non-Executive) (1) (2) (3) Prof. Dermot Kelleher (Irish – Non-Executive) (1) (5) Dr. Anthony Murphy (Irish – Non-Executive) (2) (3) Declan McKeon (Irish – Non-Executive) (1) (1) Member of Audit Committee (2) Member of Compensation and Organisation Committee (3) Member of Nominating and Governance Committee (4) Member of Execution Committee (5) Member of Quality Committee Ciaran Murray South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18 KPMG Chartered Accountants 1 Stokes Place St. Stephens Green Dublin 2 Citibank Canada Square Canary Warf London E14 5LB United Kingdom PNC Bank 1035 Virginia Drive Fort Washington PA 19034 USA A & L Goodbody 25 – 28 North Wall Quay IFSC Dublin 1 Cahill Gordon Reindel & Co 80 Pine Street New York  USA  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009                                                           Directors’ Report  The Directors present their report and audited Consolidated and Company financial statements of ICON p.l.c. (“the  Company” or “ICON”), a public limited company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland, and its subsidiary  undertakings (“the Subsidiaries”, with the Company and the Subsidiaries being together “the Group”) for the year  ended 31 December 2009. Principal activities, business review and future developments The Group is a contract research organisation (“CRO”), providing outsourced development services on a global  basis to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Group specialises in the strategic  development, management and analysis of programs that support Clinical Development - from compound selection  to Phase I-IV clinical studies. The Group believes that it is one of a small number of CRO’s with the capability and  expertise to conduct clinical trials in all major therapeutic areas on a global basis. The Group operates offices in 69 locations in 39 countries worldwide. The Company’s primary listing for its shares is the NASDAQ market. The Company also has a secondary listing on  the Irish Stock Exchange and, accordingly, is not subject to the same ongoing regulatory requirements as those  which would apply to an Irish company with a primary listing on the Irish Stock Exchange, including the  requirement that certain transactions require the approval of shareholders. For further information, shareholders  should consult their own financial adviser. On 9 July 2009, the Group acquired 100% of the ordinary share capital of Veeda Laboratories Limited, a specialist  provider of biomarker laboratory services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries located in  Oxford, United Kingdom, for an initial cash consideration of $1.9 million (£1.2 million). On 28 April 2009, the Group acquired the assets of the former Qualia Clinical Services, Inc., a 33,000 square foot  Phase 1 facility located in Omaha, Nebraska, for $0.3 million. In 2010, the Group looks forward to increasing its geographic presence through the addition of new offices and  expanding the scale and range of its service offering. A review of performance during the year is included in the  Operating and Financial Review section of the Directors’ Report. International Financial Reporting Standards These Consolidated and Company financial statements (together “the financial statements”) for the year ended 31  December 2009 are prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU and meet the reporting requirements  pursuant to Irish Company Law and the Irish Stock Exchange Listing Rules. Results and dividends The results for the year are as shown on page 40 of these financial statements. The Directors do not propose the  payment of a dividend for the year. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Risks and uncertainties The Group is dependent on the continued outsourcing of research and development by the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Group is dependent upon the ability and willingness of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device  companies to continue to spend on research and development and to outsource the services that the Group  provides. The Group is therefore subject to risks, uncertainties and trends that affect companies in these industries.  ICON has benefited to date from the tendency of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies to  outsource clinical research projects. Any downturn in these industries or reduction in spending or outsourcing  could adversely affect the Group’s business. For example, if these companies expanded upon their in-house  clinical or development capabilities, they would be less likely to utilise the Group’s services. In addition, if  governmental regulations were changed, this could affect the ability of ICON’s clients to operate profitably, which  may lead to a decrease in research spending and therefore this could have a material adverse effect on the  Group’s business. The current economic and financial downturn may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business and/or results. Many of the world’s largest economies and financial institutions are facing extreme financial difficulty, including a  decline in asset prices, liquidity problems and limited availability of credit. It is still uncertain how long this  downturn will last. Such difficult economic times may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s revenues,  results of operations, financial condition and ability to raise capital. Increased deliberation by clients of contract proposals may impact the Group’s ability to win sufficient new business awards, which may result in decreased revenues. Current and prospective clients have become increasingly deliberate when making decisions on whether to use the  Group’s services. While requests for proposals continue to be circulated, clients are taking longer in their decisions  to award clinical research projects. An inability to attract sufficient new business awards could have a material  effect on the Group’s revenues, backlog and result of operations. The Group depends on a limited number of clients and a loss of or significant decrease in business from them could affect its business. The Group has in the past and may in the future derive a significant portion of its revenue from a relatively limited  number of projects or clients. During the years ended 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008, 27% and 29%  respectively of revenue was derived from the Group’s top five clients. No client contributed more than 10% of  revenue during the years ended 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008. The loss of, or a significant decrease  in business from, one or more of these key clients could result in a material adverse effect. The Group competes against many companies and research institutions that may be larger or more efficient than it is. This may preclude the Group from being given the opportunity to bid, or may prevent it from being able to competitively bid on and win new contracts. The market for CROs is highly competitive. ICON primarily competes against in-house departments of  pharmaceutical companies and other CROs including Covance Inc., i3 Research (United Health Group  Incorporated), Kendle International Inc., Omnicare Inc., PAREXEL International Corporation, Pharmaceutical  Product Development Inc., PharmaNet Development Group Inc., PRA International Inc. and Quintiles Transnational  Corporation. Some of these competitors have substantially greater capital, research and development capabilities  and human resources than the Group has. As a result, they may be selected as preferred vendors or partners of  the Group’s clients or potential clients for all projects or for significant projects, or they may be able to price  projects more competitively than the Group can. Any of these factors may prevent the Group from getting the  opportunity to bid on new projects or prevent it from being competitive in bidding on new contracts.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) The Group’s results are dependent upon a number of factors and can fluctuate from period to period. The Group’s results of operations in any period can fluctuate depending upon, among other things, the number  and scope of ongoing client projects, the commencement, postponement, variation, cancellation or termination of  projects in the period, the mix of revenue, cost overruns, employee hiring and other factors. Revenue in any period  is directly related to the number of employees and the percentage of these employees who were working on  projects billable to the clients during that period. The Group may be unable to compensate for periods of  underutilisation during one part of a fiscal period by augmenting revenues during another part of that period. The  Group believes that operating results for any particular period are not necessarily a meaningful indication of future  results. If the Group’s clients discontinue using its services, or cancel or discontinue projects, revenue will be adversely affected and ICON may not receive these clients’ business in the future or may not be able to attract new clients. The Group’s clients may discontinue using its services completely or cancel some projects either without notice or  upon short notice. The termination or delay of a large contract or of multiple contracts could have a material  adverse effect on revenue and profitability. Historically, clients have cancelled or discontinued projects and may in  the future cancel their contracts for reasons including: n the failure of products being tested to satisfy safety or efficacy requirements; n unexpected or undesired clinical results of the product; n a decision that a particular study is no longer necessary; n poor project performance, quality concerns, insufficient patient enrolment or investigator recruitment; or n production problems resulting in shortages of the drug. If the Group loses clients, it may not be able to attract new ones, and if the Group loses individual projects, it may  not be able to replace them. Approximately 55% of revenue is earned from long-term fixed-fee contracts. The Group would lose money in performing these contracts if the costs of performance exceed the fixed fees for these projects. Approximately 55% of revenue is earned from long-term fixed-fee contracts. Revenues on these contracts  are agreed on contract initiation between the Company and the customer and are based on estimated time inputs  to the contract.  Factors considered in estimating time requirements include the complexity of the study, the  number of geographical sites where trials are to be conducted and the number of patients to be recruited at each  site. The Company regularly reviews the estimated hours on each contract to determine if the budget accurately  reflects the agreed tasks to be performed taking into account the state of progress at the time of review.  The  Company further ensures that changes in scope are appropriately monitored and change orders for additional  revenue are promptly negotiated for the additional work.  If we were to fail to recognise and negotiate change  orders for changes in the resources required or the scope of the work to be performed, the Company could lose  money if the costs of performance of these contracts exceeded their fixed fees. If the Group fails to attract or retain qualified staff, its performance may suffer. The Group’s business, future success and ability to expand operations depends upon its ability to attract, hire, train  and retain qualified professional, scientific and technical operating staff. The Group competes for qualified  professionals with other CROs, temporary staffing agencies and the in-house departments of pharmaceutical,  biotechnology and medical device companies. Although the Group has not had any difficulty attracting or retaining  qualified staff in the past, there is no guarantee that it will be able to continue to attract a sufficient number of  clinical research professionals at an acceptable cost. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) The Group is highly dependent on information technology. If the Group’s systems fail or are unreliable its operations may be adversely impacted. The efficient operation of the Group’s business depends on its information technology infrastructure and  management information systems. The Group’s information technology infrastructure includes both third party  solutions and applications designed and maintained internally. Since the Group operates on multiple platforms, the  failure of its information technology infrastructure and/or management information systems to perform could  severely disrupt business and adversely affect the results of operation. In addition, the Group’s information  technology infrastructure and/or management information systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from  natural or man-made disasters, terrorist attacks, computer viruses or hackers, power loss, or other computer  systems, Internet telecommunications or data network failures. Any such interruption could adversely affect  business and the results of operations. Failure to comply with the regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities could result in substantial penalties and/or loss of business. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and other regulatory authorities inspect the Group from time to  time to ensure that it complies with their regulations and guidelines, including environmental and health and safety  matters. In addition, ICON must comply with the applicable regulatory requirements governing the conduct of  clinical trials in all countries in which it operates. If the Group fails to comply with any of these requirements it could  suffer: n n n n the termination of any research; loss of business; the disqualification of data;  the denial of the right to conduct business; n criminal penalties; and n other enforcement actions. In December 2009, the Company received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  regarding clinical study management services provided by the Group to one of its clients in relation to two studies  conducted between 2004 and 2006. These studies related to the development of an antibiotic for the treatment of  complicated skin and skin-structure infections. The FDA letter arises from its inspections of the Company’s client  and selected clinical sites and follows a similar letter issued to that client. The Company submitted a response to  the FDA on 13 January 2010. The Company is committed to working cooperatively and expeditiously with the FDA  to address the matters raised in the letter and is unable to predict at this time the financial consequences, if any, of  the issues raised by the letter. The Group may lose business as a result of changes in the regulatory environment. Various governments and/or regulatory bodies throughout the world may enact legislation which could introduce  changes to the regulatory environment for drug development and research. The adoption and implementation of  such legislation is difficult to predict and therefore could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business. ICON relies on third parties for important services. The Group depends on third parties to provide it with services critical to its business. The failure of any of these  third parties to adequately provide the needed services could have a material adverse effect on its business.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) The Group’s exposure to exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect its results of operations. The Group’s contracts with its clients are sometimes denominated in currencies other than the currency in which it  incurs expenses related to such contracts. Where expenses are incurred in currencies other than those in which  contracts are priced, fluctuations in the relative value of those currencies could have a material adverse effect on  the Group’s results of operations. This risk is partially mitigated by clauses in certain of its contracts which allow for  price renegotiation with its clients if changes in the relative value of those currencies exceed predetermined  tolerances. The Group regularly reviews its currency exchange exposure and on occasion hedge a portion of this  exposure using forward exchange contracts. In addition, the Group is also subject to translation exposures as its consolidated financial results are presented in  U.S. dollars, while the local results of certain of its subsidiaries are prepared in currencies other than U.S. dollars,  including the pound sterling and the euro. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and  those other currencies will affect the translation of a subsidiary’s financial results into U.S. dollars for purposes of  reporting its consolidated financial results. We are subject to political, regulatory and legal risks associated with our international operations. We are one of a small group of organisations with the capability and expertise to conduct clinical trials on a global  basis. We believe that this capability to provide our services globally in most major and developing pharmaceutical  markets enhances our ability to compete for new business from large multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology  and medical device companies. We have expanded geographically and operate from 69 locations in 39 countries  and intend to continue expanding in regions that have the potential to increase our client base or increase our  investigator and patient populations. We expect that revenues earned in emerging markets will continue to account  for an increasing portion of our total revenues. However, emerging market operations may present several risks,  including civil disturbances, health concerns, cultural differences such as employment and business practices,  volatility in gross domestic product, economic and governmental instability, the potential for nationalisation of  private assets and the imposition of exchange controls. Changes in the political and regulatory environment in the international markets in which we operate such as price  or exchange controls could impact our revenue and profitability, and could lead to penalties, sanctions and  reputational damages if we are not compliant with those regulations. Political uncertainty and a lack of institutional  continuity in some of the emerging and developing countries in which we operate could affect the orderly operation  of markets in these economies. In addition, in countries with a large and complicated structure of government and  administration, national, regional, local and other governmental bodies may issue inconsistent decisions and  opinions that could increase our cost of regulatory compliance. In addition, the uncertainty of the legal environment in some emerging countries could limit our ability to enforce  our rights. In certain emerging and developing countries we enjoy less comprehensive protection for some of our  rights, including intellectual property rights, which could undermine our competitive position. Finally, we operate in  some countries where national laws may require not only accurate books and records, but also sufficient controls,  policies and processes to ensure business is conducted without the influence of bribery and corruption. Given the  high level of complexity of these laws, however, there is a risk that some provisions may be inadvertently breached,  for example through negligent behaviour of individual employees, our failure to comply with certain formal  documentation requirements or otherwise. Any violation of these laws or allegations of such violations, whether or  not merited, could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and could cause the trading price of our  ordinary shares and ADSs to decline. If any of the above risks or similar risks associated with our international operations were to materialise, our results  of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Liability claims brought against the Group could result in payment of substantial damages to plaintiffs and decrease Group profitability. The Group contracts with physicians who serve as investigators in conducting clinical trials to test new drugs on  their patients. This testing creates the risk of liability for personal injury to or death of patients. Although  investigators are generally required by law to maintain their own liability insurance, the Group could be named in  lawsuits and incur expenses arising from any professional malpractice actions against the investigators with whom  it contracts. To date, the Group has not been subject to any liability claims that are expected to have a material  effect on it. Indemnifications provided by the Group’s clients against the risk of liability for personal injury to or death of patients  vary from client to client and from trial to trial and may not be sufficient in scope or amount or the providers may  not have the financial ability to fulfil their indemnification obligations. Furthermore, the Group would be liable for its  own negligence and that of its employees. In addition, the Group maintains an appropriate level of worldwide Professional Liability/Error and Omissions  Insurance. The amount of coverage the Group maintains depends upon the nature of the trial. The Group may in  the future be unable to maintain or continue its current insurance coverage on the same or similar terms. If it is  liable for a claim that is beyond the level of or outside the scope of insurance coverage, it may be responsible for  paying all or part of any award. The Group may lose business opportunities as a result of health care reform and the expansion of managed care organisations. Numerous governments, including the U.S. government and governments outside of the U.S. have undertaken  efforts to control growing health care costs through legislation, regulation and voluntary agreements with medical  care providers and drug companies. If these efforts are successful, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical  device companies may react by spending less on research and development and therefore this could have a  material adverse effect on the Group’s business. In addition to healthcare reform proposals, the expansion of managed care organisations in the healthcare market  may result in reduced spending on research and development. Managed care organisations’ efforts to cut costs by  limiting expenditures on pharmaceuticals and medical devices could result in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and  medical device companies spending less on research and development. If this were to occur, the Group would  have fewer business opportunities and its revenues could decrease, possibly materially. The Group may make acquisitions in the future, which may lead to disruptions to its ongoing business. The Group has made a number of acquisitions and will continue to review new acquisition opportunities. If it is  unable to successfully integrate an acquired company, the acquisition could lead to disruptions to the business.  The success of an acquisition will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s ability to: n assimilate the operations and services or products of the acquired company; n n n integrate acquired personnel; retain and motivate key employees; retain customers; and n minimise the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. Acquisitions of foreign companies may also involve additional risks, including assimilating differences in foreign  business practices and overcoming language and cultural barriers. In the event that the operations of an acquired  business do not meet the Group’s performance expectations, it may have to restructure the acquired business or  write-off the value of some or all of the assets or goodwill of the acquired business.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) The Group may not be able to successfully develop and market or acquire new services. The Group may seek to develop and market new services that complement or expand its existing business or  expand its service offerings through acquisition. If the Group is unable to develop new services and/or create  demand for those newly developed services, or expand its service offerings through acquisition, its future business,  results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely affected. Failure to raise sufficient finance may affect our ability to sustain future development of the business The Group has financed its operations and growth since inception primarily with cash flows from operations,  proceeds from its initial public offering in May 1998, its second public offering in August 2003 and borrowings as  applicable. Although the Group has not had difficulty in raising finance in the past, there is no guarantee that it will  be able to raise sufficient capital, at an appropriate cost to the Company, to sustain future development of the  business. The Group relies on its interactive voice response systems to provide accurate information regarding the randomisation of patients and the dosage required for patients enrolled in the trials. The Group develops and maintains computer run interactive voice response systems to automatically manage the  randomisation of patients in trials, assign study drug, and adjust the dosage when required for patients enrolled in  trials it supports. An error in the design, programming or validation of these systems could lead to inappropriate  assignment or dosing of patients which could give rise to patient safety issues, invalidation of the trial, liability  claims against the Company or all three. The Group relies on various control measures to mitigate the risk of a serious adverse event resulting from healthy volunteer Phase I trials. The Group conducts healthy volunteer Phase I trials including first-into-man trials. Due to the experimental nature of  these studies, serious adverse events may arise. The Group mitigates such events by following Good Clinical  Practice and ensuring appropriately trained and experienced clinical physicians are managing these trials and that  internal Standard Operating Procedures and client protocols are rigorously adhered to. The Group also ensures  that a signed contract is in place with the client in advance of clinical dosing with appropriate indemnifications and  insurance coverage. The Group maintains its own clinical trial insurance. Following internal review and submission,  an Independent Ethics Committee, approves the study protocol and appropriate approval is obtained from the  relevant regulatory body. Operating and Financial Review The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain financial data as a percentage of revenue and the  percentage change in these items compared to the prior period, being the key performance indicators used by  management. The trends illustrated in the following table may not be indicative of future results. Year ended  December 00 Year ended  December 00 As a percentage of revenue Percentage change in period Revenue Direct costs Other operating expenses One-time net charges Operating profit 100% 57.3% 29.5% 1.0% 12.2% 100% 56.7% 33.4% - 9.9% 2.6% 3.6% (9.3%) 100% 26.4% ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Year ended  December 00 compared to Year ended  December 00 Revenue increased by $22.4 million, or 2.6%, from $865.2 million to $887.6 million. For the year ended 31  December 2009, the Group derived approximately 46.0%, 45.4% and 8.6% of revenue in the United States, Europe  and Rest of World, respectively. The rate of increase in revenue has reduced over prior periods primarily as a result  of the global economic downturn, its impact on market confidence and the availability of funding for drug  development. Direct costs increased by $17.8 million, or 3.6%, from $490.7 million to $508.5 million. Direct costs as a percentage  of revenue increased from 56.7% in the year ended 31 December 2008 to 57.3% for the year ended 31 December  2009. Direct costs consist primarily of compensation, associated fringe benefits and share based compensation  expense for project-related employees and other direct project driven costs. This increase was primarily due to  increased salary and related costs of $15.7 million for project related employees, increased laboratory expenses of  $1.6 million and an increase in other direct project related costs of $6.5 million. These increases were offset by a  reduction in travel costs for project related employees of $5.2 million. Other operating expenses decreased by $26.9 million, or 9.3%, from $289.0 million to $262.2 million. As a  percentage of revenue, other operating expenses decreased from 33.4% in the year ended 31 December 2008 to  29.5% for the year ended 31 December 2009. Other operating expenses consist of compensation, related fringe  benefits and share based compensation expense for selling and administrative employees, professional service  costs, advertising costs and all costs related to facilities and information systems, including depreciation. The  decrease in other operating expenses is primarily driven by decreases of $7.0 million in personnel related costs,  comprising salary and travel costs for selling, general and administrative employees and recruitment expenditure.  Facility and information system costs decreased by $2.1 million, principally as a result of a reduction in utility costs  and support and maintenance costs. The remainder of the decrease arises from a decrease in other overhead  costs. One-time net charges of $8.8 million have been recognised during the year ended 31 December 2009. In response  to the globalisation of clinical studies and its attendant impact on resources in existing and emerging markets, the  Company conducted a review during 2009 of its existing infrastructure to better align its resources with the needs  of its clients. This realignment has resulted in resource rationalisations in certain more mature markets and the  recognition of a restructuring charge of $13.3 million in the second quarter of 2009. This was offset by research  and development incentives of $4.5 million received by the Company in certain European Union jurisdictions in  which it operates. Operating profit for the year increased by $22.6 million, or 26.4%, from $85.6 million for the year ended 31  December 2008 to $108.2 million for the year ended 31 December 2009. As a percentage of revenue, operating  profit increased from 9.9% of revenue for the year ended 31 December 2008, to 12.2% for the year ended 31  December 2009. Excluding the impact of one-time net charges recognised during the year, operating profit as a  percentage of revenue increased from 9.9% for the year ended 31 December 2008, to 13.2% for the year ended 31  December 2009. Net financing expense for the year ended 31 December 2009 was $4.3 million, compared with a net finance  expense of $1.0 million for the year ended 31 December 2008. Financing expense increased from $4.9 million for  the year ended 31 December 2008, to $5.8 million on the year ended 31 December 2009. Financing expense for  the year ended 31 December 2009 comprised foreign exchange losses on bank loans of $1.6 million, interest on  bank overdrafts and credit facilities of $3.5 million, pension costs of $0.7 million and finance lease interest of $0.1  million. Financing income decreased $2.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2008 to $1.5m for the year  ended 31 December 2009. Financing income for the year ended 31 December 2009 comprised return on pension  assets of $0.7 million and interest receivable on surplus cash balances and current asset investments of $0.8  million. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) Year ended  December 00 compared to Year ended  December 00 (continued) The provision for income taxes decreased from $19.9 million for the year ended 31 December 2008, to $11.2  million for the year ended 31 December 2009. The Group’s effective tax rate for the year ended 31 December 2009  was 10.8% compared with 23.6% for the year ended 31 December 2008. The decrease in the effective tax rate  during the period arose principally from corporation tax refunds arising from research and development tax credits  received in certain European Union jurisdictions. The Group recognised a net benefit of $10.6 million in its 2009 tax  charge for research and development tax credits relating to previous years, but received in 2009. Excluding the  impact of these research and development tax credits recognised during the period, the Group’s effective tax rate  decreased from 23.6% for the year ended 31 December 2008, to 20.2% for the year ended 31 December 2009. Liquidity and capital resources The CRO industry generally is not capital intensive. The Group’s principal operating cash needs are payment of  salaries, office rents, travel expenditures and payments to investigators. Investing activities primarily reflect capital  expenditures for facilities, information systems enhancements, the purchase of current asset investments and  acquisitions. The Group’s clinical research and development contracts comprise both fixed price and variable component  contracts and range in duration from a few weeks to several years. Revenue from contracts is generally recognised  as income on the basis of the relationship between time incurred and the total estimated contract duration or on a  fee-for-service basis. The cash flow from contracts typically consists of a down payment of between 10% and 20%  paid at the time the contract is entered into, with the balance paid in instalments over the contract’s duration, or in  some cases on the achievement of certain milestones. Accordingly, cash receipts do not correspond to costs  incurred and revenue recognised on contracts. Net cash at 31 December 2009 amounted to $193.6 million compared with net debt of $5.0 million at 31 December  2008. Net cash at 31 December 2009 comprised cash and cash equivalents of $144.8 million and current  investments of $49.2 million less finance lease obligations of $0.5 million. Net debt at 31 December 2008  comprised cash and cash equivalents of $58.4 million, current asset investments of $42.7 million, less bank credit  lines and loan facilities of $105.4 million and finance lease obligations of $0.7 million. Additional borrowings  available to the Group under negotiated facilities at 31 December 2009 amounted to $162.5 million compared with  $55.6 million at 31 December 2008. Net cash provided by operating activities was $255.1 million for the year ended 31 December 2009, compared with  cash provided by operating activities of $81.