form10q_q1.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
 
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010

OR

 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 000-20540

ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
95-4023433
 
 
(State of Incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
     
26651 West Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA
 
91302
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
     
 
(818) 878-7900
 
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
         
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes o No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  oYes o No 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer x
 
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 o Yes  x No 

At April 30, 2010, the total number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock ($0.01 par value) was 36,419,350.

 
 

 



 
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
3
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
3
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
4
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
5
   
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
   
Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
14
   
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks
20
   
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures
20
   
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1 – Legal Proceedings
21
   
Item 1A – Risk Factors
21
   
Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
21
   
Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities
21
   
Item 4 – Removed and Reserved
21
   
Item 5 – Other Information
21
   
Item 6 – Exhibits
21
   
Signatures
23

 
2

 


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 — Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollar in thousands, except share and per share data)

   
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
ASSETS
         
Current Assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 30,250     $ 25,974
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments of  $1,932 and $1,949, respectively
    50,375       50,173
Advances and deposits
    166       163
Prepaid expenses
    2,838       3,445
Prepaid income taxes
    5,143       4,717
Deferred income tax assets
    7,452       7,507
Other
    2,209       2,213
            Total current assets
    98,433       94,192
               
Property and Equipment, net
    15,473       15,618
Goodwill
    202,814       202,814
Identifiable intangible assets, net
    24,898       25,523
Other assets
    5,093       5,315
            Total Assets
  $ 346,711     $ 343,462
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
             
Current Liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
  $ 4,571     $ 4,164
Accrued payroll and contract professional pay
    14,483       11,625
Deferred compensation
    2,118       2,070
Workers’ compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves
    10,461       10,349
Other
    3,738       3,746
            Total current liabilities
    35,371       31,954
               
Deferred income taxes
    5,697       5,697
Long-term debt
    77,913       77,913
Other long-term liabilities
    1,231       1,237
            Total liabilities
    120,212       116,801
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
             
Stockholders’ Equity:
             
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
         
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 36,387,851 and 36,262,810 issued respectively
    364       363
Paid-in capital
    220,970       220,082
Retained earnings
    4,789       5,090
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    376       1,126
              Total stockholders’ equity
    226,499       226,661
              Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 346,711     $ 343,462
               


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


 
3

 


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share data)


   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues
  $ 96,313     $ 116,802  
Cost of services
    65,490       79,818  
Gross profit
    30,823       36,984  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    29,831       33,129  
Operating income
    992       3,855  
Interest expense
    (1,560 )     (1,087 )
    Interest income
    32       56  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (536 )     2,824  
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    (234 )     1,176  
Net income (loss)
  $ (302 )   $ 1,648  
                 
Earnings (loss) per share:
               
    Basic
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.05  
    Diluted
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.05  
Number of shares and share equivalents used to calculate earnings (loss) per share:
               
    Basic
    36,361       35,840  
    Diluted
    36,361       35,982  

Reconciliation of net income (loss) to comprehensive income (loss):
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (302 )   $ 1,648  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (750 )     (516 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (1,052 )   $ 1,132  
                 

 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.























 
4

 


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)


   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (302 )   $ 1,648  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    1,425       1,512  
Amortization of intangible assets
    625       1,538  
Provision for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments
    29       172  
Deferred income tax provision
          13  
Stock-based compensation
    1,334       1,145  
Amortization of deferred loan costs
    255       148  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
          (660 )
(Gain) loss on officers’ life insurance policies
    (72 )     56  
Gross excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
    (59 )      
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
    (40 )     28  
Workers’ compensation and medical malpractice provision
    1,084       1,544  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (467 )     16,146  
Prepaid expenses
    595       571  
Prepaid income taxes
    (426 )     343  
Accounts payable
    479       844  
Accrued payroll and contract professional pay
    2,907       (4,283 )
Deferred compensation
    48       (83 )
Workers’ compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves
    (972 )     (913 )
Other
    (31 )     (1,611 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    6,412       18,158  
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Purchase of property and equipment
    (1,320 )     (1,638 )
Proceeds from insurance settlements
    42        
Net cash paid for acquisitions
    (11 )      
Other
    78       (110 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,211 )     (1,748 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Principal payments of long-term debt
          (15,000 )
Proceeds from stock transactions
    127       457  
Payment of employment taxes related to release of restricted stock awards
    (470 )     (166 )
Gross excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
    59        
Debt issuance or amendment costs
          (1,065 )
Payments of other long-term liabilities
    (17 )     (40 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (301 )     (15,814 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (624 )     (401 )
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    4,276       195  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
    25,974       46,271  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
  $ 30,250     $ 46,466  
 (continued)

 
5

 




   
Three Months Ended March 31,
   
2010
   
2009
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
         
Cash paid for:
         
Income taxes, net of refunds
  $ 72     $ 747
Interest
  $ 1,410     $ 2,679
               
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Transactions:
             
Acquisition of property and equipment through accounts payable
  $ 533     $ 526


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.