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2008. The Group’s working  capital, comprising total current assets less total current liabilities, at 31 December 2009 amounted to $204.2  million, compared to $166.7 million at 31 December 2008. The most significant influence on our working capital  and operating cash flow is revenue outstanding, which comprises accounts receivable and unbilled revenue, less  payments on account. The dollar values of these amounts and the related days revenue outstanding can vary due  to the achievement of contractual milestones, including contract signing, and the timing of cash receipts. The  number of days revenue outstanding was 33 days at 31 December 2009 and 70 days at 31 December 2008. The  decrease in the number of days revenue outstanding at 31 December 2009 resulted from improved working capital  management during the period. Net cash used in investing activities was $65.7 million for the year ended 31 December 2009, compared to $117.4  million for the year ended 31 December 2008. Net cash used in the year ended 31 December 2009 arises  principally from capital expenditure, payments for purchase of subsidiary undertakings, and purchase of short-term  investments, offset by the sale of short-term investments. Capital expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2009, amounted to $33.8 million, and comprised mainly of  expenditure on global infrastructure and information technology systems to support the Company’s growth and  expenditure on the expansion of its central laboratory facility in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. During the year ended  31 December 2008, the Company completed the expansion of its office facility in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Liquidity and capital resources (continued) Cash paid on acquisitions during the year ended 31 December 2009, amounted to $25.9 million, being cash paid  for the acquisition of the remaining 30% of the common stock of Beacon Biosciences of $17.8 million, $5.9 million  relating to the acquisition of Prevalere Lifesciences, $0.3 million relating to the acquisition of the assets of the  former Qualia Clinical Services and $1.9 million relating to the acquisition of Veeda Laboratories Limited. An  additional $24.1 million of surplus cash balances were invested in current asset investments during the year, offset  by $17.5 million realised during the year from the sale of current asset investments. Net cash used by financing activities during the year ended 31 December 2009, amounted to $105.1 million  compared with net cash provided of $22.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2008. During the year ended 31  December 2009, the Company drew down additional borrowings of $17.4 million. This was offset by the repayment  of $127.0 million of borrowings during the year. At 31 December 2009, all borrowings previously drawn under  negotiated facilities had been repaid in full. As a result of these cash flows, cash and cash equivalents increased by $84.3 million for the year ended 31  December 2009, compared to a decrease of $13.8 million for the year ended 31 December 2008. On 9 July 2007, ICON entered into a five year committed multi-currency facility agreement for €35 million ($50.2  million) with Bank of Ireland. The facility bears interest at an annual rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin and is  secured by certain composite guarantees, indemnities and pledges in favour of the bank. At 31 December 2009,  €26.2 million ($37.5 million) was available to be drawn under this facility. On 22 December 2008, a committed three year US dollar credit facility was negotiated with Allied Irish Bank plc for  $50 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and is secured by certain composite guarantees and  pledges in favour of the bank. As at 31 December 2009, $50 million was available to be drawn under this facility. On 2 January 2009, an additional four year committed credit facility was negotiated with Bank of Ireland for $25  million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and is secured by certain composite guarantees,  indemnities and pledges in favour of the bank. As at 31 December 2009, $25 million was available to be drawn  under this facility. On 29 May 2009, committed credit facilities were negotiated with Citibank Europe for $20 million. The facilities  comprise a 364 day facility of $10 million and a three year facility of $10 million. On the same day, a committed 364  day credit facility of $30 million was negotiated with JP Morgan. These facilities bear interest at LIBOR plus a  margin and are secured by certain composite guarantees and pledges in favour of the banks. As at 31 December  2009, $50 million was available to be drawn under these facilities. On 1 July 2004, the Company acquired 70% of the common stock of Beacon Biosciences Inc. (“Beacon”), a  leading specialist CRO, which provides a range of medical imaging services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology  and medical device industries, for an initial cash consideration of $9.9 million, excluding costs of acquisition. On 31  December 2008, the remaining 30% of the common stock was acquired by the Company for $17.4 million,  excluding costs of acquisition. Certain performance milestones were built into the acquisition agreement for the  remaining 30% of Beacon requiring potential additional consideration of up to $3.0 million if these milestones were  achieved during the year ended 31 December 2009. No amounts have been accrued in respect of the additional  consideration payable as these milestones have not been achieved. On 14 November 2008, the Company acquired 100% of the common stock of Prevalere Life Sciences Inc.  (“Prevalere”), for an initial cash consideration of $37.6 million, excluding costs of acquisition. Prevalere, located in  Whitesboro, New York, is a leading provider of bioanalytical and immunoassay services to pharmaceutical and  biotechnology companies. Certain performance milestones were built into the acquisition agreement requiring  potential additional consideration of up to $8.2 million if these milestones were achieved during the years ended 31  December 2008 and 2009. On 30 April 2009, $5.0 million was paid in respect of the milestones for the year ended  31 December 2008. No amounts have been accrued for amounts potentially payable in respect of the year ended  31 December 2009 as these milestones have not been achieved.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) Financial Risk Management The Group’s financial instruments comprise bank borrowings, finance lease obligations, cash and current asset  investments. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise working capital for the Group’s operations,  to fund the cost of new acquisitions and growth. The Group may from time to time enter into derivative transactions  to minimise its exposure to interest rate fluctuations and foreign currency exchange rates. The Group does not  undertake any trading activity in financial instruments. Inflation Inflation had no material impact on the Group’s operations during the period. Currency rate risk Details of currency rate risks faced by the Group are set out in note 25 to the financial statements. The risk is  managed whenever possible by matching foreign currency income and expenditures. Interest rate risk Details of interest rate risk and an analysis of the Group’s interest rate profile are set out in note 25 to the financial  statements. Credit risk Details of credit risk faced are set out in note 25 to the financial statements. Liquidity risk Details of liquidity risk are set out in note 25 to the financial statements. Directors, secretary and their interests On 24 April 2009, the Board appointed Dr. Anthony Murphy a Director of the Company. In accordance with the  Articles of Association, Dr. Murphy was elected a Director of the Company at the Company’s Annual General  Meeting on 20 July 2009. On 31 December 2009, Dr. John Climax resigned as Chairman of Board of the Company. On 1 January 2010,   Dr. Bruce Given was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Company. On 19 April 2010, the Board appointed Mr. Declan McKeon a Director of the Company. In accordance with the  Articles of Association, Mr. McKeon will offer himself for election as a Director of the Company at the Company’s  Annual General Meeting on 19 July 2010. On 19 April 2010, Mr. Edward Roberts resigned as a Director of the  Company. Details of Directors’ interests in the Group’s shares are set out in the Report on Directors’ Remuneration on pages  21 to 26. Save as shown on pages 24 to 25 no Director had any disclosable interest in shares of the Group at the beginning  or end of the financial year in relation to the business of the Group Directors’ service contracts Details of Directors’ service contracts are set out in the Report on Directors’ remuneration on pages 22 and 23. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Significant shareholdings In addition to the interests of directors disclosed in the Report on Directors’ Remuneration, the Company has been  notified of the following shareholdings in excess of 3% of the issued share capital of the Company at 31 December  2009: Name FMR LLC Neuberger Berman LLC Wellington Management Co. LLP Friess Associates LLC Lord Abbett & Co. LLC Subsidiary undertakings % Number of Shares 8.3% 8.0% 6.9% 3.9% 3.1% 4,917,137 4,695,578 4,070,783 2,286,786 1,823,819 The information required by the Companies Act, 1963 in relation to subsidiary undertakings is presented in note 32  to the financial statements. Political donations The Group made no disclosable political donations in the period. Share capital The share capital of the Company is €6,000,000 divided into 100,000,000 Ordinary Shares of €0.06. Holders of  ordinary shares will be entitled to receive such dividends as may be recommended by the board of directors of the  Company and approved by the shareholders and/or such interim dividends as the board of directors of the  Company may decide. On liquidation or a winding up of the Company, the par value of the ordinary shares will be  repaid out of the assets available for distribution among the holders of the Company’s American Depositary Shares  (“ADSs”) and ordinary shares not otherwise represented by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Holders of  ordinary shares have no conversion or redemption rights. On a show of hands, every holder of an ordinary share  present in person at a general meeting of shareholders, and every proxy, shall have one vote, for each ordinary  share held with no individual having more than one vote. On 21 July 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved a bonus issue of ordinary shares (the “Bonus Issue”) to  shareholders of record as of the close of business on 8 August 2008 (the “Record Date”). The Bonus Issue  provided for each shareholder to receive one bonus ordinary share for each ordinary share held as of the Record  Date, affecting the equivalent of a 2-for-1 stock split. The Bonus shares were issued on 11 August 2008, to  Ordinary Shareholders and on 12 August 2008, to holders of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”). NASDAQ  adjusted the trading price of the Company’s ADSs to affect the Bonus Issue prior to the opening of trading on 13  August 2008. All outstanding ordinary share amounts, including share option amounts, referenced in the following  consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been retrospectively restated to give effect to the  Bonus Issue as if had occurred as of the date referenced. Change of control provisions in significant agreements The Company has certain banking facilities which require repayment of the facility in the event that the Company  becomes controlled by any person or persons acting in concert by whom it was not controlled at the date the  facility was entered into. Furthermore the Company has certain capital grant agreements with the Irish government  agency, Enterprise Ireland, whereby the Company covenants that the controlling interest in the Company will not  change without Enterprise Ireland’s prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) Change of control provisions in significant agreements (continued) Additionally, the Company’s share option plans contain change in control provisions which allow potentially for the  acceleration of the exercisability of outstanding options in the event that a change in control occurs with respect to  the Company. Other potential consequences for outstanding share options of a change in control following a  takeover bid include the assumption of outstanding awards by the surviving company, if not ICON, or the  substitution of options of its stock or that of its parent. Amendment of the Company’s Articles of Association The Company’s Articles of Association may be amended by a special resolution passed by the shareholders at an  annual or extraordinary general meeting of the Company.  A special resolution is passed at a meeting if not less  than 75% of the members who vote in person or by proxy at the meeting vote in favour of the resolution.  Corporate governance statement In May 1998, ICON obtained a primary listing on the US NASDAQ and a secondary listing on the Irish Stock  Exchange (“ISE”). The Company is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance and compliance  consistent with best practice. The Company has reviewed the revised Combined Code on Corporate Governance  issued in June 2008 (“the 2008 Combined Code”) and subsequently adopted by the London and Irish Stock  Exchanges. The Board has reviewed the 2008 Combined Code and it is the Company’s policy, where practicable,  to apply all of the relevant principles of the revised code. Board The Board comprises one executive and seven non-Executive Directors at the date of this report. The Board  considers the non-Executive Directors, excluding Dr. Ronan Lambe and Dr. John Climax, to be independent,  notwithstanding the granting of share options to them which is considered appropriate given the work that they  undertake on behalf of the Company and, in the case of Thomas Lynch, that he has served as a non-Executive  Director for more than 9 years. The non-Executive Directors bring independent judgement to bear on issues of  strategy, performance, resources, key appointments and standards. The Company considers all of its non- Executive Directors to be of complementary expertise. The Board meets regularly throughout the year and all  Directors have full and timely access to the information necessary for them to discharge their duties. There is a  formal schedule of matters reserved to the Board for consideration and decision including approval of strategic  plans, financial statements, acquisitions, material capital expenditures and review of the effectiveness of the  Group’s system of internal controls, thereby maintaining control of the Group and its future direction. The Directors  have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary and may seek external independent  professional advice where required. Certain other matters are delegated to Board Committees, as detailed below. The Group maintains an appropriate  level of insurance cover in respect of legal action against its Directors. All Board Committees report to the Board.  Membership of the Committees is set out on page 2. The Board, through the Nominating and Governance Committee, engages in succession planning and in so doing  considers the strength and depth, and levels of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to achieve its  objectives. The Board normally meets at least four times each year. During the year ended 31 December 2009, the  Board met on four occasions. The attendance record of individual Directors at Board meetings is set out in the  table on page 17. Additional meetings, to consider specific issues, are held as and when required. The Board has  delegated some of its responsibilities to Board Committees. There are five permanent Committees. These are the  Audit Committee, the Compensation and Organisation Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the  Execution Committee and the Quality Committee, which was established in February 2010. Each Committee has  been charged with specific responsibilities and each has written terms of reference that are reviewed periodically.  Membership of the Board Committees is set out on page 2. Attendance at Committee meetings is set out in the  table on page 17. Minutes of Committee meetings are circulated to all members of the Board. The Company Secretary is available to act as secretary to each of the Board Committees if required. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Board Committees The Audit Committee meets a minimum of four times a year. During 2009, the Audit Committee comprised Edward  Roberts (Chairman), Thomas Lynch, Bruce Given and Professor Dermot Kelleher. The Audit Committee reviews the  quarterly and annual financial statements and the effectiveness of the system of internal control and approves the  appointment and removal of the external auditors. It monitors the adequacy of internal accounting practices and  addresses all issues raised and recommendations made by the external auditors. It pre-approves on an annual  basis, the audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by its external auditors. Such annual pre-approval  is given with respect to particular services. The Audit Committee, on a case by case basis, may approve additional  services not covered by the annual pre-approval, as the need for such services arises. The Audit Committee  reviews all services which are provided by the external auditors regularly to review the independence and  objectivity of the external auditors taking into consideration relevant professional and regulatory requirements so  that these are not impaired by the provisions of permissible non-audit services. The Chief Financial Officer and the  external auditors normally attend all meetings of the Audit Committee and have direct access to the Committee  Chairman at all times. Thomas Lynch is considered by the Company to have the relevant financial expertise as is  required by the 2008 Combined Code. Due to changes agreed at the Company’s Board meetings on 23 February  2010 and 19 April 2010, the Audit Committee was amended to comprise Thomas Lynch (Chairman), Edward  Roberts, Professor Dermot Kelleher and Declan McKeon. During 2009, the Compensation and Organisation Committee comprised Thomas Lynch (Chairman), Dr. Bruce  Given, Edward Roberts and Dr. Anthony Murphy. It is responsible for senior executive remuneration. The  Compensation and Organisation Committee aims to ensure that remuneration packages are competitive so that  individuals are appropriately rewarded relative to their responsibility, experience and value to the Group. At the  Company’s Board meeting on 23 February 2010, the Compensation and Organisation Committee was amended to  comprise Dr. Anthony Murphy (Chairman), Dr. Bruce Given and Thomas Lynch. During 2009, the Nominating and Governance Committee comprised Thomas Lynch (Chairman), Edward Roberts  and Dr. Bruce Given. On an ongoing basis it reviews the membership of the board of directors and board  Committees. It identifies and recommends individuals to fill any vacancy that is anticipated or arises on the board  of directors. It reviews and recommends the corporate governance principles of the Company. At the Company’s  Board meeting on 23 February 2010, the Nominating and Governance Committee was amended to comprise Dr.  Anthony Murphy (Chairman), Dr. Bruce Given and Thomas Lynch. During 2009, the Execution Committee, formerly known as the Executive Committee, comprised Peter Gray  (Chairman), Dr. John Climax and Ciaran Murray, the Group’s Chief Financial Officer. Established in March 2005, this  Committee is responsible for the management of the Company in intervals between meetings of the Board and  exercises business judgement to act in what the Committee members reasonably believe to be in the best interest  of the Company and its shareholders. All powers exercised by the Execution Committee are ratified at board  meetings. This Committee convenes as often as it determines to be necessary or appropriate. At the Company’s  Board meeting on 23 February 2010, the Committee was amended to comprise Peter Gray (Chairman), Dr. Bruce  Given and Ciaran Murray. On 23 February 2010, the Company established a Quality Committee. The primary purpose of this Committee is to  provide, on behalf of the Board, oversight of quality strategy, commitment and performance. The Committee  comprises Professor Dermot Kelleher (Chairman) and Dr. Ronan Lambe.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) Directors’ Attendance Table Board and Committee Meetings held during  the year ended 31 December 2009: Board Audit Compensation and Organisation Nomination and Governance Execution Director Dr. Bruce Given  Peter Gray Dr. Ronan Lambe Dr. John Climax Thomas Lynch Edward Roberts Prof. Dermot Kelleher Dr. Anthony Murphy Shuji Higuchi Number of meetings attended/number of meetings eligible to attend 4/4 4/4 4/4 4/4* 4/4 4/4 4/4 3/3 1/1 4/4 2/2 - - - 4/4 4/4* 4/4 - - - - - 2/2* 2/2 - 1/1 - 2/2 - - - 2/2* 2/2 - - - - 5/5* - 5/5 - - - - *Denotes Committee Chairman during 2009 Chairman Dr. John Climax resigned as Chairman of the Board of the Company on 31 December 2009. On 1 January 2010,  Dr. Bruce Given was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Company. The Chairman is responsible for the  efficient and effective working of the Board. He ensures that the Board agendas cover the key issues confronting  the Group and that briefing papers are circulated to Board members in advance of meetings allowing them full and  timely access to the information necessary to enable them to discharge their duties. The Chairman is available to  shareholders who may have concerns that cannot be addressed through the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman  makes himself available to the non-Executive Directors without the executive Directors present. Company Secretary The appointment and removal of the Company Secretary is a matter for the Board. All Directors have direct access  to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that applicable  rules and regulations are complied with and that Board procedures are observed. Senior Independent Director Mr. Thomas Lynch was appointed as Senior Independent Director in February 2010 and replaced Mr. Edward  Roberts who was Senior Independent Director during 2009. Mr. Lynch is available to shareholders should they have  any concerns where contact through the normal channels of Chairman or Chief Executive Officer has failed to  resolve or for which such contact is inappropriate. Induction and development An induction program is arranged for all new Directors. This covers the major trading activities of the Company as  well as the roles and responsibilities of Directors. All Directors are informed of relevant corporate and compliance  developments as they arise. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Communications with shareholders Communications with shareholders are given high priority and there is regular dialogue with individual institutional  shareholders other than during closed periods, as well as general presentations at the time of the announcement of  the annual and interim results. It is intended that institutional shareholders be given an opportunity to meet new  non-Executive Directors when they are appointed. The Company’s Annual General Meeting affords individual  shareholders the opportunity to question the Chairman, the Board, and Board Committee Chairmen. In addition, the  Company responds throughout the year to letters from shareholders on a wide range of issues. The Company’s website, www.iconplc.com, provides the full text of annual and interim reports together with all  relevant press releases. Directors’ remuneration The report on Directors’ remuneration is set out on pages 21 to 26. Appointment and replacement of the Directors of the Company At each annual general meeting of the Company one third of the directors who are subject to retirement by rotation,  rounded down to the next whole number if it is a fractional number, shall retire from office, but if there is only one  director who is subject to retirement by rotation then he shall retire. The directors to retire by rotation shall be those  who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment but as between persons who  became or were last reappointed directors on the same day those to retire shall be determined (unless they  otherwise agree among themselves) by lot. A director who retires at an annual general meeting may be  reappointed, if willing to act. Dr. Bruce Given and Thomas Lynch will be eligible for retirement at the next annual  general meeting and will seek reappointment. The Company by ordinary resolution may appoint a person to be a director either to fill a vacancy or as an  additional director. The Directors may appoint a person who is willing to act to be a director, either to fill a vacancy  or as an additional director, provided that the appointment does not cause the number of directors to exceed any  number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company as the maximum number of  directors. A director so appointed shall hold office only until the next following annual general meeting and shall not  be taken into account in determining the directors who are to retire by rotation at the meeting. If not re-appointed at  such annual general meeting, such director shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof. Powers of the Company’s Directors The business of the Company is managed by the directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company which  are not required by the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009 or by the Articles of Association of the Company to be  exercised by the Company in general meeting. A meeting of directors at which a quorum is present may exercise  all powers exercisable by the directors. The directors may delegate (with power to sub-delegate) to any director  holding any executive office and to any Committee consisting of one or more directors, together with such other  persons as may be appointed to such Committee by the directors, provided that a majority of the members of each  Committee appointed by the directors shall at all times consist of directors and that no resolution of any such  Committee shall be effective unless a majority of the members of the Committee present at the meeting at which it  was passed are directors. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009 the Company may purchase any of its shares. Every  contract for the purchase of, or under which the Company may become entitled or obliged to purchase shares in  the Company shall be authorised by a special resolution of the Company. The Company may cancel any shares so  purchased or may hold them as treasury shares or issue them as ordinary shares.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Report (continued) Internal control With regard to the guidance for Directors on internal control, “Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the  Combined Code (the Turnbull guidance)”, the Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying,  evaluating and managing the significant risks faced by the Group, that has been in place for the period under  review and up to the date of approval of the annual report and financial statements, and that this process is  reviewed by the Board and accords with the guidance. The Board is ultimately responsible for the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness.  However, such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business  objectives, and can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The organisation structure of the Group under the day-to-day direction of its Chief Executive Officer is clear.  Defined lines of responsibility and delegation of authority have been established within which the Group’s activities  can be planned, executed, controlled and monitored to achieve the strategic objectives which the Board has  adopted for the Group. The Board has reviewed the effectiveness of the system of internal control. In particular, it has reviewed the  process for identifying and evaluating the significant risks affecting the business and the policies and procedures  by which these risks are managed. Management are responsible for the identification and evaluation of significant risks applicable to their areas of  business together with the design and operation of suitable internal controls. As part of this identification process,  management have identified a number of risks which could materially adversely affect the business financial  condition or results of operations. These are detailed on pages 4 to 9. These risks are assessed on a continual  basis. A process of hierarchical reporting has been established which provides for a documented and auditable trail of  accountability. These procedures are relevant across Group operations and provide for successive assurances to  be given at increasingly higher levels of management and, finally, to the Board. The executive Directors report to  the Board significant changes in the business and external environment which affect the significant risks identified.  The Company has a comprehensive process for reporting financial information to the Board. The Chief Financial  Officer provides the Board with quarterly financial information which includes key performance indicators. Where  areas for improvement in the system are identified, the Board considers the recommendations made by the Audit  Committee. Compliance statement The Board confirms that the Company has complied with the relevant principles of the 2008 Combined Code  during the year ended 31 December 2009 and to the date of this report, except for: n A formal policy for regular evaluation of the Board Committees, individual Directors and the Chairman, which  has yet to be put in place, n Non-Executive Directors are in receipt of share options which has been deemed appropriate by the board,  and n Directors with more than 9 years service are not subject to annual re-election. The Board considers Thomas Lynch to be independent despite having served as a non-Executive Director for more  than 9 years. In making this decision, the Board took into account that the 2008 Combined Code provides that a  director having more than 9 years service is relevant in deciding whether a director is independent. However,  despite having more than 9 years service, the Board is satisfied that Thomas Lynch is independent for the  purposes of the 2008 Combined Code as he is independent in character and judgement and there are no  relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or could appear to affect, his judgement as an  independent non-Executive Director. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Directors’ Report (continued) Going concern The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to  continue in operation for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in  preparing the financial statements. Post balance sheet events Details of post balance sheet events are set out in note 30 to the financial statements. Books of account The Directors believe that they have complied with the requirements of Section 202 of the Companies Act, 1990  with regard to books of account by employing accounting personnel with appropriate expertise and by providing  adequate resources to the financial function. The books of account of the Company are maintained at the  registered office. Auditors In accordance with Section 160(2) of the Companies Act, 1963, the auditors, KPMG, Chartered Accountants, will  continue in office. On behalf of the Board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009   Report on Directors’ Remuneration  Composition and terms of reference of the Compensation and Organisation Committee During 2009, the Compensation and Organisation Committee, (the “Committee”) of the Board comprised Thomas  Lynch (Chairman), Edward Roberts, Dr. Bruce Given and Dr. Anthony Murphy. At the Company’s Board meeting on  23 February 2010, the Committee was amended to comprise Dr. Anthony Murphy (Chairman), Dr. Bruce Given and  Thomas Lynch. The Committee determines, within agreed terms of reference, the Group’s policy on compensation  of executive officers and specific remuneration packages for each of the executive Directors, including pension  rights. Remuneration policy The Compensation and Organisation Committee seeks to achieve the following goals with the Company’s executive  compensation programs: to attract, motivate and retain key executives and to reward executives for value creation.  The Committee seeks to foster a performance-oriented environment by ensuring that a significant portion of each  executive’s cash and equity compensation is based on the achievement of performance targets that are important  to the Company and its shareholders. The Company’s executive compensation program has three elements: base salary, a bonus plan and equity  incentives in the form of stock related awards granted under the Company’s equity incentive plans. All elements of  key executives compensation are determined by the Committee based on the achievement of the Group’s  objectives. Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration Non-Executive Directors are remunerated by way of Directors’ fees, details of which are disclosed in note 8 to the  financial statements. Non-Executive Directors are also eligible for participation in the share option scheme. Non- Executive Directors are not eligible for performance related bonuses and no pension contributions are made on  their behalf. The Board of Directors as a whole sets non-Executive remuneration. Executive Directors’ and Key Executive Officers’ remuneration Total cash compensation is divided into a base salary portion and a bonus incentive portion. Base salary is  established based on peer group and is adjusted based on individual performance and experience. The  Committee targets total cash compensation at the peer group median of comparable Irish companies and peer  CRO companies, adjusted upward or downward based on individual performance and experience. The Committee  believes that the higher the executive’s level of responsibility within the Company, the greater the percentage of the  executive’s compensation that should be tied to the Company’s performance. Target bonus incentive for executive  officers is up to 80% of base salary. The Company’s executives are eligible to receive equity incentives, including stock options and restricted share  units, granted under the Company’s equity incentive plans. If executives receive equity incentive grants, they are  normally approved annually at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee in the fiscal year and  awarded at the closing price on the second full day following the release of the Company’s prior year results. Newly  hired executives may receive sign-on grants, if approved by the Committee. In addition, the Committee may, in its  discretion, issue additional equity incentive awards to executives if the Committee determines such awards are  necessary to ensure appropriate incentives are in place. The number of equity awards granted to each participant  is determined primarily based on an award range determined by the Committee at the start of each year. The  extent of existing options is not generally considered in granting equity awards, except that the Company  occasionally grants an initial round of equity awards to newly recruited executives to provide them a stake in the  Company’s success from the commencement of their employment. The Company granted equity incentive awards,  in the form of share options, to executive officers in its fiscal years ended 31 December 2008 and 2009. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Report on Directors’ Remuneration (continued) Pensions All executive officers are eligible to participate in a defined contribution pension plan. The Company’s contributions  are generally a fixed percentage of their annual compensation, supplementing contributions by the executive. The  Company has the discretion to make additional contributions if deemed appropriate by the Committee.  Contributions to this plan are recorded as an expense in the Income Statement. Transactions with Directors Transactions with Directors are disclosed in note 29 to the financial statements. Compensation of Directors Details of Directors’ remuneration are disclosed in note 8 to the financial statements. Directors’ and Executive Officers service agreements and letters of engagement Dr. Bruce Given Dr. Bruce Given was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Company in January 2010. He has served as a   non-Executive Director of the Company since September 2004. The arrangements with Dr. Given provide for the  payment to him of annual fees of $316,932 (2009: Directors fees were $66,000) per annum plus reasonable  expenses properly incurred in carrying out his duties for the Company. He was previously granted, and held at   30 April 2010, 20,000 ordinary share options at an exercise price ranging from $8.60 to $35.33. Mr. Peter Gray Mr. Peter Gray has served as the Chief Executive Officer since November 2002. He served as the Chief Operating  Officer of the Company from June 2001 to November 2002 and as an Executive Director since June 1997. The  service agreement with Mr. Gray is terminable on 12 months notice by either party. He is entitled to receive a bonus  to be agreed by the Committee. He is also entitled to receive a pension contribution, company car and medical  insurance cover for himself and his dependants. He has previously been granted, and held at 30 April 2010,  278,000 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33 per share. His service agreement  requires him to devote his full time and attention to his duties to the Company excepting certain non-Executive  positions authorised by the Board. The agreement includes certain post termination clauses including non- disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions. Mr. Ciaran Murray Mr. Ciaran Murray has served as the Chief Financial Officer since October 2005. The service agreement with Mr.  Murray is terminable on 12 months notice by either party. He is entitled to receive a bonus to be agreed by the  Committee. He is also entitled to receive a pension contribution, a company car and medical insurance cover for  himself and his dependants. He has previously been granted, and held at 30 April 2010, 115,000 ordinary share  options at exercise prices ranging from $10.42 to $35.33 per share. His service agreement requires him to devote  his full time and attention to his duties to the Company excepting certain non-Executive positions authorised by the  Board. The agreement includes certain post termination clauses including non-disclosure, non-competition and  non-solicitation provisions. Dr. John Climax Dr. John Climax, one of the Company’s co-founders, served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from  November 2002 to December 2009. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from June 1990 to  October 2002 and as an Executive Director from June 1990 to December 2009. On 31 December 2009, Dr. Climax  retired as Chairman of the Board of the Company and his service agreement with the Company (the “Dr. Climax  Service Agreement”) ended. Since January 2010, he has held a position as a non-Executive Director of the  Company. Dr. Climax is not considered an independent non-Executive Director for the purposes of the 2008  Combined Code.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Report on Directors’ Remuneration (continued) The Dr. Climax Service Agreement provided for a bonus, a pension contribution, a twelve month notice period, two  company cars and medical insurance cover for himself and his dependants. At 30 April 2010, Dr. Climax held  126,000 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33 per share. The arrangements relating to Dr. Climax’s retirement were set out in an agreement entered into between the  Company and Dr. Climax in December 2009 (the “December Agreement”). Pursuant to the December Agreement,  Dr. Climax received, having regard to the Dr. Climax Service Agreement (which terminated pursuant to the  December agreement), a payment of €830,000 ($1,200,620) and a pension contribution of €170,000 ($252,620).   In addition, and also pursuant to the December Agreement, he received an ex-gratia pension contribution for past  service of €220,308 ($327,378), the acceleration of vesting of unvested share options and the transfer of two  company cars. The payments and contributions set out in this paragraph are included in the amounts listed for   Dr. Climax in the Summary Compensation Table – Year Ended 31 December 2009 on page 61. The Company has also entered a three year agreement with Rotrua Limited, a company controlled by Dr. Climax,  for the provision of consultancy services at an agreed fee of €262,500 ($375,795) per annum. Pursuant to the  consultancy agreement, Dr. Climax also agreed to certain restrictions that will apply to him after the termination   of the consultancy agreement including non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation. The Consultancy  agreement provides that the Company will provide, during the term of the agreement, permanent disability and life  insurance cover for Dr. Climax and medical insurance cover for himself and his dependants. Dr. Ronan Lambe Dr. Ronan Lambe, one of the Company’s co-founders, served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from   June 1990 to November 2002 and is currently a non-Executive Director of the Company. The arrangements with   Dr. Lambe provide for the payment to him of Director fees of $51,750 per annum (2009: $48,000) plus reasonable  expenses properly incurred in carrying out his duties for the Company. He has previously been granted, and   held at 30 April 2010, 28,000 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33 per share.   Dr. Lambe is not considered an independent non-Executive Director for the purposes of the 2008 Combined Code. Mr. Thomas Lynch Mr. Thomas Lynch has served as a non-Executive Director of the Company since January 1996. The arrangements  with Mr. Lynch provide for the payment to him of Director Fees of $78,000 per annum (2009: $78,000) plus  reasonable expenses properly incurred in carrying out his duties for the Company. He has previously been  granted, and held at 30 April 2010, 19,200 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33  per share. Mr. Lynch is considered independent by the Board for the purposes of the 2008 Combined Code. Professor Dermot Kelleher Professor Dermot Kelleher has served as a non-Executive Director of the Company since May 2008. The  arrangements with Professor Kelleher, provide for the payment to him of Director Fees of $68,000 per annum   (2009: $51,750). He has previously been granted, and held at 30 April 2010, 10,000 ordinary share options at an  exercise price ranging from $22.26 to $36.04. Professor Kelleher is considered independent by the Board for the  purposes of the 2008 Combined Code. Dr. Anthony Murphy Dr. Anthony Murphy has served as a non-Executive Director of the Company since April 2009. The arrangements  with Dr. Murphy, provide for the payment to him of Directors fees of $73,000 per annum (2009: $41,750). He has  previously been granted, and held at 30 April 2010, 5,000 ordinary share options at an exercise prices ranging  from $15.84 to $24.46. Dr. Murphy is considered independent by the Board for the purposes of the 2008 Combined  Code. Mr. Declan McKeon Mr. Declan McKeon has served as a non-Executive Director of the Company since April 2010. The arrangements  with Mr. McKeon, provide for the payment to him of Directors fees of $53,000 per annum. Mr. McKeon is  considered independent by the Board for the purposes of the 2008 Combined Code. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Report on Directors’ Remuneration (continued) Directors’ and secretary’s interests in shares and share options Directors and employees participate in the share option scheme. Grants of share options are at the market price of  the Company’s shares on the date of grant. The Directors and Secretary who held office at 31 December 2009 had  the following interests, all of which were beneficial, other than as stated, in the shares and share options of the  Company or other Group companies at those dates: Name of Director Name of company and description of shares Dr. Bruce Given ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Peter Gray Ciaran Murray Dr. John Climax Dr. Ronan Lambe ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Holmrook Limited “C” Ordinary Shares  €0.126974 ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Holmrook Limited “H” Ordinary Shares  €0.0126973 ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Holmrook Limited “A” Ordinary Shares  €0.634869 ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Holmrook Limited “B” Ordinary Shares  €0.317435 Edward Roberts ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Thomas Lynch ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 Prof. Dermot Kelleher ICON plc Interest at 0 April 00 Number Interest at  December 00 Number Interest at 31 December 2008 Number  of shares Options of shares Options of shares Options 00 0,000 - ,000 - 14,000 , ,000 , ,000 444,288 98,000 ,000 - ,000 - 1,000 - - ,000 - ,000 - 108,000 0,000 - 0,000 - 10,000 - ,0, ,000 ,0, ,000 3,107,568 94,000 00 - 00 - 200 - ,0 ,000 ,0 ,000 725,380 36,000 00 - 00 - 400 - ,00 0,000 ,00 ,000 16,004 16,000  ,00  ,00 4 15,200 Ordinary Shares €0.06 - 0,000 Dr. Anthony Murphy ICON plc Ordinary Shares €0.06 00 ,000 - - ,000 ,000 - - 6,000 -  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Report on Directors’ Remuneration (continued) Further details regarding the above options at 31 December 2009 are as follows: ICON plc Bruce Given Peter Gray Ciaran Murray John Climax Ronan Lambe Edward Roberts Thomas Lynch Prof. Dermot Kelleher Dr. Anthony Murphy Options Exercise price Grant date Expiry date 4,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 20,000 20,000 12,000 12,000 14,000 50,000 60,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 17,000 20,000 20,000 12,000 12,000 10,000 50,000 6,000 6,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 1,200 2,400 2,400 3,200 4,000 2,000 2,000 6,000 2,000 3,000 $8.60 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $22.26 $7.00 $8.88 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $15.84 $10.42 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $22.26 $7.00 $8.88 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $15.84 $7.00 $8.88 $8.60 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $22.26 $8.88 $8.60 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $22.26 $7.00 $8.88 $8.60 $11.00 $21.25 $35.33 $22.26 $36.04 $22.26 $15.84 24 February 2005 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 25 February 2009 21 January 2003 4 February 2004 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 30 April 2009 17 January 2006 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 25 February 2009 21 January 2003 4 February 2004 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 30 April 2009 21 January 2003 4 February 2004 24 February 2005 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 25 February 2009 4 February 2004 24 February 2005 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 25 February 2009 21 January 2003 4 February 2004 24 February 2005 3 February 2006 16 February 2007 26 February 2008 25 February 2009 27 May 2008 25 February 2009 24 February 2013 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 25 February 2017 21 January 2011 4 February 2012 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 30 April 2017 17 January 2014 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 25 February 2017 21 January 2011 4 February 2012 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 30 April 2017 21 January 2011 4 February 2012 24 February 2013 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 25 February 2017 4 February 2012 24 February 2013 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 25 February 2017 21 January 2011 4 February 2012 24 February 2013 3 February 2014 16 February 2015 26 February 2016 25 February 2017 27 May 2016 25 February 2017 30 April 2009 30 April 2017 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Report on Directors’ Remuneration (continued) On 9 November 2009, Dr. John Climax exercised options to acquire 20,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of  $7.25 per share. On the same day Dr. Climax sold 20,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $24.23 per share.  During the period from 4 to 11 March Dr. Climax sold 1,500,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $24.36 per  share. On 9 November 2009, Mr. Peter Gray exercised options to acquire 20,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of  $7.25 per share. On the same day Mr. Gray sold 68,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $24.27 per share. On 20 November 2009, Dr. Ronan Lambe exercised options to acquire 20,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price  of $7.25 per share. On the same day Dr. Lambe sold 612,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $22.59 per  share. On 5 March 2010, Dr. Bruce Given purchased 500 ordinary shares at an average price of $24.67 per share.  On 8 March 2010, Mr. Ciaran Murray exercised options to acquire 40,000 ordinary shares at an average exercise  price of $10.42 per share. On the same day Mr. Murray sold 40,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $24.25  per share.  On 10 March 2010, Dr. Anthony Murphy purchased 200 ordinary shares at an average price of $23.87 per share. The share price during the year ended 31 December 2009 moved in the range of $12.17 to $26.85 (year ended  31 December 2008: in the range of $15.97 to $44.00). The share price at 31 December 2009 was $21.73 (at 31  December 2008 $19.69). On behalf of the Compensation Committee Thomas Lynch   ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Directors’ Responsibilities Statement Directors’ Responsibilities Statement in respect of the Annual Report and the Financial Statements The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Consolidated and Company financial statements, in  accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and Company financial statements for each financial year. Under that  law the directors are required to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting  Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the EU and have elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with  IFRSs as adopted by the EU and as applied in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009. The Group and Company financial statements are required by law and IFRSs as adopted by the EU to present fairly the  financial position and performance of the Group and Company. The Companies Acts 1963 to 2009 provide in relation to such  financial statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view are  references to their achieving a fair presentation. In preparing each of the Group and Company financial statements, the directors are required to: n select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; n make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; n state that the financial statements comply with the IFRSs as adopted by the EU, and in the case of the Company, as  applied in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009; and n prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and  Company will continue in business. Under applicable law and the requirements of the Listing Rules issued by the Irish Stock Exchange, the Directors are also  responsible for preparing a Directors’ Report and reports relating to directors’ remuneration and corporate governance that  comply with the law and those Rules. In particular, in accordance with the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations  2007 (the Transparency Regulations), the directors are required to include in their report a fair review of the business and a  description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group and the Company and a responsibility statement relating  to these and other matters, included below. The Directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the  financial position of the Company and the Group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the  Companies Acts 1963 to 2009 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also  responsible for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and Company and to  prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. Under applicable law and the requirements of the Listing Rules issued by the Irish Stock Exchange regulations, the directors  are also responsible for preparing a Directors’ Report and reports relating to directors’ remuneration and corporate  governance that comply with that law and those Rules. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the  Company’s website. Legislation in the Republic of Ireland governing the preparation and dissemination of financial  statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Responsibility Statement, in accordance with the Transparency Regulations Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed on page 2 confirm that, to the best of each person’s knowledge  and belief: n n n the Group financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair view of  the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Group at 31 December 2009 and its profit for the year then ended; the Company financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and as applied in  accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities and financial  position of the Company at 31 December 2009; and the directors’ report contained in the Annual Report includes a fair view of the development and performance of the  business and the position of the Group and Company, together with a description of the principal risks and  uncertainties that they face. On behalf of the board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009    Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of ICON plc  We have audited the Group and Company financial statements (the ‘‘financial statements’’) of ICON plc for the year  ended 31 December 2009 which comprise of the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated and Company  Balance Sheets, the Consolidated and Company Cash Flow Statements, the Consolidated and Company  Statements of Recognised Income and Expense and the related notes (notes 1 to 33). These financial statements  have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 193 of the  Companies Act 1990. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members  those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent  permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s  members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditors The Directors’ responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with  applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU and, in the case of  the Company as applied in accordance with Company Acts 1963 to 2009, are set out in the Statement of Directors’  Responsibilities on page 27. Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements  and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance with  IFRSs as adopted by the EU, and have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to  2009 and, in the case of the Consolidated financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. We also report to  you our opinion as to: whether proper books of account have been kept by the Company; whether at the balance  sheet date, there exists a financial situation requiring the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the  Company; and whether the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the financial statements. In  addition, we state whether we have obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the purposes of our  audit, and whether the Company balance sheet is in agreement with the books of account. We also report to you if, in our opinion, any information specified by law or the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock  Exchange regarding Directors’ remuneration and Directors’ transactions is not disclosed and, where practicable,  include such information in our report. We review whether the Corporate Governance Statement reflects the Company’s compliance with the nine  provisions of the 2008 Combined Code specified for our review by the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange,  and we report if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Directors’ statements on internal control  cover all risks and controls, or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s corporate governance  procedures or its risk and control procedures. We read the other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited  financial statements. The other information comprises only the Directors’ Report and the Report on Directors’  Remuneration. We consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or  material inconsistencies with the financial statements. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the  Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and  disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgments  made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are  appropriate to the Group’s and Company’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of ICON plc (continued) We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered  necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements  are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion  we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion: n n n n the Consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the  EU, of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 31 December 2009 and of its profit for the year then ended; the Company financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU  and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009, of the state of the  Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2009; the Consolidated financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Acts  1963 to 2009 and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation; and the Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Acts  1963 to 2009. Other Matters We have obtained all the information and explanations which we consider necessary for the purposes of our audit.  In our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the Company. The Company balance sheet is in  agreement with the books of account. In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ report is consistent with the financial statements. The net assets of the Company, as stated in the Company balance sheet, are more than half of the amount of its  called-up share capital and, in our opinion, on that basis there did not exist at 31 December 2009 a financial  situation which under Section 40 (1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 would require the convening of an  extraordinary general meeting of the Company. KPMG Chartered Accountants Registered Auditor Dublin, Ireland 30 April 2010 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Statement of Accounting Policies  Basis of preparation The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered  material in relation to the Group’s financial statements. The Group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting  Standards (IFRS) that are adopted by the European Union (EU) that are effective at 31 December 2009. The  Directors have elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the  EU and as applied in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009. The Group adopted the amendment to  IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements – A Revised Presentation during 2009. This amendment sets overall  requirements for the presentation of financial statements, guidelines for their structure and minimum requirements  for their content. The revised standard aims to improve users’ ability to analyse and compare information given in  financial statements. The revised standard prohibits the presentation of items of income and expenses (that is, non- owner changes in equity) in the statement of changes in equity, requiring non-owner changes in equity to be  presented separately from owner changes in equity in a statement of comprehensive income. As a result, the  Group presents in the consolidated statements of changes in equity all owner changes in equity, whereas all non- owner changes in equity are presented in a performance statement. The Group have elected to present non-owner  changes in equity in two separate performance statements: the Consolidated Income Statement and the  Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense. The adoption of the amendment did not impact on  our financial position or results from operations. These Group and Company financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and all values are rounded to the  nearest thousand ($‘000), except where otherwise indicated, being the reporting currency of the Group. They are  prepared on the historical cost basis, except for the measurement at fair value on date of grant of share options.  The preparation of financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that  affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates  and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors believed to be reasonable under  the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making the judgments about carrying values of assets  and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. These estimates and judgments are reviewed on an  ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Accounting policies are applied consistently with the  prior year. Statement of compliance The Consolidated financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with  International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“EU IFRS”), and the individual  financial statements of the Company (“Company Financial Statements”) have been prepared and approved by the  Directors in accordance with EU IFRSs as applied in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2009. In  accordance with Companies Acts 1963 to 2009, a company that publishes its Consolidated and Company financial  statements together, can take advantage of the exemption in Section 148(8) of the Companies Act 1963 from  presenting to its members a Company income statement and related notes that form part of the approved  Company financial statements. The International Accounting Standards Board and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee  (“IFRIC”) have issued the following standards and interpretations which have not yet been adopted by the  Company or Group: n IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective 1 January 2013) n Amendment to IFRS 2 Share-based Payment – “Group Cash-settled share-based payment transactions”  (effective 1 January 2010) n Amendment to IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures (effective 1 January 2011) n Amendment to IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (effective 1 July 2009) n Amendment to IAS 32 Financial Instruments:– “Classification of Rights Issues” (effective 1 February 2010) * 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Statement of compliance (continued) n Amendments to IAS 39 Financial Instrument: Recognition and Measurements and IFRS 7 Financial Instrument: Disclosure (effective 1 July 2008)* n Amendments to IAS 39 Financial Instrument: Recognition and Measurements (effective 1 July 2009) n n n IFRIC Interpretation 14 Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement (effective 1 January 2012) IFRIC Interpretation 19 Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity Instruments (effective 1 July 2010) Improvements to IFRS (effective 1 January 2010) * * Endorsed by the EU The Group does not anticipate that the adoption of most of these standards and interpretations will have a material  effect on its financial statements on initial adoption. Basis of consolidation The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of ICON plc and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries  are consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and cease to be consolidated from the  date on which control is transferred out of the Group. Control exists when the Company has the power, directly or  indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain economic benefits from its  activities. Financial statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the Company and where  necessary, adjustments are made to the results of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those  used by the Group. The Group will continue to prepare the statutory, individual financial statements of subsidiary  companies under GAAP applicable in their country of incorporation but adjustments have been made to the results  and financial position of such companies to bring their accounting policies into line with those of the Group. All inter-company balances and transactions, including unrealised profits arising from inter-group transactions,  have been eliminated in full. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same manner as unrealised gains except to  the extent that there is evidence of impairment. Foreign currency translation The presentation currency of the Group and Company is US dollars ($). The functional currency of the Company is  Euros. The Company financial statements have been presented in US dollars as a large number of the Company’s  investors are domiciled in the United States. Results and cash flows of non-dollar denominated undertakings are  translated into dollars at the actual exchange rates at the transaction dates or average exchange rates for the year  where this is a reasonable approximation. The related balance sheets are translated at the rates of exchange ruling  at the balance sheet date. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition of a foreign operation are  regarded as assets and liabilities of the foreign operation, are expressed in the functional currency of the foreign  operation and are recorded at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction and subsequently retranslated at  the applicable closing rates. Adjustments arising on translation of the results of non-dollar undertakings at average  rates, and on the restatement of the opening net assets at closing rates, are dealt with in a separate translation  reserve within equity. Transactions in currencies different to the functional currencies of operations are recorded at the rate of exchange  ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are  retranslated into the functional currency at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. All translation  differences are taken to the income statement. In addition long term intercompany balances where repayment is  not foreseen are treated as part of the net investment and exchange difference are included in the Statement of  Recognised Income and Expense. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Foreign currency translation (continued) The principal exchange rates used for the translation of results, cash flows and balance sheets into US dollars were  as follows: Average Year end Year to  December 00 .0 . Year to 31 December 2008 1.47688 1.88552  December 00 31 December 2008 .0 .0 1.39800 1.46280 Euro 1:$ Pound Sterling 1:$ On disposal of a foreign operation, accumulated currency translation differences, together with any exchange  differences on foreign currency borrowings that provide a hedge of the net investment are recognised in the  income statement as part of the overall gain or loss on disposal; the cumulative currency translation differences  arising prior to the transition date have been set to zero for the purposes of ascertaining the gain or loss on  disposal of a foreign operation subsequent to 1 June 2004. Property, plant and equipment Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any provisions for  impairment losses. Depreciation is calculated to write off the original cost of property, plant and equipment less its estimated residual  value over its expected useful lives on a straight line basis. The estimated useful lives applied in determining the  charge to depreciation are as follows: Buildings  Computer Equipment  Office furniture and fixtures  Laboratory equipment  Motor vehicles  Years 40  4  8  5  5 Leasehold improvements are amortised using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset or  the lease term, whichever is shorter. Residual values and useful lives of property, plant and equipment are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate at each  balance sheet date. Assets acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of their useful  economic life and the lease term. On disposal of property, plant and equipment the cost and related accumulated depreciation and impairments are  removed from the financial statements and the net amount, less any proceeds, is taken to the income statement. The carrying amounts of the Group’s property, plant and equipment are reviewed at each balance sheet date to  determine whether there is any indication of impairment. Where such an indicator exists an impairment review is  carried out. An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash generation unit  exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement unless the asset is  recorded at a revalued amount in which case it is firstly dealt with through the revaluation reserve with any residual  amount being transferred to the income statement. Subsequent costs are included in an asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate,  only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost  of the replaced item can be measured reliably. All other repair and maintenance costs are charged to the income  statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Leased Assets – as lessee Finance leases, which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the leased asset,  are capitalised at the inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset or if lower the present value of the  minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet as a finance  lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of the lease  obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are  charged to the income statement as part of finance costs. Capitalised leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. Leases where the lessor retains substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the assets are classified as  operating leases. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight  line basis over the lease term. Lease incentives are recognised over the term of the lease as an integral part of the  total lease expense. Investments in subsidiaries - company Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less provision for impairment in the Company’s balance  sheet. Loans to subsidiary undertakings are initially recorded at fair value in the Company balance sheet and  subsequently at amortised cost using an effective interest rate methodology.  Business combinations The cost of a business combination is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of  assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed and equity instruments issued in exchange for control together with  any directly attributable costs. Where a business combination agreement provides for an adjustment to the cost of  the combination contingent on future events, the amount of the estimated adjustment is included in the cost at the  acquisition date if the adjustment can be reliably measured. Any changes to this estimate in subsequent periods  are reflected in goodwill. The assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of businesses acquired are measured at their fair values at the date  of acquisition. In the case of a business combination which is completed in stages, the fair values of the identifiable  assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are determined at the date of each exchange transaction. When the initial  accounting for a business combination is determined provisionally, any subsequent adjustments to the provisional  values allocated to the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are made within twelve months of the  acquisition date and presented as adjustments to the original acquisition accounting. The interest of minority shareholders is stated at the minority’s proportion of the fair values of the assets and  liabilities recognised, excluding goodwill, together with the share of income and expenses attributable to the  interests they hold. Subsequently, any losses applicable to the minority interest in excess of the minority interest are  allocated against the interests of the parent. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of net identifiable  assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on the acquisition of subsidiaries is included  in ‘intangible assets – goodwill and other’. At the acquisition date, any goodwill acquired is allocated to each of the cash-generating units expected to benefit  from the combination’s synergies. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash- generating unit to which the goodwill relates. Where goodwill forms part of a cash-generating unit and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the  goodwill associated with the operation disposed of is included in the carrying amount of the operation when  determining the gain or loss on disposal of the operation. Goodwill disposed of in this circumstance is measured on  the basis of the relative values of the operation disposed of and the proportion of the cash-generating unit retained. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Goodwill (continued) Following initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill  relating to acquisitions post 1 June 2001 and the deemed cost of goodwill carried in the balance sheet at 1 June  2001 is not amortised. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in  circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Impairment of non financial assets The carrying amounts of the Group’s assets, other than deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each balance sheet  date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable  amount is estimated. An estimate of the recoverable amount of goodwill is carried out at each balance sheet date. An impairment loss is recognised in the income statement whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash  generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash generating units  are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to cash generating units and then, to  reduce the carrying amount of other assets in the unit on a pro rata basis. The recoverable value of assets, other than receivables carried at amortised cost and short-term receivables, is the  greater of their net selling price and value in use. Value in use is assessed by discounting estimated future cash  flows of the asset to their present value or discounting the estimated future cash flows of the cash generating unit  where the asset does not generate independent cash flows. Estimated cash flows are discounted using a pre tax  discount rate reflecting current market estimates of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. The recoverable amount of receivables carried at amortised cost is calculated by discounting the present value of  estimated future cash flows of the asset to their present value, discounted at the original effective interest rate.  Receivables with a short duration of less than six months are not discounted. Impairment losses in respect of receivables carried at amortised cost are reversed if subsequent increases in the  recoverable amount of the asset can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was  recognised. Impairment losses in respect of other assets, other than goodwill, are reversed if there has been a change in the  estimates used to determine recoverable amount. Impairment losses are reversed only to the extent that the carrying  amount of the asset does not exceed the carrying value that would have been determined, net of depreciation or  amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised. Impairment losses in respect of goodwill are not reversed. Intangible assets Other intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Amortisation is  charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets,  currently estimated as follows: Computer software  Customer relationships  Volunteer list  Order backlog  Inventories Years 4-8  3-11  6  3 Inventories, which comprise laboratory inventories, are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost in  the case of raw materials comprises the purchase price and attributable costs, less trade discounts. Cost in the  case of work in progress and finished goods, comprises fixed labour, raw material costs and attributable  overheads. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated  costs of completion and selling expenses.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Trade and other receivables Trade and other receivables, which generally have 30 to 90 day terms, are initially measured at fair value and are  thereafter measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method less any provision for impairment. A  provision for impairment of trade receivables is recognised when there is objective evidence that the Group will not  be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Impairment losses, and any  subsequent recovery of such losses, are recognised in the income statement within ‘other operating expenses’. Current asset investments – available for sale Financial instruments held are classified as current assets and are stated at fair value, with any resultant gain or  loss recognised in the statement of recognised income and expense. The fair value of financial instruments  classified as available-for-sale is their market price at the balance sheet date. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three months or less  and are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Trade payables Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the  effective interest rate method. Government grants Government grants received that compensate the Group for the cost of an asset are recognised in the balance  sheet initially as deferred income when there is reasonable assurance that it will be received and that the Group  will comply with the conditions attaching to it. Such grants are recognised in the income statement on a systematic  basis over the useful economic life of the asset. Grants that compensate the Group for expenses incurred are recognised in the income statement on a systematic  basis in the same periods in which the expenses are incurred provided that the Group meets all the conditions for  receipt of the grant. Under grant agreements amounts received may become repayable in full or in part should certain circumstances  specified within the grant agreements occur, including downsizing by the Group, disposing of the related assets,  ceasing to carry on its business or the appointment of a receiver over any of its assets. The Group has not  recognised any such loss contingency having assessed as remote the likelihood of these events arising. Interest bearing loans and borrowings Interest bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to  initial recognition, interest bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any difference between cost and  redemption value being recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings on an effective  interest basis. Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it  is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw-down  occurs. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the  liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Provisions A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a present or legal or constructive obligation as  a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the  obligation. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the  expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects the time value of money and, where appropriate, the risks  specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is  recognised as a finance cost. A provision for restructuring is recognised when the Group has approved a detailed and formal restructuring plan,  and the restructuring has either commenced or has been announced publicly. Future operating costs are not  provided for. A provision for onerous contracts is recognised when the expected benefits to be derived by the Group from a  contract are lower than the unavoidable cost of meeting its obligations under the contract. Share capital Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new share or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net  of tax, from the proceeds. Where any Group company purchases the Company’s share capital (treasury shares), the consideration paid,  including any directly attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to  the Company’s equity holders until the shares are cancelled or reissued. Where such shares are subsequently  reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly attributable incremental transaction costs and the related  income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders. Employee benefits (a) Pension and other post-employment benefits Certain companies within the Group operate defined contribution pension plans. A defined contribution plan is a  pension plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. The Group has no legal or  constructive obligations to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees  the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. Contributions to defined contribution  pension plans are expensed as incurred. The Company operates a defined benefit pension plan for certain of its United Kingdom employees through a  subsidiary. A defined benefit plan is a pension plan that is not a defined contribution plan. Typically defined benefit  plans define the amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one  or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation. Obligations for contributions to defined benefit contribution pension plans are recognised as an expense in the  income statement as service is received from the relevant employees. The Group’s net obligation in respect of the defined benefit pension plan is calculated separately by estimating the  amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods; that  benefit is discounted to determine its present value, and the fair value of plan assets deducted. The discount rate  used is the yield at the balance sheet date on AA credit rated bonds that have maturity dates approximating to the  terms of the Group’s obligations. The calculation is performed by a qualified actuary using the projected unit credit  method. Returns on the scheme assets are recorded in the finance income line in the consolidated income  statement while interest on the scheme liabilities are recorded in the finance expense line. When benefits of a plan  are improved, the portion of the increased benefit relating to the past service by employees is recognised as an  expense in the income statement on a straight line basis over the average period until the benefits become vested.  To the extent that the benefits vest immediately, the expense is recognised immediately in the income statement.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Employee benefits (continued) (a) Pension and other post-employment benefits All actuarial gains and losses as at 1 June 2004, the date of transition to IFRSs, were recognised and adjusted  against retained earnings. Actuarial gains and losses arising after this date are recognised immediately in the  Statement of Recognised Income and Expenditure. (b) Share-based payments Share-based payments comprise options to acquire ordinary shares in the Company and restricted share units  granted to the Directors and other employees of the Group based on service and non-market performance  conditions such as term of employment and individual performance. The fair value of options granted is recognised  as an employee expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and  spread over the period during which the Directors and other employees become unconditionally entitled to the  options. The fair value of options granted is measured using a binomial lattice model, taking into account the terms  and conditions upon which the options were granted. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference  to the fair value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market service and performance vesting  conditions (for example profitability, sales growth targets). Non-market vesting conditions are included in  assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. The amount recognised as an expense is  adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest. Revenue recognition The Group primarily earns revenues by providing clinical research services to its customers. Clinical research  services include clinical trials management, biometric activities, imaging consulting, laboratory services and  contract staffing. Contracts range in duration from a number of months to several years. Clinical trials management revenue is recognised on a proportional performance method. Depending on the  contractual terms, revenue is either recognised on the percentage of completion method, based on the relationship  between hours incurred and the total estimated hours of the trial, or on the unit of delivery method. Biometrics  revenue is recognised on a fee-for-service method on the basis of the number of units completed in a period as a  percentage of the total number of contracted units. Imaging revenue is recognised on a fee-for- service basis.  Consulting revenue is recognised on a fee-for-service basis as the related service is performed. Laboratory service  revenue is recognised on a fee-for-service basis. Contract staffing revenue is recognised on a fee-for-service basis,  over the time the related service is performed, or in the case of permanent placement, once the candidate has  been placed with the client. The Company accounts for laboratory service contracts as multiple element  arrangements, with contractual elements comprising laboratory kits and laboratory testing, each of which can be  sold separately. Fair values for contractual elements are determined by reference to objective and reliable  evidence of their fair values. Non-refundable set-up fees are allocated as additional consideration to the contractual  elements based on the proportionate fair values of each of these elements. Revenues for contractual elements are  recognised on the basis of the number of deliverable units completed in the period. Contracts generally contain provisions for renegotiation in the event of changes in the scope, nature, duration,  volume of services or conditions of the contract. Renegotiated amounts are recognised as revenue by revision to  the total contract value arising as a result of an authorised customer change order. Provisions for losses to be  incurred on contracts are recognised in full in the period in which it is determined that a loss will result from  performance of the contractual arrangement. The difference between the amount of revenue recognised and the amount billed on a particular contract is  included in the balance sheet as unbilled revenue. Normally, amounts become billable upon the achievement of  certain milestones, in accordance with pre-agreed payment schedules included in the contract or on submission of  appropriate billing detail. Such cash payments are not representative of revenue earned on the contract as  revenues are recognised over the period in which the specified contractual obligations are fulfilled. Amounts  included in unbilled revenue are expected to be collected within one year and are included within current assets.  Advance billings to customers, for which revenue has not been recognised, are recognised as payments on  account within current liabilities. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Revenue recognition (continued) In the event of contract termination, if the value of work performed and recognised as revenue is greater than  aggregate milestone billings at the date of termination, cancellation clauses ensure that the Company is paid for all  work performed to the termination date. Reimbursable expenses Reimbursable expenses comprise investigator payments and certain other costs which are reimbursed by clients  under terms specific to each contract and are deducted from gross revenue in arriving at revenue. Investigator  payments are accrued based on patient enrolment over the life of the contract. Investigator payments are made  based on predetermined contractual arrangements, which may differ from the accrual of the expense. Direct costs Direct costs consist of compensation and associated employee benefits for project-related employees and other  direct project related costs. Research and development credits Research and development credits that are provided under the income tax law of the jurisdictions in which the  Group operates generally are recognised as a reduction of income tax expense.  However, certain tax jurisdictions  provide refundable credits that are not dependent on the Group’s ongoing tax status or tax position.  In these  circumstances the benefit of these credits is not recorded as a reduction to income tax expense, but rather as a  reduction of the operating expenditure to which the credits relate. Financing expense Financing expense comprises interest payable on borrowings calculated using the effective interest rate method,  finance charges on finance leases, foreign exchange gains and losses, and gains and losses on hedging  instruments that are recognised in the income statement. Financing income Interest income is recognised in the income statement as it accrues, using the effective interest rate method and  includes interest receivable on funds invested. Income tax The tax expense in the income statement represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. Tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the  income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years  and it further excludes items that are not taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated  using rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet date. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity. Deferred income tax is provided, using the liability method, on all differences between the carrying amounts of  assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes except those  arising from non-deductible goodwill or on initial recognition of an asset or liability which affects neither accounting  nor taxable profit. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the  year when the asset is expected to be realised or the liability to be settled.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Statement of Accounting Policies (continued) Income tax (continued) Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused  tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible  temporary differences and the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that  it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit would be available to allow all or part of the deferred income  tax asset to be utilised. Earnings per ordinary share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net profit for the financial period attributable to ordinary  shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue that ranked for dividend  during the financial period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the profit for the financial period attributable to ordinary  shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue after adjusting for the  effects of all potential dilutive ordinary shares that were outstanding during the financial period. Segment reporting An operating segment is a component of the Group that engages in business activities from which it may earn  revenues and incur expenses, including revenues and expenses that relate to transactions with any of the Group’s  other components. As of 1 January 2009 the Group determines and presents operating segments based on the  information that internally is provided to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who  together are considered the Group’s chief operating decision maker. This change in accounting policy is due to the  adoption of IFRS 8 Operating Segments. An operating segment’s operating results are reviewed regularly by the  CEO and CFO to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and  for which discrete financial information is available. Segment results that are reported to the CEO and CFO include items directly attributable to a segment as well as  those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Segment capital expenditure is the total cost incurred during  the period to acquire property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets other than goodwill. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended  31 December 2008 $’000 Note ,, 1,209,451 1 7 3 4 2 5 24 6 6 (0,) , (0,) (,) (,0) 0, , (,) 0, (,) (344,203) 865,248 (490,667) (289,006) - 85,575 4,004 (4,959) 84,620 (19,944)  ,0 64,676 ,0 - 64,483 193 ,0 64,676 . . 1.11 1.06 Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 31 December 2009 Gross revenue Reimbursable expenses Revenue Direct costs Other operating expenses  One-time net charges Operating profit Financing income Financing expense Profit before taxation Income tax expense Profit for the year Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company Minority interest Profit for the year Earnings per ordinary share Basic Diluted On behalf of the Board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense  for the year ended 31 December 2009 Items of income and expense recognised directly in equity Currency translation differences Deferred tax movement on unexercised options Tax benefit excess on exercised options Actuarial loss recognised on defined benefit pension scheme Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 Note 24 5 9 0,0 (18,016)   (8,871) 4,060 () (955) Net income/(loss) recognised directly in equity 0, (23,782) Profit for the financial year ,0 64,676 Total recognised income and expense for the year 0, 40,894 Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company Minority interests 0, - 40,701 193 Total recognised income and expense for the year 0, 40,894 On behalf of the Board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2009 ASSETS Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets – goodwill and other Other non-current assets Deferred tax assets Total non-current assets Current assets Inventories Accounts receivable Unbilled revenue Other current assets Current taxes receivable Current asset investments Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets Total assets EQUITY Share capital  Share premium Options reserve Other reserves Foreign currency translation reserve Retained earnings Total equity attributable to equity holders LIABILITIES Non-current liabilities Deferred government grants and other liabilities Bank credit lines and loan facilities Deferred tax liabilities Total non-current liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable Payments on account Accrued and other liabilities Bank credit lines and loan facilities Current tax payable Total current liabilities Total liabilities Total equity and liabilities On behalf of the Board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Note  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 11 12 14 5 15 16 17 18 19 23 24 20 22 5 20 22 , , , , , , , ,00 , ,0 , ,0 , , , , ,0 , , , , , -  , , , , - , , , , 150,162 215,141 6,482 10,223 382,008 3,357 210,535 141,727 27,868 10,616 42,726 58,378 495,207 877,215 4,921 138,227 28,123 7,422 1,280 294,153 474,126 3,266 65,186 6,144 74,596 17,505 121,935 129,801 40,193 19,059 328,493 403,089 877,215 l a t o T 0 0 0 $ ’ 6 2 1 , 4 7 4 8 0 7 , 2 9 1 1 6 7 8 4 ) 9 1 6 ( 8 4 0 , 0 1 7 2 5 , 0 1 5 3 2 , 3 0 1 5 8 0 , 8 ) 4 8 ( 9 1 4 , 4 - 0 2 4 2 1 , 0 2 4 2 1 , 1 8 7 , 9 8 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0 ’ $ y t i r o n M i t s e r e t n I l a t o T 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ i d e n a t e R y c n e r r u C r e h t O s n o i t p O e r a h S e r a h S i s g n n r a E e v r e s e R s e v r e s e R e v r e s e R i m u m e r P l a t i p a C r e b m u N s e r a h s f o 9 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 d e d n e r a e y e h t r o f y t i u q E n i s e g n a h C f o t n e m e a S t t d e a d t i l o s n o C 6 2 1 4 7 4 , 3 5 1 , 4 9 2 0 8 2 , 1 2 2 4 , 7 3 2 1 , 8 2 7 2 2 , 8 3 1 1 2 9 , 4 5 9 1 , 8 1 5 , 8 5 9 0 0 2 y r a u n a J 1 t a e c n a a B l 8 0 7 2 9 , 8 0 7 , 2 9 1 1 6 7 8 4 8 4 0 , 0 1 - - - ) 9 1 6 ( ) 9 1 6 ( - - - 8 4 0 , 0 1 7 2 5 , 0 1 ) 9 1 6 ( 8 4 0 , 0 1 5 3 2 , 3 0 1 9 8 0 , 2 9 8 4 0 , 0 1 5 8 0 , 8 ) 4 8 ( 9 1 4 , 4 - 0 2 4 2 1 , 0 2 4 2 1 , - - - 9 8 2 6 , 9 8 2 6 , 9 8 2 6 , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 6 7 8 4 - - 8 9 0 , 1 8 9 0 , 1 5 8 0 , 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e m o c n i e v i s n e h e r p m o c l a t o T r a e y e h t r o f t i f o r P : r a e y e h t r o f : e m o c n I e v i s n e h e r p m o C r e h t O i e s c r e x e n o s s e c x e t i f e n e b x a T n o t n e m e v o m x a t d e r r e e D f s n o i t p o i d e s c r e x e n u s n o i t p o f o l n o i t a s n a r t y c n e r r u c i n g e r o F i e v s n e h e r p m o c r e h o t l t a o T s t i f e n e b e e y o p m E l e m o c n i r o f e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c l t a o T r a e y e h t , s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r T y t i u q e n i y l t c e r i d d e d r o c e r t n e m y a p d e s a b - e r a h S 5 7 3 , 4 4 4 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E ) 9 8 2 , 6 ( - 6 9 7 , 1 6 9 7 , 1 1 9 2 , 4 1 9 2 , 4 ) 4 8 ( - - 4 4 4 4 - - 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 s d r a w a d e s a b – e r a h s d e r i p x e d n a i d e s c r e x e f o r e f s n a r T d n a y b s n o i t u b i r t n o c l t a o T s r e n w o o t s n o i t u b i r t s d i s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r t l t a o T s t s o c e u s s i e r a h S 1 8 7 9 8 5 , 1 3 5 2 9 3 , 8 2 3 , 1 1 2 2 4 , 7 7 1 0 , 1 3 8 1 5 , 2 4 1 5 6 9 , 4 5 6 5 , 7 0 0 , 9 5 9 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 t a e c n a a B l ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 43                                                                                                                                             l a t o T 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 ’ $ y t i r o n M i t s e r e t n I l a t o T 0 0 0 $ ’ i d e n a t e R y c n e r r u C r e h t O s n o i t p O e r a h S e r a h S i s g n n r a E e v r e s e R s e v r e s e R e v r e s e R i m u m e r P l a t i p a C 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ 0 0 0 ’ $ r e b m u N s e r a h s f o 4 0 7 , 7 1 4 9 0 3 1 , 5 9 3 , 6 1 4 0 6 5 , 1 2 2 6 9 2 , 9 1 2 2 4 , 7 7 4 3 , 3 3 3 4 6 , 2 3 1 7 2 1 , 2 4 4 2 , 5 3 8 , 8 2 8 0 0 2 y r a u n a J 1 t a e c n a a B l 8 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 d e d n e r a e y e h t r o f 6 7 6 , 4 6 3 9 1 3 8 4 , 4 6 3 8 4 , 4 6 ) 1 7 8 , 8 ( ) 5 5 9 ( 0 6 0 , 4 ) 6 0 6 , 7 2 ( 0 9 5 , 9 ) 2 8 7 3 2 ( , - - - - - - ) 1 7 8 , 8 ( 0 6 0 4 , ) 6 0 6 , 7 2 ( - - - ) 5 5 9 ( ) 5 5 9 ( 0 9 5 , 9 - 0 9 5 , 9 ) 2 8 7 , 3 2 ( ) 5 5 9 ( ) 6 1 0 , 8 1 ( - - - ) 6 0 6 , 7 2 ( 2 5 6 8 , - 3 2 2 7 , ) 8 3 1 ( 3 9 2 1 , - - - - - - - ) 2 0 5 , 1 ( ) 2 0 5 , 1 ( 2 5 6 , 8 - 3 2 2 , 7 ) 8 3 1 ( 3 9 2 1 , - - 8 2 5 , 5 1 8 2 5 5 1 , ) 2 0 5 , 1 ( ) 2 0 5 , 1 ( 0 3 0 , 7 1 0 3 0 , 7 1 - - - - - - 5 6 0 , 9 5 6 0 , 9 5 6 0 9 , - - - - - - - - - 4 9 8 0 4 , 3 9 1 1 0 7 , 0 4 8 2 5 3 6 , ) 6 1 0 , 8 1 ( - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ) 1 7 8 , 8 ( 0 6 0 , 4 - - - ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( 2 5 6 , 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 8 1 , 7 ) 2 5 7 , 2 ( ) 8 3 1 ( 6 8 2 , 1 - ) 5 6 0 , 9 ( - - ) 3 1 4 ( ) 3 1 4 ( 4 8 5 , 5 4 8 5 , 5 6 2 1 4 7 4 , - 6 2 1 , 4 7 4 3 5 1 4 9 2 , 0 8 2 , 1 2 2 4 , 7 3 2 1 , 8 2 7 2 2 , 8 3 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e m o c n i e v i s n e h e r p m o c l a t o T r a e y e h t r o f t i f o r P : r a e y e h t r o f : e m o c n I e v i s n e h e r p m o C r e h t O i e s c r e x e n o s s e c x e t i f e n e b x a T n o t n e m e v o m x a t d e r r e e D f s n o i t p o i d e s c r e x e n u s n o i t p o f o m r e t g n o l n o e g n a h c x e i n g e r o F i e v s n e h e r p m o c r e h o t l t a o T d e l t t e s s n a o l s t i f e n e b e e y o p m E l l n o i t a s n a r t y c n e r r u c i n g e r o F e m o c n i r o f e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c l t a o T , s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r T y t i u q e n i y l t c e r i d d e d r o c e r e r p s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E t n e m y a p d e s a b - e r a h S r a e y e h t 5 3 2 5 7 , 2 8 1 1 , 2 8 3 2 6 3 , 7 1 2 , 9 2 e u s s i s u n o b e u s s i s u n o B 7 - - - 4 9 7 , 2 4 9 7 , 2 1 2 9 , 4 - - - 1 7 4 , 3 8 t s o p s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E s t s o c e u s s i e r a h S e u s s i s u n o b s d r a w a d e s a b – e r a h s d e r i p x e d n a i d e s c r e x e f o r e f s n a r T d e r i u q c a t s e r e n t I y t i r o n M i d n a y b s n o i t u b i r t n o c l t a o T 1 5 9 , 2 8 6 , 9 2 s r e n w o o t s n o i t u b i r t s d i 1 5 9 , 2 8 6 , 9 2 s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r t l t a o T 5 9 1 , 8 1 5 , 8 5 8 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 t a e c n a a B l 4 2 e t o n n i p u t e s e r a e v o b a s e v r e s e r e h t f o s l i t a e d r e h t r u F ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 y t i u q E n i s e g n a h C f o t n e m e a S t t d e a d t i l o s n o C                                                                                                                                                                                                        Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2009 Profit for the financial year Adjustments to reconcile profit for the financial year to net cash generated from operating activities Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment Depreciation Amortisation of intangible assets Amortisation of grants Stock compensation expense Finance income Foreign exchange adjustment on long term loans settled Finance expense Defined benefit pension costs Income tax expense Operating cash inflow before changes in working capital Decrease/(increase) in accounts receivable Decrease in unbilled revenue Decrease/(increase) in other current assets Increase in other non current assets (Decrease)/increase in accounts payable Increase in inventory Increase in payments on account Increase in accrued and other liabilities Increase in non current other liabilities Cash provided by operations Income taxes paid Employer contribution defined benefit pension scheme Interest received Interest paid Net cash inflow from operating activities Investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment  Purchase of intangible assets Purchase of subsidiary undertakings and acquisition costs Cash acquired with subsidiary undertakings Sale of current asset investments Purchase of current asset investments Grant received Net cash used in investing activities Financing activities Drawdown of bank loan facilities Repayment of credit lines and facilities Tax benefit from the exercise of share options Proceeds from exercise of share options Share issuance costs Repayment of lease liabilities Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes Cash and cash equivalents at start of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Year ended  December 00 $’000 ,0 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 64,676  , 0, () ,0 (,) - ,  , ,0 ,0 , , (0) (,) (0) , 0, , , (,0) () 0 (,) ,00 (,) (,) (,)  , (,0) 0 (,) ,00 (,)  , () () (0,0) ,0 ,0 , ,0 256 19,833 7,895 (126) 8,652 (4,004) 10,977 4,959 (437) 19,944 132,625 (83,816) 2,168 (18,852) (39) 3,150 (766) 26,404 43,899 17 104,790 (21,026) (428) 2,909 (4,963) 81,282 (55,393) (12,489) (49,540) 549 14,026 (15,000) 400 (117,447) 58,925 (48,927) 4,060 8,516 (138) (99) 22,337 (13,828) (4,675) 76,881 58,378 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Company Statement of Financial Position  as at 31 December 2009 ASSETS Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets Investment in subsidiaries Deferred tax asset Total non-current assets Current assets Other current assets Current taxes receivable Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets Note 30(a) 30(b) 30(c) 30(d) 30(e)  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,  ,0 , , ,0 - - ,0 , 1,927 45 335,440 1,676 339,088 3,819 210 96,399 444 100,872 Total assets , 439,960 EQUITY Share capital  Share premium Options reserve Other reserves Functional currency translation reserve Retained earnings Attributable to equity holders Total equity LIABILITIES Non-current liabilities Bank credit lines and loan facilities Total non-current liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable Accrued and other liabilities Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings Bank credit lines and loan facilities Current taxes payable Total current liabilities Total liabilities Total equity and liabilities On behalf of the Board Thomas Lynch  Director Peter Gray  Director  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 , , , ,0 , ,0 ,0 4,921 138,227 28,123 6,071 33,924 112,646 323,912 ,0 323,912 - - 0 , ,0 -  , 65,186 65,186 684 9,619 - 40,193 366 50,862 , 116,048 , 439,960 22 30(f) 22 l t a o T y t i u q E 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ d e n a i t e R i s g n n r a E 0 0 0 $ ’ e v r e s e R y c n e r r u C 0 0 0 $ ’ r e h O t s e v r e s e R 0 0 0 $ ’ s n o i t p O e v r e s e R e r a h S e r a h S i m u m e r P l a t i p a C 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ r e b m u N s e r a h s f o 2 1 9 , 3 2 3 6 4 6 2 1 1 , 4 2 9 3 3 , 1 7 0 , 6 3 2 1 , 8 2 7 2 2 , 8 3 1 1 2 9 , 4 5 9 1 , 8 1 5 , 8 5 9 0 0 2 y r a u n a J 1 t a e c n a a B l 9 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 d e d n e r a e y e h t r o f y t i u q E n i s e g n a h C f o t n e m e a S t t y n a p m o C ) 6 2 4 , 2 ( ) 6 2 4 , 2 ( - ) 3 0 4 , 1 ( ) 3 0 4 , 1 ( - - ) 9 2 8 , 3 ( ) 6 2 4 , 2 ( ) 3 0 4 , 1 ( ) 3 0 4 , 1 ( ) 3 0 4 , 1 ( - ) 4 8 ( 5 8 0 8 , 9 1 4 4 , 0 2 4 , 2 1 0 2 4 , 2 1 - - - 9 8 2 6 , 9 8 2 6 , 9 8 2 6 , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 8 0 , 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 7 3 , 4 4 4 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 ) 9 8 2 , 6 ( - 6 9 7 , 1 6 9 7 , 1 1 9 2 , 4 1 9 2 , 4 ) 4 8 ( - - 4 4 4 4 - - 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 0 7 3 , 9 8 4 y t i u q e n i y l t c e r i d d e d r o c e r , s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r T r a e y e h t r o f e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c l t a o T e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c r e h o t l t a o T : r a e y e h t r o f s s o l e v i s n e h e r p m o c l a t o T s s o l e v i s n e h e r p m o c r e h t O l n o i t a s n a r t y c n e r r u c i n g e r o F r a e y e h t r o f s s o L s d r a w a d e s a b – e r a h s d e r i p x e d n a i d e s c r e x e f o r e f s n a r T s r e n w o o t s n o i t u b i r t s d i d n a y b s n o i t u b i r t n o c l t a o T s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r t l t a o T s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E t n e m y a p d e s a b - e r a h S s t s o c e u s s i e r a h S 3 0 5 , 2 3 3 9 0 5 , 6 1 1 1 2 5 2 3 , 1 7 0 , 6 9 1 9 , 9 2 8 1 5 , 2 4 1 5 6 9 , 4 5 6 5 , 7 0 0 , 9 5 9 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 t a e c n a a B l r a e y l i a c n a n i f e h t r o f s s o l e h T . t n e m e t a t s e m o c n i n w o s t i d e t n e s e r p t o n s a h y n a p m o C e h t , 3 6 9 1 i t c A s e n a p m o C e h t f o ) 8 ( 8 4 1 n o i t c e S y b d e t t i m r e p s A . ) 0 0 0 , 7 8 1 , 5 5 $ f o t i f o r P : 8 0 0 2 ( 0 0 0 , 6 2 4 , 2 $ o t d e t n u o m a y n a p m o C e h t y b d e n a e r t i ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                 l t a o T y t i u q E 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ d e n a i t e R i s g n n r a E 0 0 0 $ ’ e v r e s e R y c n e r r u C 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ 0 0 0 $ ’ r e h O t s n o i t p O e r a h S e r a h S s e v r e s e R e v r e s e R i m u m e r P l a t i p a C r e b m u N s e r a h s f o 9 9 6 , 7 4 2 8 0 1 6 5 , 2 5 0 6 1 , 2 2 4 7 , 7 4 3 , 3 3 3 4 6 , 2 3 1 7 2 1 , 2 4 4 2 , 5 3 8 , 8 2 8 0 0 2 y r a u n a J 1 t a e c n a a B l 7 8 1 , 5 5 7 8 1 , 5 5 ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( 2 7 8 , 7 1 1 6 0 , 3 1 8 4 2 , 8 6 - 2 5 6 , 8 3 2 2 , 7 ) 8 3 1 ( 3 9 2 , 1 ) 5 6 0 , 9 ( - 5 6 9 , 7 5 6 9 , 7 - - - 7 8 1 , 5 5 - - - - 1 5 3 , 1 1 5 3 , 1 1 5 3 , 1 - - 2 7 8 7 1 , 2 7 8 7 1 , 2 7 8 7 1 , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ) 1 5 3 , 1 ( ) 1 5 3 , 1 ( ) 1 5 3 , 1 ( - ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( - ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( ) 1 1 8 , 4 ( 2 5 6 , 8 - - - ) 3 1 4 ( ) 3 1 4 ( ) 5 6 0 , 9 ( - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - y t i u q e n i y l t c e r i d d e d r o c e r , s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r T r a e y e h t r o f e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c l t a o T t n e m y a p d e s a b - e r a h S : r a e y e h t r o f e m o c n i e v i s n e h e r p m o c l a t o T s n o i t p o f o i e s c r e x e n o s t i f e n e b x a T e m o c n i e v i s n e h e r p m o c r e h t O e m o c n i i e v s n e h e r p m o c r e h o t l t a o T l n o i t a s n a r t y c n e r r u c i n g e r o F r a e y e h t r o f t i f o r P 8 8 1 , 7 5 3 8 1 1 , 2 8 3 e u s s i s u n o b e r p s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E ) 2 5 7 , 2 ( 2 5 7 , 2 2 6 3 , 7 1 2 , 9 2 e u s s i s u n o B - - ) 8 3 1 ( 6 8 2 , 1 7 - - - 1 7 4 , 3 8 e u s s i s u n o b t s o p s n o i t p o e r a h s f o i e s c r e x E - - - s d r a w a d e s a b – e r a h s d e r i p x e d n a i d e s c r e x e f o r e f s n a r T e v r e s e r l a t i p a c f o e s a e e R l s t s o c e u s s i e r a h S 4 8 5 , 5 4 8 5 , 5 4 9 7 , 2 4 9 7 , 2 1 5 9 , 2 8 6 , 9 2 1 5 9 , 2 8 6 , 9 2 s r e n w o o t s n o i t u b i r t s d i d n a y b s n o i t u b i r t n o c l t a o T s r e n w o h t i w s n o i t c a s n a r t l t a o T 2 1 9 3 2 3 , 6 4 6 , 2 1 1 4 2 9 , 3 3 1 7 0 , 6 3 2 1 , 8 2 7 2 2 , 8 3 1 1 2 9 , 4 5 9 1 , 8 1 5 , 8 5 8 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 t a e c n a a B l r a e y l i a c n a n i f e h t r o f t i f o r p e h T . t n e m e a t s t e m o c n i n w o s t i d e t n e s e r p t o n s a h y n a p m o C e h t , 3 6 9 1 i t c A s e n a p m o C e h t f o ) 8 ( 8 4 1 n o i t c e s y b d e t t i m r e p s A . ) 0 0 0 , 4 6 9 , 2 $ : 7 0 0 2 ( 0 0 0 , 7 8 1 , 5 5 $ o t d e t n u o m a y n a p m o C e h t y b d e n a i t e r 8 0 0 2 r e b m e c e D 1 3 d e d n e r a e y e h t r o f y t i u q E n i s e g n a h C f o t n e m e a S t t y n a p m o C  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Company Statement of Cash Flows  for the year ended 31 December 2009 Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 (Loss)/profit for the financial year (,) 55,187 Adjustments to reconcile (loss)/profit for the financial year to net cash provided by operating activities: Loss on disposal of fixed asset Depreciation  Amortisation of intangible assets Stock compensation expense Interest on intercompany loans Dividend received from subsidiary undertaking Finance expense Income tax expense  Operating cash inflow before changes in working capital Decrease/(increase) in other current assets (Decrease)/increase in accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities Increase/(decrease) in income taxes payable Cash (used in)/provided by operations Interest paid Income taxes paid  Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities Investing activities Purchase of computer software Purchase of property, plant and equipment Net cash used by investing activities Financing activities Drawdown of bank credit lines and loan facilities Repayment of bank credit lines and loan facilities Increase/(decrease) in amounts due to/from subsidiary undertakings Dividends received from subsidiary undertaking Purchase of shares in subsidiary undertaking Proceeds from exercise of share options Share issuance costs Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes Cash and cash equivalents at start of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year     (,) - ,    (,)  () (,) () (,) () () (0) ,00 (,) 0, - - , () ,0 0 0  ,0 - 495 18 779 (1,888) (56,500) 4,097 850 3,038 (185) 5,071 (342) 7,582 (1,127) (815) 5,640 (34) (1,119) (1,153) 58,925 (48,927) 93,687 56,500 (172,639) 8,516 (138) (4,076) 411 (279) 312 444 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements  . Segmental information As of 1 January 2009 the Group determines and presents operating segments based on the information that  internally is provided to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who together are  considered the Group’s chief operating decision maker. This change in accounting policy is due to the  adoption of IFRS 8 Operating Segments. The Company’s primary listing for its shares is the NASDAQ market in  the United States. Consequently, information reviewed by the chief operating decision maker is prepared in  accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”). Reconciliations of the Group’s  profit for the financial year and shareholders equity from US GAAP to IFRS are set out on pages 108 to 110 of  this report. Operating segments were previously determined and presented in accordance with IAS 14 Segment Reporting. Historically, the Group organised, operated and assessed its business in two segments, the clinical  research segment and the central laboratory segment. The central laboratory segment results were based on  the results of the central laboratory in New York, USA, together with laboratory services based in Ireland, India  and Singapore. For the years ended 31 December 2007 and 31 December 2008, the central laboratory  division did not reach the thresholds of revenue, operating profit and total assets set forth in IFRS 8 as a  requirement for being reported as a separate segment; however, it continued to be reported as such.  Management have determined that its clinical research and central laboratory businesses operate in the same  clinical research market, have a similar customer profile, are subject to the same regulatory environment,  support the development of new clinical therapies and are so economically similar, reporting their results on an  aggregated basis would be more useful to users of the Company’s financial statements. Accordingly, in the  2008 comparatives included herein, the results of the former central laboratory segment have been  consolidated and reclassified into the clinical research segment. The new accounting policy in respect of segment operating disclosures is presented on page 39. Comparative segment information has been re-presented in conformity with the transitional requirements of  IFRS 8. Since the change in accounting policy only impacts presentation and disclosure aspects, there is no  impact on earnings per share. Information on the Clinical Research division is set out below: Clinical Research: External revenue Income from operations before depreciation & amortisation and one-time   net charges Depreciation and amortisation  One-time net charges Income from operations  Interest income Interest expense Income before provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Non-controlling interests (US GAAP) Year ended  December 00 US$’000 (US GAAP) Year ended 31 December 2008 US$’000 , 865,248 , (,) (,0) 0,  (,0) 0, (0,) - 127,232 (27,728) - 99,504 2,881 (4,105) 98,280 (19,967) (193) Net income , 78,120 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Segmental information (continued) Segment assets: Clinical research Segment Liabilities: Clinical research Capital expenditure: Clinical research (US GAAP)  December 00 US$’000 (US GAAP) 31 December 2008 US$’000 0, 867,285 , 410,919 , 72,124 Geographical segment information As stated above segment information was previously determined and presented in accordance with IAS 14  Segment Reporting. As of 1 January 2009 the Group determines and presents segment information, including  geographic segment information, in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments. Comparative segment  information has been re-presented in conformity with the transitional requirements of IFRS 8. External revenue Europe United States Rest of World Non-current assets Europe United States Rest of World Major customers Year ended  December 00 US$’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 US$’000 0, 0, , , ,0 , ,0 , 413,664 379,140 72,444 865,248 189,938 182,336 9,734 382,008 No one client accounted for more than 10% of revenue during the years ended 31 December 2009 and 31  December 2008. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Profit before taxation Profit before taxation is stated after charging the following: Auditors’ remuneration: Audit fees (1) Audit related fees (2) Tax fees (3) Total fees Directors’ emoluments Fees Other emoluments and benefits in kind Pension contributions Stock compensation expense  Total Directors’ emoluments Amortisation of intangible assets Depreciation of property, plant and equipment Operating lease rentals: Premises  Motor vehicles Plant and equipment  Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 ,   ,  ,   , 0, , ,0 , ,0 1,835 403 1,171 3,409 266 2,888 147 418 3,719 7,895 19,833 35,855 7,424 2,359 (1)  Audit fees include annual audit fees for ICON plc and subsidiaries. (2)  Audit related fees principally consist of fees for financial due diligence services and fees for audit of  financial statements of employee benefit plans. (3)  Tax fees are for tax compliance and tax consultation services. For additional information regarding Directors’ shareholdings, share options and compensation, please refer to  the Report on Directors’ Remuneration and note 8 – Payroll and related benefits.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Finance income Finance income: Interest receivable Foreign exchange gain on bank loans Defined benefit pension – expected return on plan assets All of the above relates to items not at fair value through profit and loss. . Finance expense Finance expense: Foreign exchange loss on bank loans Interest on bank overdraft and credit facilities Finance lease interest Defined benefit pension-interest cost Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000  - 0 , 2,881 60 1,063 4,004 Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 , ,0 0  , - 4,078 27  854 4,959 All of the above relates to items not at fair value through profit and loss . Income tax expense The components of the current and deferred tax expense for the years ended 31 December 2009 and 2008  were as follows: Current tax expense: Current year Under/(over) provided in prior years Deferred tax (credit)/charge: Origination and reversal of temporary differences (Under)/over provided in prior years Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 ,  , (,) (,0) 16,245 (429) 15,816 3,787 341 Total income tax expense in the income statement , 19,944 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Income tax expense (continued) The total tax expense of $11.2 million and $19.9 million for the years ended 31 December 2009 and 31  December 2008 respectively, reflects tax at standard rates on taxable profits in the jurisdictions in which ICON  operates, foreign withholding tax and the availability of tax losses. The deferred tax credit of $2.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2009 and the deferred tax charge of  $4.1 million for the year ended 31 December 2008, relate to deferred tax arising in respect of net operating  losses and temporary differences in capital items, certain goodwill and the timing of the deduction of share  option schemes for tax purposes. No deferred tax asset has been recognised on the defined benefit pension  scheme. A reconciliation of the expected tax expense, computed by applying the standard Irish tax rate to income  before tax to the actual tax expense, is as follows: Profit before tax Irish standard tax rate Taxes at Irish standard tax rate Reversal of prior year under provision in respect of current foreign taxes Foreign and other income taxed at higher rates Non deductible expenses Other Losses for which no benefit has been recognised Research and development tax incentives Tax expense on profit for the year Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 0, .% ,0 () 0,   ,0 (,) , 84,620 12.5% 10,578 (88) 6,933 520 507 1,494 - 19,944  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Income tax expense (continued) The net deferred tax asset at 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008 was as follows: Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Goodwill and related assets Other intangible assets Other  Accruals to cash method adjustment  Total deferred taxation liabilities Less: offset against deferred tax assets  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , , , 0  , (,) 5,667 5,112 1,219 1,008 546 13,552 (7,408) Deferred tax liability disclosed on balance sheet  6,144 Deferred taxation assets: Net operating losses carried forward Accrued expenses and payments on account Property, plant and equipment Deferred compensation Stock compensation expense Other Total deferred taxation assets Less: offset against deferred tax liabilities , ,   ,0  0,00 (,) 3,690 6,746 260 737 6,177 21 17,631 (7,408) Deferred tax asset disclosed on balance sheet , 10,223 Net deferred taxation asset ,0 4,079 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Income tax expense (continued) The movement in temporary differences during the year ended 31 December 2009 and 2008 was as follows: Balance  January 00 $’000 Recognised in Income $’000 Recognised in Equity $’000 Balance  December 00 $’000 Acquired $’000 Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Goodwill on acquisition Accruals to cash method adjustment Other intangible assets Other  Total deferred taxation liabilities Deferred taxation assets: Net operating loss carry forwards Accrued expenses and payments on  account Property, plant and equipment Deferred compensation Stock compensation expense Other Total deferred taxation assets Net deferred taxation asset 5,667 5,112 546 1,219 1,008 , 3,690 6,746 260 737 6,177 21 , ,0 - 718 - - -  - - - - - - - () 206 (338) (527) 93 (258) () (1,592) 2,482 93 210 285 214 , , - - (7) - - () 35 68 - - 611 3   , ,  , 0 , , ,   ,0  0,00 ,0 Balance  January 00 $’000 Recognised in Income $’000 Recognised in Equity $’000 Balance  December 00 $’000 Acquired $’000 Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Goodwill on acquisition Accruals to cash method adjustment Other intangible assets Other  Total deferred taxation liabilities Deferred taxation assets: Net operating loss carry forwards Accrued expenses and payments on  account Property, plant and equipment Deferred compensation Stock compensation expense Other Total deferred taxation assets Net deferred taxation asset 1,253 4,274 352 439 46 , 1,974 6,007 614 471 15,542 - ,0 , - - - 922 -  4,382 827 194 (217) 962 , 32 11 - 75  -  , ,  , ,00 , - 1,716  - ,0 - - - - -  - () 843 (332) 266 (494) 21 ,00 (,) (104)  (22)  - (8,871)  - (,) (,) , 0  ,  , ,0  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Income tax expense (continued) Unrecognised deferred tax assets At 31 December 2009, non-US subsidiaries had operating loss carry-forwards for income tax purposes that  may be carried forward indefinitely, available to offset against future taxable income, if any, of approximately  $34.8 million (31 December 2008: $21.5 million). At 31 December 2009, ICON Laboratory Inc., a U.S. subsidiary, had U.S. Federal and State net operating loss  carry forwards of approximately U.S.$6.7 million and U.S.$5.3 million, respectively (31 December 2008:  approximately $8.6 million and $6.9 million). These net operating losses are available for offset against future  taxable income and expire between 2010 and 2029. Of the U.S. $6.7 million U.S. Federal and U.S. $5.3 million  State net operating losses, approximately U.S.$5.5 million and U.S.$4.0 million are currently available for offset  against future U.S. Federal and State taxable income respectively. The subsidiary’s ability to use the remaining  U.S. Federal and State net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forwards of U.S.$1.2 million and U.S.$1.2 million  respectively is limited to U.S. $113,000 per year due to the subsidiary experiencing a change of ownership in  2000, as defined by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Certain of the deferred tax assets relating to net operating losses have not been recognised to the extent that it  is considered unlikely that a benefit will be received in the future. In total, the Group has unrecognised deferred tax assets at 31 December 2009 of $10.4 million and $5.9 million  at 31 December 2008. The Company has not recognised the remaining deferred tax assets because it believes  that it is more likely than not that the losses and other deferred tax assets will not be utilised given their history  of operating losses. Unrecognised deferred tax liabilities At 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008 respectively, there were no recognised or unrecognised  deferred tax liabilities for taxes that would be payable on the unremitted earnings of certain of the Group’s  subsidiaries. The Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences of its  subsidiaries and it is probable that these temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. . Earnings per share The following table sets forth the computation for basic and diluted net earnings per share for the year ended  31 December 2009: Numerator computations Basic and diluted earnings per share Profit for the financial year Profit attributable to minority interest  Profit attributable to equity holders   December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 - ,0 64,676 (193) 64,483 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Earnings per share (continued) Denominator computations Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding - basic ,, 58,245,240 Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares ,0,0 2,573,720 Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding - diluted 0,,0 60,818,960  December 00 31 December 2008 Number of Shares Earnings per Share Basic earnings per ordinary share Diluted earnings per ordinary share  December 00 $ 31 December 2008 $ . . 1.11 1.06 The Company had 3,060,584 anti-dilutive shares in issue at 31 December 2009 (31 December 2008:  1,219,170). . One-time net charges One-time net charges recognised during the year ended 31 December 2009 comprise: Restructuring charge Research and development incentives Net Charge Restructuring Charge  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 (,) ,0 - - - In response to the globalisation of clinical studies and its attendant impact on resources in existing and  emerging markets, the Company conducted a review of its existing infrastructure during the three months  ended 30 June 2009 to better align its resources with the needs of its clients. On conclusion, a program of  restructuring activities was initiated which resulted in resource rationalisations in certain more mature markets  in which the Company operates and the recognition of an initial restructuring charge of $13.4 million. It is  anticipated that activities associated with the restructuring program will be completed during the year ended  31 December 2010.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . One-time net charges (continued) Restructuring costs recognised during the year ended 31 December 2009 were as follows: Initial provision recognised Amounts released Net provision recognised Cash payments Property, plant and equipment write-off  Closing provision  Research and Development Incentives Workforce Reductions $’000 Office Consolidations $’000 4,886 - 4,886 (4,392) - 494 8,548 (133) 8,415 (4,105) (1,408) 2,902 Total $’000 13,434 (133) 13,301 (8,497) (1,408)  3,396 During the year ended 31 December 2009, the Group received research and development incentives in certain  European Union jurisdictions in which it operates. Income of $4.5 million has been recognised within one-time  net charges for the year ended 31 December 2009, in respect of these incentives. . Payroll and related benefits The aggregate payroll costs of employees of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2009 was as follows: Wages and salaries Social welfare costs Pension costs for defined contribution pension schemes Pension costs for defined benefit pension schemes Share-based payment* Total charge to income Actuarial losses recognised on defined benefit pension scheme Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 , ,0  ,0 ,0  455,557 57,599  14,871 (643)  8,652  536,036 955 Total payroll and related benefit costs ,0 536,991 * IFRS 2 Share- Based Payments requires that the fair value of options is calculated and amortised over the vesting period of the related option. A compensation expense of $8.1 million was recognised in respect of the year ended 31 December 2009. The compensation expense for the year ended 31 December 2008 was $8.7 million. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Payroll and related benefits (continued) The average number of employees, including Executive Directors, employed by the Group for the year ended  31 December 2009 was as follows: Marketing Administration Clinical research processing Laboratory Total Directors’ remuneration Year ended  December 00 Year ended 31 December 2008 0 , ,0  ,0 163 1,127 4,871 391 6,552 Information in relation to the Directors’ shareholdings and share options is included in the Report on Directors’  Remuneration on pages 21 to 26. Dr. John Climax, one of the Company’s co-founders, served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from  November 2002 to December 2009. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from June 1990  to October 2002 and as an Executive Director from June 1990 to December 2009. On 31 December 2009,   Dr. Climax retired as Chairman of the Board of the Company and his service agreement with the Company   (the “Dr. Climax Service Agreement”) ended. Since January 2010, he has held a position as a non-Executive- Director of the Company. The Dr. Climax Service Agreement provided for a bonus, a pension contribution, a twelve month notice period,  two company cars and medical insurance cover for himself and his dependants. At 30 April 2010, Dr. Climax  held 126,000 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33 per share. The arrangements relating to Dr. Climax’s retirement were set out in an agreement entered into between   the Company and Dr. Climax in December 2009 (the “December Agreement”). Pursuant to the December  Agreement, Dr. Climax received, having regard to the Dr. Climax Service Agreement (which terminated  pursuant to the December agreement), a payment of €830,000 ($1,200,620) and a pension contribution of  €170,000 ($252,620). In addition, and also pursuant to the December Agreement, he received an ex-gratia  pension contribution for past service of €220,308 ($327,378), the acceleration of vesting of unvested share  options and the transfer to him of two company cars. The payments and contributions set out in this paragraph  are included in the amounts listed for Dr. Climax in the Summary Compensation Table – Year Ended   31 December 2009 on page 61. The aggregate remuneration, including pension contributions, paid to or accrued for all Directors for the year  ended 31 December 2009 was $5,792,478 (year ended 31 December 2008: $3,719,300). Remuneration of  individual Directors is set out on page 61. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) l t a o T s r o t c e r i D d e s a b - e r a h S r e h t o l l A d e t a e r l i n o s n e p y r a a S l n o i t a s n e p m o c s e e F s t n e m y a p l a t o t b u S l a t o t b u S n o i t a s n e p m o c n o i t a s n e p m o c n o i t u b i r t n o c e m a N ) $ ( D S U 3 2 2 9 8 , 4 3 6 1 3 5 , , 1 0 5 0 3 5 7 , , 3 5 3 3 8 6 , 5 1 3 , 1 0 1 5 1 3 , 1 0 1 6 2 1 6 8 , 5 4 5 7 4 , 5 3 9 3 1 , ) $ ( D S U 0 0 0 6 6 , - - - 0 0 0 8 4 , 0 0 0 8 7 , 0 0 0 8 7 , 0 5 7 1 5 , 0 5 7 1 4 , ) $ ( D S U 3 2 2 3 2 , 1 3 0 4 7 1 , 0 4 9 0 0 4 , 5 3 3 0 2 , 5 1 3 3 2 , 5 1 3 3 2 , 6 7 3 4 3 , 5 9 7 5 , 5 3 9 3 1 , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ) $ ( D S U - ) € ( o r u E - ) € ( o r u E 3 0 6 , 7 5 3 , 1 2 0 1 , 5 7 9 2 0 3 , 8 3 0 1 1 , 2 5 3 , 3 0 0 8 , 4 4 3 , 2 2 9 4 , 4 5 9 - ) € ( o r u E 0 0 5 , 7 8 3 0 0 0 , 0 5 3 - ) € ( o r u E 0 0 3 , 9 4 8 0 3 , 0 4 4 - ) € ( o r u E 0 0 0 , 0 0 5 0 0 0 , 0 0 6 e b m a L n a n o R h c n y L s a m o h T s t r e b o R d r a w d E r e h e l l e K t o m r e D y h p r u M y n o h n A t i h c u g H i i j u h S i n e v G e c u r B x a m i l C n h o J y a r G t r e e P       , ,  0 0     ,       ,    ,  0  ,   0  ,    ,     ,    0 0  ,     0  ,    0 0 0 , 0 0  ,  l a t o T . e m e h c s i n o s n e p n o i t u b i r t n o c d e n i f e d a o t y n a p m o C e h t y b i d a p s n o i t u b i r t n o c t n e s e r p e r e v o b a s n o i t u b i r t n o c i n o s n e p e h T * l t a o T s r o t c e r i D d e s a b - e r a h S l a t o t b u S r e h t o l l A d e t a e r l i n o s n e p e c n a m r o f r e P y n a p m o C  0 0  r e b m e c e D   d e d n e r a e Y - e l b a t n o i t a s n e p m o c y r a m m u S e c n a m r o f r e P y n a p m o C  0 0  r e b m e c e D   d e d n e r a e Y - e l b a t n o i t a s n e p m o c y r a m m u S ) d e u n i t n o c ( s t i f e n e b d e t a e r l d n a l l o r y a P .  ) $ ( D S U 8 3 5 7 6 6 , , 1 3 0 0 8 8 4 , , 1 8 9 2 6 8 1 , 4 8 0 8 8 , 4 8 0 8 9 , 4 8 0 3 7 , 1 3 6 5 7 , 8 7 5 2 4 , n o i t a s n e p m o c - - ) $ ( s e e F D S U 0 0 0 0 4 , 0 0 0 5 5 , 0 0 0 5 6 , 0 0 0 0 4 , 0 0 0 5 4 , 0 0 0 1 2 , ) $ ( D S U 8 9 2 9 0 1 , 0 4 1 9 2 1 , s t n e m y a p 7 4 1 , 8 2 4 8 0 , 3 3 4 8 0 , 3 3 4 8 0 , 3 3 1 3 6 , 0 3 8 7 5 , 1 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ) $ ( D S U ) € ( o r u E ) € ( o r u E 0 4 2 , 8 5 5 , 1 0 8 2 , 7 1 1 , 1 0 8 2 , 2 6 1 5 1 , 8 1 1 0 0 0 , 0 8 3 6 8 , 8 5 3 , 1 0 8 6 , 6 7 9 0 8 3 , 3 4 0 0 0 , 0 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ) € ( o r u E 0 0 0 , 5 0 4 0 0 5 , 7 8 3 ) € ( o r u E 0 0 0 , 0 5 0 0 3 , 9 4 ) € ( o r u E 0 0 0 , 0 0 6 0 0 5 , 6 9 4 e b m a L n a n o R h c n y L s a m o h T s t r e b o R d r a w d E i h c u g H i i j u h S i n e v G e c u r B r e h e l l e K t o m r e D x a m i l C n h o J y a r G t r e e P l a t o t b u S n o i t a s n e p m o c n o i t a s n e p m o c n o i t u b i r t n o c y r a a S l e m a N 0 0     , ,  0 0 0    ,   0    ,    ,   0 ,  0   ,    ,  0   ,    0 0  ,    0 0  ,   0 0  ,   0 ,  l a t o T e m e h c s i n o s n e p n o i t u b i r t n o c d e n i f e d a o t y n a p m o C e h t y b i d a p s n o i t u b i r t n o c t n e s e r p e r e v o b a s n o i t u b i r t n o c i n o s n e p e h T * ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009                                                                                                                                  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Retirement Benefit Obligations The Group operates a number of defined contribution schemes and a defined benefit pension scheme.  The Group accounts for pensions in accordance with IAS 19 Employee Benefits (“IAS 19”). (i) Defined Contribution Schemes Certain employees of the Group are eligible to participate in a defined contribution plan (the “Plan”).  Participants in the Plan may elect to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings into a pension plan, which   is run by an independent party. The Group matches each participant’s contributions typically at 6% of the  participant’s annual compensation. Contributions to this plan are recorded, as a remuneration expense in the  Consolidated Income Statement. Contributions for the year ended 31 December 2009 and year ended 31  December 2008 were $14,241,000 and $10,372,000 respectively. The Group’s United States operations maintain a retirement plan (the “U.S. Plan”) that qualifies as a deferred  salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants in the U.S. Plan may elect  to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings, up to the Internal Revenue Service annual contribution limit. The  Company matches 50% of each participant’s contributions; each participant can contribute up to 6% of their  annual compensation. Contributions to this U.S. Plan are recorded, in the year contributed, as an expense in  the Consolidated Income Statement. Contributions for the year ended 31 December 2009 and year ended 31  December 2008 were $5,189,000 and $4,499,000 respectively. (ii) Defined Benefit Plans One of the Group’s subsidiaries, ICON Development Solutions Limited, which was acquired by the Group in  2003, operates a defined benefit pension plan in the United Kingdom for certain of its employees, which is now  closed to new members. The plan is managed externally and the related pension costs and liabilities are  assessed in accordance with the advice of a professionally qualified actuary. Plan assets at 31 December  2009 and 31 December 2008 consist of units held in independently administered funds. The most recent  valuation of plan obligations was carried out as at 1 September 2007 using the projected unit credit method  and updated on an appropriate basis at 31 December 2009. The principal actuarial assumptions used for the purpose of the actuarial valuations were as follows: Financial assumptions Discount rate Expected return on plan assets Inflation rate Future pension increases Future salary increases  December 00 31 December 2008 .0% .0% .0% .0% .00% 6.40% 6.80% 3.10% 3.00% 4.20%  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 9. Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued) Mortality assumptions The mortality assumptions adopted at 31 December 2009 imply the following life expectancies at age 62  (2008: 62): Male currently age 40 Female currently age 40 Male currently age 62 Female currently age 62 31 December 2009 31 December 2008 24.4 years 27.0 years 26.5 years 29.0 years 25.1 years 27.9 years 23.9 years 26.8 years Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 2009 in respect of  defined benefit pension schemes are as follows: Present value of benefit obligations Fair value of plan assets Present value of net plan assets Actuarial gains/losses Experience adjustments on plan assets Experience adjustments on plan liabilities Effects of changes in demographic and financial assumptions underlying  the present value of plan liabilities Total Actuarial loss in year 31 December 2009 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 (13,686) 13,573 (113) 1,460 - (2,079) (619) (10,114) 10,392 278 (2,923) - 1,968 (955) Cumulative net actuarial gains reported in the Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense  from the date of transition, 1 June 2004, to 31 December 2009 amounted to $0.7 million (31 December 2008:  net gains of $1.3 million). Amounts recognised in periodic pension cost in the Consolidated Income Statement during the year ended   31 December 2009 in respect of defined benefit pension schemes were are follows: Current service cost Interest cost Plan Curtailments Amortisation of prior service costs Expected return on plan assets Net periodic pension charge/(credit) Year ended 31 December 2009 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 182 673 - 102 (740) 217 437 854 (871) - (1,063) (643) The actual return on plan assets amounted to a gain of $2.20 million (2008: loss of $1.89 million). ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 63 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued) Changes in the net asset/(deficit) of the plan during the period were as follows: Net asset in scheme at start of year Movement in year Current service cost Contributions paid Other finance (income)/expense, net Plan Curtailments Amortisation of prior service costs Actuarial loss Foreign exchange rate changes Net (deficit)/asset in scheme at end of year Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000  ()   - (0) ()  () 254 (437) 428 211 871 - (955) (94) 278 Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations of the plan are as follows: Projected benefit obligation at start of year 0, 15,216 Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 Service cost Interest cost Plan participants’ contributions Actuarial loss Benefits paid Plan curtailments Plan amendments Foreign exchange rate changes Projected benefit obligation at end of year   0 ,0 () - 0 , , 437 854 207 (1,968) (75) (871) - (3,686) 10,114  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued) Changes in the fair value of the plans’ assets during the year ended 31 December 2009 were as follows: Fair value of plan assets at start of year Expected return on plan assets Actuarial gain/(loss) on plan assets Employer contribution Plan participants’ contributions Benefit paid Foreign exchange movements Fair value of plan assets at end of year Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 0, 0 ,0  0 () , , 15,470 1,063 (2,923) 428 209 (75) (3,780) 10,392 The fair value of plan assets at 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008 is analysed as follows: Unit funds  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , 10,392 The plan’s assets do not include any of the Group’s own financial instruments, nor any property occupied by, or  other assets used by the Group. The assets of the scheme are invested in a unitised with profits policy. The expected long-term rate of return on  assets at 31 December 2009 of 7.4% (2008: 6.8%) was calculated on the assumption of the following returns  for each asset class: Equities Bonds  December 00 31 December 2008 .% .% 7.0% 4.8% At 31 December 2009, UK gilts were yielding around 4.5% per annum. This is often referred to as the risk free  rate of return as UK gilts have a negligible risk of default and the income payments and capital on redemption  are guaranteed by the UK Government. The long-term expected return on equities has been determined by  setting appropriate risk premiums above the yield on UK gilts. A long term equity “risk-premium” of 3.1% per  annum has been assumed, this being the expected long-term out-performance of equities over UK gilts. The  long-term expected return on bonds is determined by reference to UK long dated government and corporate  bond yields at the balance sheet date. This is represented by the iboxx AA 15 year plus return. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued) The underlying asset split of the funds at 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008 was as follows: Equities Bonds  December 00 31 December 2008 0% 0% 90% 10% Applying the above expected long term rates of return to the asset distribution at 31 December 2009, gives  rise to an expected overall rate of return of scheme assets of approximately 7.4% (2008: 6.8%) per annum. The history of the Group’s defined benefit pension scheme is as follows: Present value of benefit  obligations Fair value of plan assets Present value of net plan  (obligations)/assets 31 December 2009 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 31 December 2007 $’000 31 December 2006 $’000 31 December 2005 $’000 (13,686) 13,573 (10,114) 10,392 (15,216) 15,470 (17,816) 13,092 (13,243) 8,092 (113) 278 254 (4,724) (5,151) Actuarial gain/(loss) on Asset Actuarial (loss)/gain on liability Total actuarial (loss)/gain 1,460 (2,079) (619) (2,923) 1,968 (955) 654 4,722 5,376 639 (1,015) (376) 79 (1,874) (1,795) In accordance with the transitional provisions for the amendment to IAS 19 in December 2004, the disclosures  in the above table are determined prospectively for the 1 June 2004 to 31 May 2005 reporting period. The Group expects to contribute approximately $0.4 million of normal contribution to the defined benefit  pension scheme for the year ended 31 December 2010. 0. Share Options On 17 January 2003, the Company adopted the Share Option Plan 2003, or the 2003 Plan, pursuant to which  the Compensation and Organisation Committee of the Board may grant options to employees of the Company  or its subsidiaries for the purchase of ordinary shares. Each grant of an option under the 2003 Plan will be  evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the optionee and the Company. The exercise price will be  specified in each Stock Option Agreement, however option prices will not be less than 100% of the fair market  value of an ordinary share on the date the option is granted. An aggregate of 6.0 million ordinary shares have been reserved under the 2003 Plan; and, in no event will the  number of ordinary shares that may be issued pursuant to options awarded under the 2003 Plan exceed 10%  of the outstanding shares, as defined in the 2003 Plan, at the time of the grant. Further, the maximum number  of ordinary shares with respect to which options may be granted under the 2003 Plan during any calendar year  to any employee shall be 400,000 ordinary shares. No options can be granted after 17 January 2013. Share option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s ordinary  shares at date of grant. Share options typically vest over a period of five years from date of grant and expire eight  years from date of grant.   ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 0. Share Options (continued) On 21 July 2008, the Company adopted the Employee Share Option Plan 2008 (the “2008 Employee Plan”)  pursuant to which the Compensation and Organisation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors may  grant options to any employee, or any director holding a salaried office or employment with the Company or a  Subsidiary for the purchase of ordinary shares. On the same date, the Company also adopted the Consultants  Share Option Plan 2008 (the “2008 Consultants Plan”), pursuant to which the Compensation and Organisation  Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors may grant options to any consultant, adviser or non-Executive  director retained by the Company or any Subsidiary for the purchase of ordinary shares. Each option granted  under the 2008 Employees Plan or the 2008 Consultants Plan (together the “2008 Option plans”) will be  evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the optionee and the Company. The exercise price will be  specified in each Stock Option Agreement, however option prices will not be less than 100% of the fair market  value of an ordinary share on the date the option is granted. An aggregate of 6.0 million ordinary shares have been reserved under the 2008 Employee Plan as reduced by  any shares issued or to be issued pursuant to options granted under the 2008 Consultants Plan, under which a  limit of 400,000 shares applies. Further, the maximum number of ordinary shares with respect to which options  may be granted under the 2008 Employee Option Plan during any calendar year to any employee shall be  400,000 ordinary shares. There is no individual limit under the 2008 Consultants Option Plan. No options may  be granted under the plans after 21 July 2018. On 21 July 2008, the Company adopted the the 2008 Employees Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “2008 RSU  Plan”) pursuant to which the Compensation and Organisation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors  may select any employee, or any director holding a salaried office or employment with the Company or a  Subsidiary to receive an award under the plan. An aggregate of 1.0 million ordinary shares have been reserved  for issuance under the 2008 RSU Plan. Awards under the 2008 RSU may be settled in cash or shares. Set out below is a summary of the total number of options outstanding and number of options available to  grant under each plan as at 31 December 2009: Outstanding Available to Grant  December 00 31 December 2008  December 00 31 December 2008 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan 2003 Stock Option Plan 2008 Stock Option Plan Total ,0, ,,0 ,000 1,298,161 3,924,102 - ,0, 5,222,263 - , ,,000 ,00, - 1,117,450 6,000,000 7,117,450 The 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan expired on 14 January 2008 and no further options may be granted under  this plan. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 0. Share Options (continued) The total number of share options outstanding and exercisable at 31 December 2009 is as follows: Outstanding at 31 December 2007 Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding at 31 December 2008 Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding at 31 December 2009 Exercisable at 31 December 2009 Number of Options * Weighted Average Exercise Price * 4,976,126 1,282,190 (847,707) (188,346) 5,222,263 932,133 (489,370) (256,804) 5,408,222 2,503,535 $12.27 $35.25 $10.05 $20.45 $17.98 $21.50 $9.03 $26.60 $18.99 $13.64 *Comparative figures have been amended to reflect the Bonus Issue which took place with an effective date of  8 August 2008 At 31 December 2009, the range of exercise prices and weighted average remaining contractual life of  outstanding and exercisable options was as follows: Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range Exercise Price Number of Shares Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Number of Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price $7.00 $7.25 $8.60 $8.88 $10.42 $11.00 $15.47 $15.84 $17.30 $18.00 191,730 1,200 838,650 410,659 60,000 821,399 900 103,000 24,000 90,000 1.08 0.08 3.17 2.17 4.08 4.17 7.33 7.33 4.67 4.08 $7.00 $7.25 $8.60 $8.88 $10.42 $11.00 $15.47 $15.84 $17.30 $18.00 191,730 1,200 697,266 410,659 60,000 454,671 - - 14,400 50,000 $7.00 $7.25 $8.60 $8.88 $10.42 $11.00 $15.47 $15.84 $17.30 $18.00  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 0. Share Options (continued) Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range Exercise Price Number of Shares Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Number of Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price $18.98 $19.94 $21.25 $21.76 $22.10 $22.26 $22.60 $26.27 $35.33 $36.05 $36.20 $41.25 9,000 2,000 960,180 2,450 11,000 779,398 2,000 6,000 1,085,656 6,000 2,000 1,000 $7.00 - $41.25  5,408,222 6.92 7.17 5.17 5.33 7.58 7.17 5.67 6.83 6.17 6.42 6.33 6.67 4.84 $18.98 $19.94 $21.25 $21.76 $22.10 $22.26 $22.60 $26.27 $35.33 $36.05 $36.20 $41.25 $18.99 1,800 - 396,144 980 - - 800 1,200 220,585 1,500 400 200 2,503,535 $18.98 $19.94 $21.25 $21.76 $22.10 $22.26 $22.60 $26.27 $35.33 $36.05 $36.20 $41.25 $13.64 The overall weighted average fair value of share options granted by the Company during the year ended   31 December 2009 was $9.35 based on the following grants: Grant Date 25-Feb-09 2-Mar-09 30-Apr-09 1- May-09 24-Jul-09 Number of Shares Weighted Average Share price 815,233 2,000 103,000 900 11,000 932,133 $22.26 $19.94 $15.84 $15.47 $22.10 $21.54 The overall weighted average fair value of share options granted by the Company during the year ended 31  December 2008 was $13.01 based on the following grants: Grant Date 26-Feb-08 2-May-08 26-May-08 1-Aug-08 1-Sep-08 24-Oct-08 14-Nov-08 Number of Shares Weighted Average Share price 1,236,190 2,000 6,000 20,000 1,000 8,000 9,000 1,282,190 $35.33 $36.20 $36.04 $40.81  $41.25 $26.27 $18.98 $35.25 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 0. Share Options (continued) The fair values of options granted during the year ended 31 December 2009 and the year ended 31 December  2008 were calculated using a binomial option-pricing-model, using the following assumptions: Weighted average share price Weighted average exercise price Expected volatility (1) Expected dividend yield Risk-free rate (2) Rate of forced early exercise Year ended  December 00 Year ended 31 December 2008 $. $. % - .%-.% 0% p.a. $35.25 $35.25 35% - 3.3% 10% p.a. Minimum gain for voluntary early exercise  % of exercise price 25% of exercise price Rate of voluntary early exercise at minimum gain  0% per annum 60% per annum (1)  Expected volatility has been determined based upon the volatility of the Company’s share price over a  period which is commensurate with the expected term of the options granted. (2)  Risk free rate is dependant on the grant date. On 7 August 2008, the Company issued 6,280 restricted share units to certain employees of the Group. These  shares are exercisable over periods ranging from 26 February 2009, to 26 February 2011. The market value of  the Company’s shares on date of issue was $41.95. Operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2009, is stated after charging $8.1 million in respect of non- cash stock compensation expense. Non-cash stock compensation expense has been allocated to direct costs  and other operating expenses as follows: Direct costs Other operating expenses Total compensation costs Year Ended  December 00 $’000 Year Ended 31 December 2008 $’000 , ,0 ,0 4,767 3,885 8,652 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Property, Plant and Equipment Land $’000 Buildings $’000 Leasehold improvements $’000 Computer equipment $’000 Office furniture & fixtures $’000 Laboratory equipment $’000 Motor vehicles $’000 Total $’000 Group Cost At 1 January 2009 3,850 Additions  Disposals  Arising on acquisition Foreign currency  adjustment 75,562 3,039 - - 15,060 9,757 (816) 16 59,863 5,376 (580) 15 53,048 1,983 (2,209) 41 18,582 2,343 (340) 289 - - - 129 1,708 745 1,348 1,448 954 106 226,071 - 22,498 (63) (4,008) - - 361 6,332 At  December 00 , 0,0 , ,0 , ,  , Depreciation At 1 January 2009 Charge for year Eliminated on disposal Foreign currency  adjustment At  December 00 - - - - - Net book value At  December 00 , 3,747 2,152 - 133 7,921 3,153 (608) 37,274 8,651 (411) 19,170 6,254 (1,320) 7,723 2,338 (79) 270 881 757 405 74 75,909 (56) 22,492 - - (2,418) 2,446 ,0 0, , , 0,  , , ,0 , ,0 ,  , At 31 December 2008 3,850 71,815 7,139 22,589 33,878 10,859 32 150,162 Total asset cost at 31 December 2009 includes $907,000 (31 December 2008: $1,054,000) relating to  computer equipment held under finance leases. Related accumulated depreciation amounted to $357,000   (31 December 2008: $303,000). Depreciation expense of $22.5 million (31 December 2008: $19.8 million) has  been charged in ‘other operating expenses’ in the Consolidated income statement. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Property, Plant and Equipment (continued) Land $’000 Buildings $’000 Leasehold improvements $’000 Computer equipment $’000 Office furniture & fixtures $’000 Laboratory equipment $’000 Motor vehicles $’000 Total $’000 Group Cost At 1 January 2008 4,100 Additions  Disposals  Arising on acquisition Foreign currency  adjustment 62,631 16,413 - - 12,843 4,309 (957) 232 49,106 14,208 (267) 23 40,463 16,827 (477) 24 11,179 7,372 126 180,448 91 59,220 - (108) (1,809) 2,648 14 2,941 - - - (250) (3,482) (1,367) (3,207) (3,789) (2,617) (17) (14,729) At  December 00 ,0 , ,00 , ,0 , 0 ,0 Depreciation At 1 January 2008 Charge for year Eliminated on disposal Foreign currency  adjustment At  December 00 - - - - - Net book value At  December 00 ,0 2,498 1,390 - 5,892 3,247 (747) 31,230 8,146 (227) 16,135 5,156 (271) 6,913 1,817 97 77 62,765 19,833 - (83) (1,328) (141) (471) (1,875) (1,850) (1,007) (17) (5,361) , , , ,0 ,  ,0 , , , , 0,  0, At 31 December 2007 4,100 60,133 6,951 17,876 24,328 4,266 29 117,683 Total asset cost at 31 December 2008 includes $1,054,000 (31 December 2007: $1,043,000) relating to  computer equipment held under finance leases. Related accumulated depreciation amounted to $303,000   (31 December 2007: $869,000). Building additions for the year ended 31 December 2008 includes   $885,000 interest capitalised. These assets were completed in 2008. Depreciation expense of $19.8 million   (31 December 2007: $13.4 million) has been charged in ‘other operating expenses’ in the consolidated income  statement.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) 12. Intangible assets – goodwill and other Computer Software $’000 Customer Relationships $’000 Volunteer List $’000 Order Backlog $’000 Goodwill $’000 Total $’000 Group Cost: At 1 January 2008 Additions Arising on acquisition Foreign exchange  movement  At 1 January 2009 Additions Disposal Arising on acquisition Prior period acquisition Foreign exchange  movement  31 December 2009 Accumulated amortisation: At 1 January 2008 Amortised in the year Foreign exchange  movement At 1 January 2009 Amortised in the year Disposal Foreign exchange  movement 56,250 11,518 (36) - - 1,014 68,746 35,086 7,441 (19) 774 At 31 December 2009 43,282 Net book value 45,447 12,491 - 2,155 - 8,940 - - 1,325 (1,688) (90) - 11,005 1,325 - - 352 240 47 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,470 137,888 185,490 - 55,674 12,491 65,939 (10,209) (11,987) 183,353 251,933 - - 1,584 (836) 11,518 (36) 1,936 874 - 3,476 4,537 11,644 1,325 1,470 187,577 270,762 29,704 6,485 360 1,220 (1,103) (64) - 190 - 190 217 - - - - - - 493 - - 407 493 - - - - - - - - 30,064 7,895 (1,167) 36,792 10,167 (19) 823 47,763 1,516 2,016 - 49 3,581 At 31 December 2009 25,464 8,063 918 977 187,577 222,999 At 31 December 2008 21,164 9,489 1,135 - 183,353 215,141 Amortisation of $10.2 million (31 December 2008: $7.9 million) is included in ‘other operating expenses’ in the  income statement. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 73 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Intangible assets – goodwill and other Two cash generating units have been identified by the Group as follows: Clinical Research  Central Laboratory 00 $’000 2008 $’000 , 183,353 - - , 183,353 An impairment charge of the carrying value of the goodwill of the central laboratory cash generating unit was  recorded in a prior period. The recoverable amount of the clinical research cash generating unit is based on a  value in use computation. This is determined based upon the present value of expected future cash flows for  the cash generating unit for a period of five years forward from date of review. Key assumptions used in  determining expected future cash flows include management’s estimate of future profitability, replacement  capital expenditure requirements, trade working capital investment needs and tax considerations.  Management’s estimates are based upon past experience and expected growth rates for the industry.  Management has assumed an expected growth rate in revenues of 7% (2008: 12%) in each of the five years  and an expected growth rate in costs of 5% in each of the five years. At the end of the five year period terminal  values for each CGU, based on a price earnings ratio of 12 (2008: 12), are used in the calculations. The  cashflows and terminal values are discounted using a discount rate of 15% (2008: 12.5%). A sensitivity  analysis was performed using a discount rate of 20% and resulted in excess of recoverable amount over the  carrying value of the cash generating unit. At the year end no reasonable change made in assumptions could  result in an impairment.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Business Combinations The Group adopted the revised IFRS 3 Business Combinations in 2009 and applied it prospectively from 1  January 2009. The revised standard continues to apply the acquisition method to business combinations but  with some significant changes including the requirement for all acquisition-related costs to be expensed. The  adoption of the revised IFRS 3 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results from  operations. The acquisitions of Qualia Clinical Services Inc. and Veeda Laboratories Ltd. have been accounted  for as a business combination in accordance with the revised IFRS 3. (a) Acquisition of Qualia Clinical Services Inc. and Veeda Laboratories Ltd. During the year ended 31 December 2009, the Group completed the acquisitions of Qualia Clinical Services,  Inc., a Phase 1 facility located in Omaha, Nebraska and Veeda Laboratories Limited, a specialist provider of  biomarker laboratory services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, located in Oxford,  United Kingdom, neither of which are considered individually significant. In aggregate, the total cash  consideration for these acquisitions was approximately $2.2 million. The excess of the consideration paid over  the carrying value of the assets acquired of $0.6 million, has been recorded as goodwill of $1.6 million. The following table summarises the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Property, plant and equipment Cash  Other current assets  Current liabilities Non current liabilities Goodwill Intangible assets- customer relationships Purchase price Carrying Amount $’000 Fair Value Adjustment $’000 361 32 423 (507) (12) - - - - (19) - - 1,584 352 Fair Value $’000 361 32 404 (507) (12) 1,584 352 2,214 Goodwill represents the acquisition of an established workforce with experience in the provision of Phase I  clinical trial management services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The value of certain  customer relationships identified are being amortised over 3 years, the estimated period of benefit. The proforma effect of the Qualia Clinical Services Inc. and Veeda Laboratories Ltd. acquisitions if completed  on 1 January 2009 would have resulted in revenue and profit for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2009 as  follows: Revenue Profit for the year  $’000 888,048 92,296 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Business Combinations (continued) (b) Acquisition of remaining 0% interest in Beacon Biosciences Inc. On 1 July 2004, the Group acquired 70% of the common stock of Beacon Biosciences Inc. (“Beacon”), a  leading specialist CRO, which provides a range of medical imaging services to the pharmaceutical,  biotechnology and medical device industries, for an initial cash consideration of $9.9 million, excluding costs  of acquisition. On 31 December 2008, the remaining 30% of the common stock was acquired by the Group for  $17.4 million, excluding costs of acquisition. Certain performance milestones were built into the acquisition  agreement for the remaining 30% of Beacon requiring potential additional consideration of up to $3.0 million if  these milestones were achieved during the year ended 31 December 2009. At 31 December 2009, no amounts  have been accrued in respect of the additional consideration payable, as these milestones have not been  achieved. The following table summarises the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of  acquisition. Property, plant and equipment Cash Other current assets  Current liabilities Non-current liabilities Goodwill Intangible assets-order back log Intangible assets –customer relationships Purchase price Cash payment Acquisition costs Purchase Price Carrying Amount $’000 Fair Value Adjustment $’000 704 1,001 1,685 (1,689) (200) - - - - - - - - 14,569 1,470 240 Fair Value $’000 704 1,001 1,685 (1,689) (200) 14,569 1,470 240 17,780 $’000 17,400 380 17,780 The value of certain customer relationships and order backlog are being amortised over 3 years, the estimated  period of benefit. The acquisition of the remaining 30% in Beacon Bioscience Inc., if completed on 1 January  2008, would have had no impact on revenue. The profoma effect on profit for the fiscal year ended 31  December 2008 would have been as follows: Profit for the year  $’000 64,762  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Business Combinations (continued) (c) Acquisition of Prevalere Life Sciences Inc. On 14 November 2008, the Group acquired 100% of the common stock of Prevalere Life Sciences Inc.  (“Prevalere”), for an initial cash consideration of $37.6 million, excluding costs of acquisition. Prevalere, located  in Whitesboro, New York, is a leading provider of bioanalytical and immunoassay services to pharmaceutical  and biotechnology companies. Certain performance milestones were built into the acquisition agreement  requiring potential additional consideration of up to $8.2 million if certain performance milestones were  achieved during the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2009. On 30 April 2009, $5.0 million was paid in respect of the milestones for the year ended 31 December 2008. No  amounts have been accrued at 31 December 2009 in respect of the milestones for the year ended 31  December 2009, as these milestones have not been achieved. The following table summarises the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of  acquisition. Property, plant and equipment Cash Other current assets  Current liabilities Goodwill Intangible assets- customer relationships Purchase Price Cash payment Acquisition costs Purchase Price Carrying Amount $’000 Fair Value Adjustment $’000 2,614 270 6,504 (2,577) - - - - - - 29,244 7,375 Fair Value $’000 2,614 270 6,504 (2,577) 29,244 7,375 43,430 $’000 42,682 748 43,430 Goodwill represents the acquisition of an established workforce with experience in the provision of bioanalytical  and immunoassay services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and allows ICON to participate in  a growing market for these services. The value of certain customer relationships identified are being amortised  over periods ranging from approximately 7 to 11 years, the estimated period of the benefit. The acquisition of Prevalere, if completed on 1 January 2008 would have resulted in revenue and profit for the  fiscal year ended 31 December 2009 as follows: Revenue Profit for the year  $’000 879,940 70,368 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Business Combinations (continued) (d) Acquisition of Healthcare Discoveries Inc. On 11 February 2008, the Group acquired 100% of the common stock of Healthcare Discoveries Inc.  (“Healthcare Discoveries”) for an initial cash consideration of approximately $10.9 million, excluding costs of  acquisition. Healthcare Discoveries, located in San Antonio, Texas, USA, is engaged in the provision of Phase I  clinical trial management services. Certain performance milestones were built into the acquisition agreement  requiring payment of additional consideration of up to $10.0 million if certain performance milestones were  achieved during the year ended 31 December 2008. No amounts were accrued at 31 December 2008, as the  milestones were not achieved. The following table summarises the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of  acquisition. Property, plant and equipment Cash  Other current assets  Current liabilities Goodwill Intangible assets – customer relationships Intangible assets- volunteer list Purchase Price Cash Payment Acquisition Costs Purchase Price Carrying Amount $’000 Fair Value Adjustment $’000 327 5 575 (1,951) - - - - - - - 9,995 1,565 1,325 Fair Value $’000 327 5 575 (1,951) 9,995 1,565 1,325 11,841 $’000 10,866 975 11,841 Goodwill represents the acquisition of an established workforce with experience in the provision of Phase I  clinical trial management services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The value of certain  customer relationships identified are being amortised over a period ranging from approximately 2 to 9 years,  the estimated period of benefit. The value of certain volunteer lists identified is being amortised over  approximately 6 years, the estimated period of benefit. The acquisition of Healthcare Discoveries, if completed on 1 January 2008 would have resulted in revenue and  profit for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2008 as follows: Revenue Profit for the year  $’000 865,723 63,957  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Other non-current assets Lease prepayments Other non-current assets  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 , , 5,149 1,333 6,482 Other non-current assets include lease deposits paid in respect of certain premises leased by the Group.  Lease deposits are refundable on expiry of the related leases. . Inventories Laboratory inventories  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , 3,357 The cost of inventories is recognised as an expense and included in other operating expenses in the income  statement. $21.4 million (2008: $20.5 million) was charged in the income statement for the year ended   31 December 2009. . Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Less amounts provided for doubtful debts Accounts receivable, net  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , (,0) , 218,009 (7,474) 210,535 Movement on the accounts receivable impairment provision during the year was as follows: Accounts receivable impairment provision: Balance at start of year Amounts used during the year Amounts (released)/provided during the year Balance at end of year  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , (,0) () ,0 319 (199) 7,354 7,474 All receivables are due within twelve months of the balance sheet date. A provision for impairment is recognised where there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to  collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivable. At 31 December 2009, the Group  recognised an impairment provision of $5.2 million (2008: $7.5 million) ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Accounts receivable (continued) The carrying amounts of the Group’s accounts receivables are denominated in the following currencies: Currency US Dollar Euro Sterling Other Currencies . Other current assets Prepayments Other receivables Retirement benefit net plan assets Total  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , , , , 143,219 55,009 10,060 2,247 , 210,535  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , , - , 16,672 10,918 278 27,868 Other current assets do not contain any impaired assets. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting  date is the carrying value of each receivable. The Group does not hold any collateral as security. . Current asset investments At start of year Additions Disposals At end of year  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , ,0 (,) , 41,752 15,000 (14,026) 42,726 The Group invests surplus cash balances in floating rate and medium term minimum “A” rated corporate  securities. The investments are reported at fair value, with unrealised gains or losses reported in shareholders’  equity. In the years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2009, no unrealised gains or losses arose.  Any differences between the cost and fair value of the investments are represented by accrued interest. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009   Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank and in hand Short-term deposits Cash and cash equivalents 0. Accrued and other liabilities Non-current other liabilities: Deferred government grants (note 21) Finance lease obligations (note 26) Other non current liabilities Total Current accrued and other liabilities: Accrued liabilities Accrued salary and bonus Accrued social welfare cost Lease accruals Deferred government grants (note 21) Finance lease obligations (note 26) Acquisition consideration payable Retirement benefit net plan liabilities Restructuring provisions (note 7) Total  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , , ,0 36,399 21,979 58,378  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0  , , 1,386 470 1,410 3,266  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 0, , , 0   -  , , 44,082 51,647 8,757 2,508 144 263 22,400 - - 129,801 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Deferred government grants At beginning of year Amortised during the year  Acquired during the year Foreign exchange movement At end of year Current Non-current Total . Bank credit lines and loan facilities Current maturities Non-current maturities Total bank credit lines and loan facilities  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 () 0  ,0  ,0 ,0 1,304 (126) - 352 1,530 144 1,386 1,530  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 - - - 40,193 65,186 105,379 On 9 July 2007, the Company entered into a five year committed multi-currency facility agreement for €35  million ($50.1 million) with Bank of Ireland. The facility bears interest at an annual rate equal to the EURIBOR  plus a margin and is secured by certain composite guarantees and indemnities and pledges in favour of the  bank. At 31 December 2009, €26.2 million ($37.5 million) was available to be drawn under this facility. On 22 December 2008, a committed credit facility was negotiated with Allied Irish Bank plc. The facility  comprised a one year Euro facility of €20 million ($28.6 million). The facility bore interest at EURIBOR plus a  margin and was secured by certain composite guarantees and pledges in favour of the bank. On 22 December 2008, a committed three year US dollar credit facility was negotiated with Allied Irish Bank  plc for $50 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and is secured by certain composite  guarantees and pledges in favour of the bank. At 31 December 2009, $50 million was available to be drawn  under this facility. On 2 January 2009, an additional four year committed credit facility was negotiated with Bank of Ireland for  $25 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and is secured by certain composite guarantees,  indemnities and pledges in favour of the bank. At 31 December 2009, $25 million was available to be drawn  under this facility. On 29 May 2009, committed credit facilities were negotiated with Citibank Europe for $20 million. These  facilities comprise a 364 day facility of $10 million and a three year facility of $10 million. On the same day, a  committed 364 day credit facility of $30 million was negotiated with JP Morgan. These facilities bear interest at  LIBOR plus a margin and are secured by certain composite guarantees and pledges in favour of the bank. As  at 31 December 2009, no amounts were drawn under these facilities.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Bank credit lines and loan facilities (continued) The average margin payable on drawn balances at 31 December 2009 was zero (2008: 1.70 per cent) The carrying amount of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in the following currencies Currency Euro US Dollar . Share capital Group and Company Authorised share capital: Ordinary shares of par value €0.06  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 - - - 76,890 28,489 105,379 No. of Ordinary Shares 100,000,000  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 Allotted, called up and fully paid 59,007,565 (31 December 2008: 58,518,195) ordinary shares of €0.06 each , 4,921 On 21 July 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved an increase in the Company’s authorised share capital  from 40 million ordinary shares of par value €0.06 to 100 million ordinary shares of par value €0.06. Issued, fully paid share capital At beginning of year Bonus issue Employee share options exercised At end of year  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , -  , 2,127 2,752 42 4,921 Holders of Ordinary shares will be entitled to receive such dividends as may be recommended by the board of  Directors of the Company and approved by the shareholders and/or such interim dividends as the board of  Directors of the Company may decide. On liquidation or a winding up of the Company, the par value of the  Ordinary Shares will be repaid out of the assets available for distribution among the holders of the Company’s  American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) and Ordinary Shares not otherwise represented by ADSs. Holders of  Ordinary Shares have no conversion or redemption rights. During the year ended 31 December 2009, 489,370 options were exercised by employees for total proceeds of  $4.4 million. During the year ended 31 December 2008, 847,707 options were exercised by employees for total  proceeds of $8.5 million. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Share capital (continued) On 21 July 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved a bonus issue of ordinary shares (the “Bonus Issue”)  to shareholders of record as of the close of business on 8 August 2008 (the “Record Date”). The Bonus Issue  provided for each shareholder to receive one bonus ordinary share for each ordinary share held as of the  Record Date, affecting the equivalent of a 2-for-1 stock split. The Bonus shares were issued on 11 August  2008, to Ordinary Shareholders and on 12 August 2008, to holders of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”).  NASDAQ adjusted the trading price of the Company’s ADSs to affect the Bonus Issue prior to the opening of  trading on 13 August 2008. All outstanding ordinary share and share option amounts referenced in the  consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been retrospectively restated to give effect to the  Bonus Issue as if had occurred as of the date referenced. . Capital and reserves Reserve Descriptions Other Reserves The Group has recognised a non-distributable reserve of $1.4 million in accordance with agreements made  between the Group and Enterprise Ireland, an Irish government agency. In 2005 the Group also recognised a  share-based compensation charge of $6.0 million being the fair value of outstanding ordinary shares  transferred to Mr Peter Gray, Chief Executive Officer, by founding Directors, Dr. John Climax and Dr. Ronan  Lambe. Option Reserve The Option Reserve is used to account for share-based payments. The fair value of share-based payments is  expensed to the income statement over the period the related services are received, with a corresponding  increase in equity. As at 31 December 2009, the Group has recognised a cumulative charge for share-based  payments of $36.3 million net of deferred tax (2008: $28.2 million). The Group has also recognised a  cumulative credit of $10.0 million (2008: $8.9 million) in reserves for the current and deferred tax effects of the  realised tax benefits relating to the exercise of employee share options in excess of related cumulative  compensation expense. The Group has transferred a cumulative credit of $15.4 million (2008: $9.1 million) to  retained earnings in respect of exercised and expired share based awards. Currency Reserve The currency reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial  statements of foreign currency denominated operations of the Group since 1 June 2004. Retained Earnings In addition to the profit/loss for the financial period the Group also recognises the actuarial gain/loss on the  defined benefit pension scheme in this reserve. In 2009 the Group recognised an actuarial loss of $0.6 million  on the defined benefit pension scheme (31 December 2008: actuarial loss of $1.0 million). The Group has  transferred a cumulative credit of $15.4 million (2008: $9.1 million) from the options reserve to retained  earnings in respect of exercised and expired share based awards.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments The Group is exposed to various financial risks in the normal course of the business. The Group’s financial  instruments typically comprise investment securities, short-term receivables, cash, bank borrowings and  payables. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Group’s operations. The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments. n n credit risk liquidity risk n market risk n interest rate risk The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk  management framework. The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the  risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to  limits. Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions  and the Group’s activities. The Group, through its training and management standards and procedures, aims to  develop a disciplined and constructive control environment in which all employees understand their roles and  obligations. The Group Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group’s risk  management policies and procedures and reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation  to the risks faced by the Group. Credit risk Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to  meet its contractual obligations and arises in respect of current asset investments, cash and cash equivalents,  unbilled revenue and accounts receivable. The Group invests significant cash balances, which are classified as current asset investments, on a short-term  basis. In order to manage credit risk the Group only transacts with counterparties that are major financial  institutions. Funds may be invested in the form of floating rate notes and medium term minimum “A” rated  corporate securities. The aggregate amount and duration of exposure to any one counterparty is reviewed on a  regular basis. The maximum exposure arising in the event of default by any counterparty is the carrying value  of the amount invested. During the year ended 31 December 2009, $49.2 million (2008: $42.7 million) of the  total portfolio was held in US dollar investments. The Group manages credit risk in respect of customers by ensuring credit procedures, including evaluation of  all new customers and ongoing account monitoring, are in place. The Group does not have significant  concentration of credit risk at the balance sheet date. During the year ended 31 December 2009, revenue was  derived from approximately 650 clients, including all of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies as ranked by  2008 revenue. During the year ended 31 December 2009, approximately 27% of revenue was derived from the  Group’s top five clients, while the top five clients accounted for 29% of revenue during the year ended 31  December 2008. No one client accounted for more than 10% of revenue during the years ended 31 December  2009 and 31 December 2008. A provision for impairment is recognised when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to  collect all amounts due according to original terms of the receivable. The Group constantly monitors its  exposure to impairment of its accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances by regularly reviewing and  managing the number of days revenue outstanding. Days revenue comprises accounts receivable and unbilled  revenue, less payments on account. The number of days revenue outstanding was 33 days at 31 December  2009 and 70 days at 31 December 2008. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued) Details of the Group’s accounts receivable balances as at 31 December 2009, including impairment losses  thereon, are set out in note 16. The maximum exposure to credit risk for accounts receivable and unbilled revenue at the reporting date was  their carrying value. The carrying value of accounts receivable and unbilled revenue by geographic region at  31 December 2009 was as follows: Europe  United States Rest of World Total Accounts Receivable Unbilled Revenue 00 $’000 ,0 , , , 2008 $’000 78,613 128,298 3,624 210,535 00 $’000 , ,0 , ,00 2008 $’000 51,472 86,033 4,222 141,727 Foreign exchange gains and losses recognised on the above balances are recognised in other operating  expenses with the exception of foreign exchange gains and losses on bank credit lines and loan facilities,  which are recorded in finance income or finance expense as applicable. Liquidity risk Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The  Group’s liquidity risk arises from the repayment of short-term debt and other obligations as they fall due. The  Group manages liquidity risk by ensuring adequate credit facilities are in place, maintaining headroom on its  banking facilities and by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash. The Group was in compliance with  all loan agreement terms throughout the period. The following table sets out details of the maturity of the Group’s financial liabilities into the relevant maturity  groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to contractual maturity date:  December 00 Carrying Amount $’000 Contractual Cashflows $’000  mths or less $’000 - mths $’000 - years $’000 - years $’000 More than  years $’000 Finance lease liabilities (483) (500) (170) (170) (160) Accounts payable (12,123) (12,123) (12,123) Other liabilities (121,168) (121,168) (118,479) - - (133,774) (133,791) (130,772) (170) - (2,689) (2,849) - - - - - - - -  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued)  December 00 Carrying Amount $’000 Contractual Cashflows $’000  mths or less $’000 - mths $’000 - years $’000 - years $’000 More than  years $’000 Bank credit lines and  loan facilities (105,379) (113,417) (42,204) (1,638) (55,046) (14,529) Finance lease liabilities (733) (779) (146) (146) (327) (160) Accounts payable (17,505) (17,505) (17,505) Other liabilities (130,804) (130,804) (129,394) - - - (1,410) - - (254,421) (262,505) (189,249) (1,784) (56,783) (14,689) - - - - - Details of the Group’s borrowings are set out in note 22 to the Group financial statements. Market Risk Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates will  affect the Group’s income or the value of its holding of financial instruments. The principal market risks to which  the Group is exposed include foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. The Group uses derivative financial  instruments and interest rate instruments solely to hedge exposure to these market risks but does not enter into  these instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  The Company had no interest rate instruments or  derivative financial instruments as at 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008. Foreign Currency Risk Although domiciled in Ireland, the Group reports its results in U.S. dollars. As a consequence the results of  non-U.S. based operations, when translated into U.S. dollars, could be affected by fluctuations in exchange  rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies of those operations. In addition to translation exposures, the Group is also subject to transaction exposures because the currency  in which contracts are priced can be different from the currencies in which costs relating to those contracts are  incurred. The Group’s operations in the United States are not materially exposed to such currency differences  as the majority of revenues and costs are in U.S. dollars. However, outside the United States the multinational  nature of the Group’s activities means that contracts are usually priced in a single currency, most often U.S.  dollars, Euros or pounds Sterling, while costs arise in a number of currencies, depending, among other things,  on which of the Group’s offices provide staff for the contract, and the location of investigator sites. Although  many such contracts benefit from some degree of natural hedging due to the matching of contract revenues  and costs in the same currency, where costs are incurred in currencies other than those in which contracts are  priced, fluctuations in the relative value of those currencies could have a material effect on the results of the  Group’s operations. The Group regularly reviews currency exposures and, when appropriate, hedges a portion  of these, using forward exchange contracts, where they are not covered by natural hedges. In addition, we  usually negotiate currency fluctuation clauses in our contracts which allow for price negotiation if certain  exchange rate triggers occur. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued) The following table sets out the Group’s transaction risk in relation to financial assets and liabilities at the  balance sheet date: Accounts Receivable 00 $’000 31,237 6,603 2,418 1,143 41,401 Accounts Receivable 00 $’000 20,941 5,577 5,002 1,020 32,540 Unbilled Revenue/ Payments on account 00 $’000 Cash and Cash Equivalents 00 $’000 Bank Credit Lines and Loan Facilities 00 $’000 Total Transaction risk 00 $’000 (64,213) (1,937) (2,438) 5,802 (62,786) 996 512 396 1,772 3,676 - - - - - (31,980) 5,178 376 8,717 (17,709) Unbilled Revenue/ Payments on account 00 $’000 Cash and Cash Equivalents 00 $’000 11,795 8,829 12,704 1,660 34,988 1,114 2,473 972 (246) 4,313 Bank Credit Lines and Loan Facilities 00 $’000 (28,489) - - - (28,489) Total Transaction risk 00 $’000 5,361 16,879 18,678 2,434 43,352 U.S. Dollar Sterling Euro Other Total U.S. Dollar Sterling Euro Other Total The following significant exchange rates applied during the year: Euro Pound Sterling Average Rate Closing Rate 00 .0 . 2008 1.47688 1.88552 00 .0 .0 2008 1.39800 1.46280 A 10% strengthening or weakening of the US Dollar against the Euro and Sterling from the 31 December 2009  rates based on the underlying currencies as per the above table would have increased or decreased profit by  $1.8 million (31 December 2008 $4.3 million). This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant. Interest Rate Risk The Group finances its operations through a mixture of shareholders’ funds, borrowings and working capital.  The Group borrows in desired currencies at both fixed and floating rates of interest. In general the Group  borrows at floating rates of interest but may borrow at fixed rates depending on rates available. The Group  determines the level of borrowings at fixed rates of interest having regard to current market rates and future  trends. At 31 December 2009, the Group had repaid all of its borrowings. Details of the Group’s negotiated  facilities are set out in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued) The Group is exposed to interest rate risk in respect of current asset investments and cash on deposit. The  Group invests significant cash balances, which are classified as current asset investments, on a short-term  basis. These funds may be invested in the form of floating rate notes and medium term minimum “A” rated  corporate securities. The composition of the Group’s investment portfolio is monitored on an ongoing basis  having regard to current market rates and future trends in order to minimise exposure to interest rate risk. The sensitivity analysis below represents the hypothetical change in our interest income/(expense) based on  an immediate 1% movement in market interest rates. Interest Income Interest Expense As Reported Effect of change in market interest rate on profit: 1% Increase 1% Decrease 00 $’000  , - This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant. Fair Values 2008 $’000 2,881 00 $’000 2008 $’000 (,0) (4,105) 3,882 1,860 (,0) (,0) (5,757) (3,649) The fair value of financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the balance sheet,  are as follows: Accounts receivable Unbilled revenue Current asset investments Cash and cash equivalents Other receivables Accounts payable Finance lease liabilities Payments on account Bank credit lines and loan facilities Other liabilities  December 00 31 December 2008 Carrying Amount $’000 , ,00 , ,0 , 0,0 Fair Value $’000 , ,00 , ,0 , 0,0 (,) () (,) () (,) (,) - (,) (,) - (,) (,) Carrying Amount $’000 210,535 141,727 42,726 58,378 16,554 Fair Value $’000 210,535 141,727 42,726 58,378 16,554 469,920 469,920 (17,505) (733) (121,935) (105,379) (108,762) (354,314) (17,505) (733) (121,935) (105,698) (108,762) (354,633) The carrying values of accounts receivable, less impairment provision, unbilled revenue, payments on account  and accounts payable are assumed to be approximate to their fair values due to the short-term nature of these  balances. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued) Current asset investments are stated at fair value, with any resultant gain or loss recognised in the statement of  recognised income and expense. The fair value of current asset investments is their market price at the  balance sheet date. The fair value of bank credit lines and loan facilities and finance lease obligations for disclosure purposes is  calculated based on the present value of future principal and interest cash flows, discounted at the market rate  of interest at the reporting date. The carrying value of bank credit lines and loan facilities and finance lease  obligations at 31 December 2009 was approximate to their fair value. We disclose our financial instruments that are measured in the balance sheet at fair value using the following  fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs. The hierarchy prioritises the inputs into three levels based on the extent  to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. Each fair value measurement is  reported in one of the three levels, which is determined by the lowest level input that is significant to the fair  value measurement in its entirety. These levels are: Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments  traded in active markets. Inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active  markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that  are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all  significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be  corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the  assets or liabilities. Inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s  estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the  asset or liability. The following table sets forth our assets that are measured at fair value on the balance sheet as of   31 December 2009: Quoted Prices in Active Markets Level  US$’000 Other Observable Inputs Level  US$’000 Unobservable Inputs Level  US$’000 Total US$’000 Current asset investments 49,227 - - 49,227 Capital management The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern in  order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, to ensure availability of sufficient  capital to sustain future development of the business and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the  cost of capital. The capital structure of the Group is monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure achievement of  these objectives. The Group has financed its operations and growth since inception primarily with cash flows from operations,  proceeds raised in its initial public offering in May 1998, proceeds raised in its public offering in August 2003  and borrowings as applicable. The Group may issue further shares or raise additional debt in order to maintain  its optimum capital structure. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Financial Instruments (continued) At 31 December 2009 the Group’s capital structure comprises finance lease obligations, current asset  investments, cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising  issued capital, reserves and retained earning as disclosed in note 24. Total capital at 31 December 2009 comprised of the following: Bank credit lines and loan facilities (note 22) Finance lease obligations (note 26) Cash and cash equivalents (note 19) Current asset investments (note 18) Net cash/(debt) Shareholders Equity Total Capital The Group’s gearing ratio at 31 December 2009 was -% (2008: 22.4%).  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 - () ,0 , , , , (105,379) (733) 58,378 42,726 (5,008)  474,126 469,118 . Lease commitments The Company has several non-cancellable operating leases, primarily for facilities, that expire over the next 10  years. These leases generally contain renewal options and require the Company to pay all executory costs  such as maintenance and insurance. Future minimum rental commitments for operating leases with non- cancellable terms are as follows: Less than one year Between one and two years Between two and three years Between three and four years Between four and five years More than five years Total  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , ,0 ,00 ,0 0, , , 38,227 33,928 26,617 21,995 18,216 29,657 168,640 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Lease commitments (continued) The Group has obligations under finance leases for certain items of property, plant and equipment as follows: Less than one year Between one and five years More than five years Total gross payment Less future finance charges Total . Commitments and contingencies (a) Capital commitments  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 0 0 - 00 ()  292 487 - 779 (46) 733 The following capital commitments for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and building construction  had been authorised by the Directors at 31 December 2009: Contracted for  Not-contracted for Total (b) Guarantees  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 , 0,0 6,975 8,324 15,299 Where the Company enters into financial guarantee contracts to guarantee the indebtedness of other  companies within the Group, the Company considers these to be insurance arrangements and accounts for  them as such. The Company treats the guarantee contract as a contingent liability until such time as it  becomes probable that the Company will be required to make a payment under that guarantee. The Company has guaranteed the liabilities referred to in the Section 5 (c) (ii) of the Companies (Amendment)  Act, 1986 in respect of the financial year ending 31 December 2009 for the subsidiary companies listed below.  These subsidiaries are availing of the exemption under Section 17 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986  not to file statutory financial statements. - ICON Clinical Research Property Holdings (Ireland) Limited - ICON Clinical Property Development (Ireland) Limited - ICON Clinical Property Holdings Limited - ICON Clinical Property Development Limited - ICON Clinical Research Limited - Holmrook Limited - Shelbourne Data Management Limited  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Commitments and contingencies (continued) (c) Contractual obligations The following represents Group contractual obligations and commercial commitments as at 31 December  2009: Payments due by period Less than  year  to  years - years More than  years $ in millions 0.3 38.2 11.0 49.5 0.2 57.0 - 57.2 - 43.2 - 43.2 - 39.3 - 39.3 Total 0.5 177.7 11.0 189.2 Finance lease obligations Operating lease commitments Capital commitments Total The Group expects to spend approximately $40 million in the next 12 months on further investments in  information technology, the expansion of existing facilities and the addition of new offices. The Group believes  that it will be able to fund additional foreseeable cash needs for the next twelve months from cash flow from  operations and existing cash balances. In the future, the Group may consider acquiring businesses to enhance  service offerings and global presence. Any such acquisitions may require additional external financing and the  Group may, from time to time, seek to obtain funds from public or private issues of equity or debt securities.  There can be no assurance that such financing will be available on terms acceptable to the Group. . Litigation The Company is not party to any litigation or other legal proceedings that the Company believes could  reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations  and financial position. . Related Parties (i) Transactions with Directors and Executive Officers The total compensation of the Directors and Executive Officers (Key Management Remuneration) for the years  ended 31 December 2009 and 2008 was as follows: Salary and fees Bonus Other benefits Pension contributions  Share-based-payment Total Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 , , ,   , 2,332 1,267 297 186 620 4,702 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Related Parties (continued) Dr. John Climax, one of the Company’s co-founders, served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from  November 2002 to December 2009. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from June 1990   to October 2002 and as an Executive Director from June 1990 to December 2009. On 31 December 2009,   Dr. Climax retired as Chairman of the Board of the Company and his service agreement with the Company (the  “Dr. Climax Service Agreement”) ended. Since January 2010, he has held a position as a non-Executive Director  of the Company. The Dr. Climax Service Agreement provided for a bonus, a pension contribution, a twelve month notice period,  two company cars and medical insurance cover for himself and his dependants. At 30 April 2010, Dr. Climax  held 126,000 ordinary share options at exercise prices ranging from $7.00 to $35.33 per share. The arrangements relating to Dr. Climax’s retirement were set out in an agreement entered into between the  Company and Dr. Climax in December 2009 (the “December Agreement”). Pursuant to the December  Agreement, Dr. Climax received, having regard to the Dr. Climax Service Agreement (which terminated pursuant  to the December agreement), a payment of €830,000 ($1,200,620) and a pension contribution of €170,000  ($252,620). In addition, and also pursuant to the December Agreement, he received an ex-gratia pension  contribution for past service of €220,308 ($327,378), the acceleration of vesting of unvested share options and  the transfer of two company cars. The payments and contributions set out in this paragraph are included in the  amounts listed for Dr. Climax in the Summary Compensation Table – Year Ended 31 December 2009 on page 61. The Company has also entered into a three year agreement with Rotrua Limited, a company controlled by   Dr. Climax, for the provision of consultancy services at an agreed fee of €262,500 ($375,795) per annum. The  consultancy agreement provides that the Company will provide, during the term of the agreement, permanent  disability and life insurance cover for Dr. Climax and medical insurance cover for himself and his dependants. On 30 April 2009, 103,000 share options, with an exercise price of $15.84, were granted to certain Directors of  the Company. These options will vest between 2010 and 2017. On 26 February 2009, 27,000 share options, with  an exercise price of $22.26, were granted to certain Directors and Executive Officers of the Company. These  options will vest between 2010 and 2017. On 27 May 2008, 6,000 share options, with an exercise price of $36.04, were granted to the newly appointed  Director of the Company, Professor Dermot Kelleher. These options will vest between 2009 and 2016. On 26  February 2008, 48,000 share options, with an exercise price of $35.33, were granted to the Directors and  Executive Officers of the Company. These options vest between 2009 and 2016. (ii) Other Related Party Transactions Year Ended  December 00 Mr. Edward Roberts has served as Chairman of Merz GmbH since 2003. Merz is an independent German  pharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs for the treatment of illnesses in the fields of  neurology and psychiatry. ICON Clinical Research Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICON, has entered into  a number of contracts with Merz, for the provision of consulting and clinical trial related activities. The total  potential value of these contracts is $43.5 million. During the year ended 31 December 2009, ICON recognised a  total of $9.8 million of revenue in relation to these activities. At 31 December 2009, $1.2 million was outstanding  to be received from Merz GmbH. During the year ended 31 December 2009, Dr. Bruce Given served as Acting Chief Medical Officer of Sembiosys  Genetics Inc. (“Sembiosys”). Sembiosys is a plant biotechnology company specialising in the production of high- value pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products. During the year ending 31 December 2008, Sembiosys  engaged ICON Development Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICON, in consulting and clinical trial related  activities. The total potential value of this study was $0.8 million. During the year ending 31 December 2009,  ICON recognised a total of $0.3 million of revenue in relation to these activities. There were no amounts  outstanding as at 31 December 2009.  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Related Parties (continued) Year ended  December 00 As at 31 December 2008, Amarin Investment Holding Limited (a company controlled by Mr. Thomas Lynch), and  Sunninghill Limited (a company controlled by Dr. John Climax) held 1.1 million and 1.5 million shares respectively  in Amarin. These respective holdings equated to approximately 3.97% and 5.42% respectively, of Amarin’s issued  share capital. Thomas Lynch also served as Chairman of Amarin from 2000 to 2009 and Chief Executive Officer  from 2007 to 2009. Amarin is a neuroscience company focused on the research, development and  commercialisation of drugs for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. During the fiscal year   ending 31 May 2005, Amarin contracted ICON Clinical Research Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICON,   to conduct a clinical trial on its behalf. The total potential value of this study was $7 million. During the year  ended 31 December 2008, the Company recognised $0.2 million of revenue relating to the Amarin contract.   At 31 December 2008, $0.3 million was outstanding to be received from Amarin on this trial. As at 31 December 2008, Dr. John Climax and Dr. Ronan Lambe held 3.05% and 2.94% respectively of the  issued share capital of NuPathe Inc. (“NuPathe”). NuPathe is a specialty pharmaceutical company specialising   in the acquisition and development of therapeutic products in the area of neuroscience. Prior to July 2008   Dr. Climax also served as a non-Executive director and chairman of the compensation committee on the Board   of NuPathe. During the year ending 31 December 2006, NuPathe engaged ICON Clinical Research Limited,   a wholly owned subsidiary of ICON, in consulting and clinical trial related activities. During the year ended   31 December 2008, the Company recognised $0.1 million relating to the NuPathe contract. There were no  amounts outstanding as at 31 December 2008. 0. Post Balance Sheet Events There have been no material events since the balance sheet date requiring disclosure in the financial  statements. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (a) Property, Plant and Equipment Cost At 1 January 2009 Additions  Disposals Reclassifications Foreign currency adjustment At  December 00 Depreciation At 1 January 2009 Charge for year Eliminated on Disposals Reclassifications Foreign currency adjustment At  December 00 Net book value At  December 00 At 31 December 2008 Cost At 1 January 2008 Additions  Foreign currency adjustment At  December 00 Depreciation At 1 January 2008 Charge for year Foreign currency adjustment At  December 00 Net book value At  December 00 At 31 December 2007 Leasehold improvements $’000 Computer equipment $’000 Office furniture & fixtures $’000 295 148 (48) 124 9  62 77 (22) 23 2   233 1,016 160 - - 28 ,0 494 270 - - 13   522 1,465 87 (62) (124) 40 ,0 293 179 (19) (23) 8   1,172 Leasehold improvements $’000 Computer equipment $’000 Office furniture & fixtures $’000 326 7 (38)  15 55 (8)   311 756 375 (115) ,0 297 244 (47)   459 912 727 (174) , 127 196 (30)  , 785 Total $’000 2,776 395 (110) - 77 , 849 526 (41) - 23 , , 1,927 Total $’000 1,994 1,109 (327) , 439 495 (85)  , 1,555  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) (b) Intangible assets Cost: At 1 January 2008 Additions Foreign exchange movement At 31 December 2008 Additions Foreign exchange movement At  December 00 Accumulated amortisation: At 1 January 2008 Arising during the year Foreign exchange movement At 31 December 2008 Arising during the year Foreign exchange movement At  December 00 Net book value: At  December 00 At 31 December 2008 Computer Software $’000 53 34 (8) 79 161 2  17 18 (1) 34 25 1   45 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) (c) Investment in subsidiaries Investment in Subsidiary Undertakings $’000 Long Term Advances to Subsidiary Undertakings $’000 Total $’000 339,886 172,639 236,152 - (253,401) (293,201) 67,412 1,888 - 18,855 70,906 2,549 - 1,771 75,226 79,217 1,888 7,873 27,138 335,440 2,549 7,144 6,057 351,190  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 () ()   , , , - - 123 102 1,451 1,676 1,676 Cost: At 1 January 2008 Additions Disposals Capital contribution to subsidiaries Imputed interest on long term intercompany loans Share based payments Foreign exchange movement  At 31 December 2008 Imputed interest on long term intercompany loans Share based payments Foreign exchange movement  At 31 December 2009 (d) Deferred taxation The net deferred tax asset at 31 December 2009 was as follows: 103,734 172,639 (39,800) 11,805 - 7,873 8,283 264,534 - 7,144 4,286 275,964 Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Total deferred taxation liabilities Deferred taxation assets: Accrued expenses and payments on account Property, plant and equipment Loans to subsidiaries Total deferred taxation assets Net deferred taxation asset  ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) (d) Deferred taxation (continued) The movement in temporary differences during the year ended 31 December 2009 and year ended 31  December 2008 was as follows: Balance  January 00 $’000 Investment in Subsidiary Undertakings $’000 Recognised in Income $’000 Balance  December 00 $’000 Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Total deferred taxation liabilities Deferred taxation assets: Accrued expenses and payments on account Property plant and equipment Loans to subsidiaries Total deferred taxation assets Net deferred taxation asset - - 123 102 1,451 , , - - - - - - - (42) () 55 (31) (325) (0) () (42) () 178 71 1,126 , , Deferred taxation liabilities: Property, plant and equipment Total deferred taxation liabilities Deferred taxation assets: Accrued expenses and payments on account Property plant and equipment Loans to subsidiaries Total deferred taxation assets Net deferred taxation asset Balance  January 00 $’000 Investment in Subsidiary Undertakings $’000 Recognised in Income $’000 Balance  December 00 $’000 - - 491 102 4,416 ,00 ,00 - - - - (2,730) (,0) (,0) - - (368) - (235) (0) (0) - - 123 102 1,451 , , At 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2008 the Company had no operating loss carry forwards for income  tax purposes and no deferred tax assets that have not been recognised. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009  Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) (e) Other Current Assets Prepayments Other receivables Total (f) Accrued and Other Liabilities Current liabilities: Accruals Total  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 ,0 , ,0 1,765 2,054 3,819  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 , , 9,619 9,619 (g) Payroll and Related Benefits The aggregate payroll costs of employees of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2009 was as  follows: Wages and salaries Social welfare costs Pension costs for defined contribution pension schemes Share-based payment Total Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 , ,0 ,  ,0 18,756 3,247 393 779 23,175 Certain employees of the Company are eligible to participate in a defined contribution plan (the “Plan”).  Participants in the Plan may elect to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings into a pension plan, which is run  by an independent party. The Company matches each participant’s contributions typically at 6% of the  participant’s annual compensation. The Company also makes contributions for executive Directors at rates  ranging from 10% to 20% of individual executive Director’s basic salary. Contributions to this plan are recorded  as a remuneration expense in the Company Income Statement. Contributions for the year ended 31 December  2009 and the year ended 31 December 2008 were $1,638,000 and $393,000 respectively. 00 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) The average number of employees, including executive Directors, employed by the Company for the year  ending 31 December 2009 was as follows: Marketing Administration Clinical research processing Total (h) Related Parties Year ended  December 00 Year ended 31 December 2008   0  2 45 248 295 The Company entered into the following transactions with subsidiary companies during the period: Income Statement: Dividend received from subsidiary companies Expenses recharged to subsidiary companies Interest charged to subsidiary companies Total Cash Flow: Dividend received from subsidiary companies Increase/(decrease) in amounts due to/from subsidiary undertakings Total Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 - ,0 , 0, - 0, 0, 56,500 13,327 1,888 71,715 56,500 93,687 150,187  Directors and Executive Officers of the Parent Company are the same as those for the Group. For information  on transactions with Directors and Executive Officers see note 29 to the Group financial statements. For  information on Directors’ remuneration see note 8. (i) Commitments and Contingencies ICON plc had no commitments or contingencies at 31 December 2009 (2008: $nil). (j) Litigation ICON plc is not party to any litigation or other legal proceedings that the Company believes could reasonably  be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial  position. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 0 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) (k) Financial Assets and Risk Management The Company is exposed to various financial risks in the normal course of the business. The Company’s  financial instruments typically comprise cash, bank borrowings and accounts payable. The main purpose of  these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Company’s operations. The main risks arising from the  Company’s financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, and foreign exchange risk. Credit risk Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument  fails to meet its contractual obligations. Credit risk in respect of the Company arises on balances due from  group companies. As such, the Company has assessed the exposure to credit risk as low. Liquidity risk Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The  Company’s liquidity risk arises from the repayment of short-term debt and other obligations as they fall due.  The Company minimises liquidity risk by ensuring that sufficient cash balances and committed bank lines of  credit are available to meet repayments and other liabilities as they fall due. Details of the Company’s bank  credit lines and facilities are set out in note 22. The following table sets out details of the maturity of the Company’s financial liabilities into the relevant maturity  groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to contractual maturity date:  December 00 Accounts payable Accruals and other liabilities  December 00 Carrying Amount $’000 Contractual Cashflows $’000 (305) (9,587) (9,892) (305) (9,587) (9,892)  mths or less $’000 (305) (9,587) (9,892) - mths $’000 - years $’000 - years $’000 More than  years $’000 - - - - - - - - - - - - Carrying Amount $’000 Contractual Cashflows $’000  mths or less $’000 - mths $’000 - years $’000 - years $’000 More than  years $’000 Bank credit lines and loan  facilities (105,379) (113,417) (42,204) (1,638) (55,046) (14,529) Accounts payable (684) (684) (684) Accruals and other liabilities (9,619) (9,619) (9,619) - - - - - - (115,682) (123,720) (52,507) (1,638) (55,046) (14,529) - - - - Foreign currency risk While the functional currency of the Company is Euro, the Company reports its results in U.S. dollars. As a  consequence, the results, when translated into U.S. dollars, could be affected by fluctuations in exchange  rates against the U.S. dollar. At 31 December 2009 the Company had $nil (2008: $28.5 million) US dollar  denominated bank loans. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Notes to the Company financial statements (continued) Interest rate risk The Company finances its operations through a mixture of shareholders’ funds, borrowings and working  capital. The Company borrows in desired currencies at both fixed and floating rates of interest. In general the  Company borrows at floating rates of interest but may borrow at fixed rates depending on rates available. The  Company determines the level of borrowings at fixed rates of interest having regard to current market rates and  future trends. A one percent increase in market interest rates would have decreased the profit of the Company  by $419,570. A one percent decrease in market interest rates would have increased the profit of the Company  by $419,570. Fair Values The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the  balance sheet, are as follows: Loans to subsidiaries Cash and cash equivalents Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings Other current assets Bank credit lines and loan facilities Accounts payable Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings Accruals and other liabilities  December 00 31 December 2008 Carrying Amount $’000 , ,0 - ,0 , - (0) (,0) (,) (,) Fair Value $’000 ,0 ,0 - ,0 , - (0) (,0) (,) (,) Carrying Amount $’000 70,906 444 96,399 3,819 Fair Value $’000 75,516 444 96,399 3,819 171,568 176,178 (105,379) (105,698) (684) - (9,619) (684) - (9,619) (115,682) (116,001) The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, amounts due from subsidiary undertakings, other current  assets, accounts payable, amounts due to subsidiary undertakings and accruals and other liabilities are  assumed to be approximate to their fair values due to the short-term nature of these balances. The fair value of  bank credit lines and loan facilities and loans to subsidiaries for disclosure purposes is calculated based on  the present value of future principal and interest cash flows, discounted at the market rate of interest at the  reporting date. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 0 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Subsidiary Undertakings As at 31 December 2009 the Company had the following principal subsidiary undertakings: Name Registered Office Proportion held by group ICON Clinical Research Limited South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18 Republic of Ireland ICON Clinical Research Inc. ICON Clinical Research (UK) Limited ICON Clinical Research GmbH ICON Clinical Research SARL ICON Clinical Research Israel Limited ICON Clinical Research ICON Clinical Research Kft. ICON Clinical Research S.R.L.  212 Church Road North Wales Pennsylvania PA 19454 U.S.A. Concept House 6, Stoneycroft Rise Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire, SO53 3LD England Heinrich-Hertz Strasse 26 D-63225 Langen Germany 20, rue Troyon 92310 Sevres France 6 Haba’al Shem Tov st. North Industrial Area Lod 71289 POB 1114 Lod 71100 Israel Calle Josep Pla, número 2 Torre Diagonal Mar piso 11, módulo 1 08019 Barcelona Spain Szepvolgy ut 39 Szepvolgy Irodapark 1037 Budapest Hungary. 3rd Floor 133-137 Calea Floreasca, 1st District Bucharest Romania 100%* 100% 100%* 100%* 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Subsidiary Undertakings (continued) Name Registered Office Proportion held by group ICON Clinical Research EOOD  ICON Research d.o.o   ICON Clinical Research LLC ICON Clinical Research LLC ICON Holdings ICON Holdings Clinical Research International Limited ICON Clinical Research S.R.O ICON Clinical Research (Canada) Inc. ICON Clinical Research Pty Limited ICON Clinical Research (New Zealand) Limited 4th floor, Saborna Str.  2a, Sredets Municipality Sofia Bulgaria Radnička cesta 80  Zagreb   Croatia Bulevar Zorana Djindjica 64a 11070 Belgrade Serbia 4th Floor St. Poleva, 24 Kiev Ukraine, 03056 South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18 Republic of Ireland South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18 Republic of Ireland V parku 2335/20, Post Code 148 00, Prague 4 Czech Republic 7405, Transcanada Highway Suite 300 St.Laurent, Quebec (H4T 1Z2) Canada Level 2, Suite 201 2-4 Lyon Park Road North Ryde Sydney N.S.W. 2113 Australia Level 27, PwC Tower 188 Quay Street Auckland New Zealand 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%* 100% ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 0 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Subsidiary Undertakings (continued) Name ICON Japan K.K. ICON Clinical Research Pte Limited ICON Clinical Research Korea Yuhan Hoesa  ICON Clinical Research India Private Limited ICON Clinical Research S.A. ICON Pesquisas Clinicas LTDA ICON Clinical Research Mexico S.A. de CV ICON Chile Limitada  ICON Clinical Research Peru SA Registered Office Proportion held by group MD Kanda Building 6F-7F Kanda-Mitoshirocho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 101-0053 Japan Raffles Place, #20-05 Clifford Centre Singapore 048621 18th Floor, Capital Tower, 736-1, YeokSam-Dong, KangNam-Gu Seoul, Korea 135-983 RMZ Millennia Business Park   Building 3A, 2nd Floor   143 Dr. M G R Road   Kandhanchavady   Chennai - 600 096 Tamil Nadu, India Av. Fondo de la Legua 936/54 Edificio Lomas de San Isidro Plaza1,  Martinez, Buenos Aires (B1640ED0) Argentina Avenida Paulista No. 2300 Andar Pilotis-sal 03100-300 Bela Vista Sao Paulo SP Brazil Barranca del Muerto 329 3rd Floor Col. San José Insurgentes 03900 México D.F. Huerfanos 770, piso 4 oficina 402, Santiago, Chile Edificio Real Seis Av. Victor A. Belaunde 147 Via Principal 140-Piso, Ofs 713 y 715 San Isidro-Lima 27 Peru 100%* 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Notes to Consolidated and Company Financial Statements (continued) . Subsidiary Undertakings (continued) Name Registered Office Proportion held by group ICON Development Solutions Limited ICON Contracting Solutions, Inc. DOCS International BV ICON Development Solutions, Inc. ICON Central Laboratories, Inc. Beacon Bioscience, Inc. Healthcare Discoveries Inc Prevalere Life Sciences Inc  * held directly Skelton House, 1 Manchester Science Park Lloyd Street North Manchester M15 6SH England 345 Park Avenue, New York 10154-2099 U.S.A Handelsweg 53 1181 ZA Amstelveen The Netherlands 7250, Parkway Drive, Suite 430, Hanover, MD 21076, U.S.A 123 Smith Street, Farmingdale, New York 11735, U.S.A. 4259 W. Swamp Road Suite 410 Doylestown, PA 18901-1033 U.S.A 8307 Gault Lane San Antonio, TX  78209 U.S.A 8282 Halsey Road Whitsboro, NY 13492 U.S.A 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% . Approval of financial statements The Board of Directors approved these financial statements on 30 April 2010. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 0 Reconciliation of between IFRS and US Accounting Principles The financial statements of the Group set out on pages 30 to 107 have been prepared in accordance with  International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as adopted by the European Union (“EU IFRS”), which differ  in certain significant respects from those applicable in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). The material differences as they  apply to the Company’s financial statements are as follows: (a) Financial statement format The format of the financial statements and certain note disclosures differ under U.S. GAAP from those under EU  IFRS. The Company prepared a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 20-F Report which was made  available to all shareholders in March 2010. The financial statements included in such Form 20-F are prepared in  accordance with U.S. GAAP. (b) Merger with PRAI The Group accounts for business combinations under EU IFRS in accordance with the IFRS 3 Business Combinations. As permitted by IFRS 1 First Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards the Group  has only restated business combinations from 1 June 2001 onwards. Business combinations prior to this date have  not been restated. In addition, goodwill has no longer been amortised since 1 June 2001, but rather is tested  annually for impairment. U.S. GAAP adopts different criteria to EU IFRS for establishing the method of accounting  to be adopted for business combinations. On 28 January 2000, the Group completed a transaction with Pacific  Research Associates Inc. (“PRAI”), a company specialising in data management, statistical analysis and medical  and regulatory consulting based in San Francisco, USA. The merger with PRAI was accounted for using acquisition  accounting principles in accordance with EU IFRS whilst U.S. GAAP required that the merger be accounted for  using the pooling-of-interest method of accounting. U.S. GAAP pooling-of-interest accounting has resulted in a  number of adjustments. Most significantly (i)  the Group’s historic US GAAP financial statements have been restated to reflect the combined results of ICON  and PRAI; (ii)  the costs of the merger were expensed for U.S. GAAP purposes and included in the cost of acquisition for  IFRS; (iii)  goodwill arising on IFRS has been amortised over its expected useful life up to 31 May 2001. No goodwill  arose on the merger under U.S. GAAP; (iv)  the tax charge arising on the conversion of PRAI from an S-Corporation to a C-Corporation is treated as a pre  acquisition charge under IFRS. (c) Defined benefit pension scheme Under IFRS the Company is required to recognise net scheme assets and liabilities of defined benefit pension  schemes it operates. Actuarial gains and losses associated with such schemes are recognised directly against  retained earnings through the Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense. Under U.S. GAAP an  additional minimum pension liability relating to the excess of any unfunded accumulated benefit obligation over  recognised prior service cost must be included within other accumulated comprehensive income. This amount is  amortised to the consolidated statement of operations over the remaining service life of the scheme participants  under US GAAP. The excess is not amortised under IFRS and accordingly the Group has not recognised the  amortisation charge of $23,000 recorded in 2009 under US GAAP. 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Reconciliation of between IFRS and US Accounting Principles (continued) (d) Non-cash stock compensation expense IFRS requires that the fair value of share-based payments be expensed to the income statement over the period  the related services are received, with a corresponding increase in equity. In the year ending 31 December 2009,  the Company has accounted for share-based payments under U.S. GAAP in accordance with FASB ASC 718,  Compensation – Stock Compensation, which also requires that the fair value of share-based payments be  expensed to the income statement over the period the related services are received, with a corresponding increase  in equity. There is a difference in recorded expense because firstly different periods are in scope for both  treatments due to the different effective dates under both standards and secondly due to different models used to  calculate the fair value of options. Under US GAAP the Black-Scholes model was used for the calculation of the  expense whereas under IFRS this model is not the preferred model to be used and as such the binomial model is  used. (e) Deferred tax assets IFRS requires that the fair value of share-based payments, including share options issued to employees, be  expensed to the income statement over the period the related services are received, with a corresponding increase  in equity. Under U.S. tax law the Group receives a tax deduction when U.S. employee share options are exercised.  This deduction is measured as the intrinsic value of the share options at the date the options are exercised.  Therefore, the tax deduction generally arises in different amounts and in different periods from compensation cost  recognised in the financial statements. Under US GAAP, FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes, the Company has recognised a deferred tax asset for the  cumulative amount of compensation cost recognised in the financial statements for options that will result in a  future tax deduction. A deferred tax asset is also recognised under IFRS for options that will result in a future tax  deduction. However, under IAS 12 Income Taxes if the tax deduction available in future periods is not known at the  end of the period it is estimated based on information available at the end of the period. As the tax deduction is  dependent upon the Company’s share price at the exercise date, the measurement of the deductible temporary  difference is based on the Company’s share price at the end of the period. Where the amount of the estimated  future tax deduction exceeds the amount of the related cumulative remuneration expense, the deferred tax  associated with the excess is recognised directly in equity. Under IFRS at 31 December 2009 the Company has  recognised a deferred tax asset of $1.0 million (31 December 2008: $6.1 million) for share options that will result   in a future tax deduction when exercised. (f) Currency Translation Adjustment Under IFRS where repayment of permanent advances to subsidiaries occurs, exchange differences on those  advances previously recognised in the currency reserve are required to be released to the income statement.   In accordance with IAS 21 The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates , the portion of the loan repaid is  deemed to be a partial return of the investment and is regarded as a disposal and the proportionate share of the  exchange differences recognised in equity relating to the net investment as a whole are released to the income  statement. Under US GAAP, the repayment of permanent advances does not trigger a release of exchange differences unless  it constitutes a substantially complete liquidation of a foreign entity. During the year ended 31 December 2008 the Group settled a number of long term intercompany balances.  Exchange differences of $11.0 million previously recognised in the currency reserve have been released and  charged to the income statement. The tax impact of the exchange differences is $1.4 million. The net impact of   this adjustment is $9.6 million. ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 0 Reconciliation of between IFRS and US Accounting Principles (continued) (g) Forward-looking statements To the extent any statements made in this annual report deal with information that is not historical, these statements  are necessarily forward-looking. As such, they are subject to the occurrence of many events outside of ICON’s  control and are subject to various risk factors that would cause our results to differ materially from those expressed  in any forward-looking statement. The risk factors are described on pages 4 to 9 and include, without limitation, the  inherent risk of dependence on pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and certain clients, termination or  delay of large contracts, risk of cost overruns, the risk of clinical outcomes, regulatory risks, and market  competition. The following is a summary of the material adjustments to profit and shareholders’ equity, which would be required,  had the financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. (i) Effect on profit for the financial year Year ended  December 00 $’000 Year ended 31 December 2008 $’000 Profit for the financial year attributable to equity holders as stated under IFRS ,0 64,483 US GAAP adjustments: Non-cash stock compensation expense under IFRS Non-cash stock compensation expense under U.S. GAAP Additional pension costs on defined benefit scheme Deferred tax adjustments on share-based payments Foreign exchange on long term loans settled (net of tax) ,0 (,)   - 8,652 (6,058) 89 1,364 9,590 Net income as stated under U.S. GAAP , 78,120 Basic earnings per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP $. $. $1.34 $1.30 (ii) Effect on shareholders’ equity  December 00 $’000 31 December 2008 $’000 Shareholders’ equity as stated under IFRS  , 474,126 US GAAP adjustments: Goodwill arising on merger with PRAI Amortisation of PRAI goodwill Deferred tax adjustments on share-based payments (,00) ,00 (,) (15,010) 1,001 (3,751) Shareholders’ equity as stated under U.S. GAAP , 456,366 0 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009   ICON plc and Subsidiaries  Annual Report 2009 Corporate Headquarters South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18, Ireland Tel: +353 (1) 291 2000 Fax: +353 (1) 291 2700 www.iconplc.com 

Continue reading text version or see original annual report in PDF format above