 
6

 


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. Financial Statement Presentation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. The information reflects all normal and recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of the Company’s management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of the Company and its results of operations for the interim periods set forth herein. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other period.  The Company has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date through the issuance date for appropriate accounting and disclosure.

2. Accounting Standards Updates.  In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an update to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), which requires new disclosures for fair value measurements and provides clarification for existing disclosure requirements. More specifically, this update requires (a) an entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers; and (b) information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be presented separately (i.e. present the activity on a gross basis rather than net) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). This guidance clarifies existing disclosure requirements for the level of disaggregation used for classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and requires disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. The Company adopted the measurement requirements of this guidance in the current quarter with no impact to the consolidated financial statements. See Note 5 for the disclosures required by this standard.

In September 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, which establishes the criteria for separating consideration in multiple-element arrangements.  The updated guidance requires companies allocating the overall consideration to each deliverable to use an estimated selling price of individual deliverables in the arrangement in the absence of vendor-specific evidence or other third-party evidence of the selling price for the deliverables and it also provides additional factors that should be considered when determining whether software in a tangible product is essential to its functionality. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which will be effective January 1, 2011.

3. Long-Term Debt. Long-term debt at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
           
Senior Secured Debt:
         
$20 million revolving credit facility, due January 2012
  $     $
$145 million term loan facility, bearing interest at LIBOR (defined with a 3.0 percent floor) plus 3.75 percent, due January 2013
    77,913       77,913
Total
  $ 77,913     $ 77,913
               

Under terms of the amended senior credit facility, the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants, including a maximum total leverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio, a limitation on capital expenditures and limitation on payment of dividends of more than $2.0 million per year.  The minimum interest coverage ratio (EBITDA to interest expense for the preceding 12 months) is 4.00 to 1.00 until maturity. The maximum total leverage ratio (total debt to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement for the preceding 12 months) follows:

January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009
3.25 to 1.00
January 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
3.00 to 1.00
    October 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011
2.75 to 1.00
    January 1, 2012 and thereafter
    2.50 to 1.00

 
 
7

 
 
In 2009, the Company paid down the principal balance of its term loan by a total of $48.0 million.  The payments were sufficient to cover the excess cash flow payment required by the bank for 2009, as well as all minimum quarterly payments until maturity on January 31, 2013.  The credit facility is secured by all of the assets of the Company.  As of March 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement.

4. Derivative Instruments.  The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, nor does it use leveraged financial instruments.

On May 2, 2007, the Company entered into a transaction with a financial institution to fix the underlying interest rate on $73.0 million of its outstanding bank loan for a period of two years beginning June 30, 2007. This transaction, commonly known as an interest rate swap, essentially fixed the Company’s base borrowing rate at 4.9425 percent as opposed to a floating rate, which reset at selected periods. The current base rate on the loan balance in excess of $73.0 million was 3.75 percent plus LIBOR (subject to a 3.0 percent LIBOR floor).  On June 30, 2009, the swap expired in accordance with the terms of the agreement.  The Company recorded a gain of $0.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 for the change in fair value of the interest rate swap.  The change in the fair value of the swap is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The interest rate swap was not designated as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes.  The fair value of the interest rate swap was the estimated amount the Company would have received to terminate the swap agreement at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the creditworthiness of the Company and the swap counterparty depending on whether the swap was in an asset or liability position, referred to as a credit valuation adjustment.  The interest rate swap expired on June 30, 2009, thus there was no related fair value measurement as of March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009. The interest rate swap was a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap based on a LIBOR swap rate. The LIBOR swap rate was observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swap and, therefore, was considered a Level 2 item.  Credit risk related to the swap was considered minimal and was managed by requiring high credit standards for the counterparty and periodic settlements of the underlying transactions.

Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to terms of the amended credit agreement, the Company entered into an interest rate cap contract, in order to mitigate the interest rate risk.  The interest rate cap contract is for a notional amount of $51.0 million with a one-month LIBOR cap of 3.0 percent for a term of one year.  As this agreement has not been designated as a hedging instrument, changes in the fair value of this agreement will increase or decrease interest expense.  The Company’s fair value measurement as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) for the interest rate cap was not significant. The LIBOR rate is observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the interest rate cap contract and, therefore, is considered a Level 2 item.  Credit risk related to the contract is considered minimal and will be managed by requiring high credit standards for the counterparty.
 
The following table reflects the effect of derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 

Location of Gain/Loss Recognized in Income on Derivative
Amount of Gain(Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
 
Amount of Gain(Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
     
Three Months Ended
March 31,
     
2010
   
2009
Interest rate cap
Interest expense
  $     $
Interest rate swap
Interest expense
  $     $ 660


5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments.  The valuation techniques utilized are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
 
 
Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The recorded values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value based on their short-term nature.
 
 
8

 

The interest rate cap was the only financial instrument carried at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  The Company’s fair value measurement as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) for the interest rate cap was not significant. The interest rate swap expired on June 30, 2009, thus there was no related fair value measurement as of March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009. The interest rate swap was a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap based on a LIBOR swap rate. The LIBOR swap rate was observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swap and, therefore, was considered a Level 2 item.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and the related estimated fair values of the financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
 
       
 Life Insurance Policies
  $ 2,186     $ 2,186     $ 2,114     $ 2,114  
 Long-Term Debt
    (77,913 )     (76,354 )     (77,913 )     (75,576 )

The Company maintains life insurance policies for use as a funding source for its deferred compensation arrangements. These life insurance policies are recorded at their cash surrender value as determined by the insurance broker. Amounts associated with these policies are recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The fair value of the long-term debt is based on the yields of comparable companies with similar credit characteristics.

Certain assets and liabilities, such as goodwill, are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (e.g., when there is evidence of impairment).  At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, no fair value adjustments were required for non-financial assets or liabilities.

6.  Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets.  There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The purchase of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA) included a $4.1 million holdback for potential claims that are indemnifiable by the selling shareholders pursuant to the acquisition agreement. The Company released $3.6 million of the $4.1 million holdback for potential claims that are indemnifiable by the selling shareholders of VISTA as of March 31, 2010. The remaining $0.5 million has been held back pending the resolution of the Company’s claims for indemnification which is expected to be settled in 2010.

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had the following acquired intangible assets (in thousands):

     
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
Estimated Useful Life
 
Gross Carrying Amount
   
Accumulated Amortization
   
Net Carrying Amount
   
Gross Carrying Amount
   
Accumulated Amortization
   
Net Carrying Amount
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
                                 
Customer relations
3 months - 7 years
  $ 6,660     $ 6,507     $ 153     $ 6,660     $ 6,257     $ 403
Contractor relations
3 - 7 years
    26,010       23,467       2,543       26,010       23,100       2,910
    Non-compete agreements
2 - 3 years
    340       338       2       340       330       10
In-use software
2 years
    500       500             500       500      
        33,510       30,812       2,698       33,510       30,187       3,323
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
                                             
Trademarks
      22,200             22,200       22,200             22,200
Goodwill
      202,814             202,814       202,814             202,814
Total
    $ 258,524     $ 30,812     $ 227,712     $ 258,524     $ 30,187     $ 228,337

Amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives was $0.6 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Estimated amortization for the remainder of 2010 is $1.1 million.  Estimated amortization for each of the four years in the period ended December 31, 2014 is $0.7 million, $0.4 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis as of December 31, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.


 
9

 
 
During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company’s stock price maintained the higher share price achieved during the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared with the lower stock prices earlier in 2009 and the excess of book value over the market capitalization continued to be within a reasonable range.  However, overall operating results for the reporting units were below the forecasts for the first quarter.  As a result of the operating results and updated forecasts for the Nurse Travel and Physician reporting units, the Company does not believe that the original forecasts will be achieved and that there has been a triggering event for these reporting units. Step one of the impairment analysis was performed for these reporting units and noted no impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets.  The Company believes that the other reporting units will be able to meet or exceed their forecasts for the full year 2010.

While the Nurse Travel reporting unit’s revenues continued to decline in the first quarter, the Company believes that Nurse Travel is beginning to experience some stabilization because the sequential decline in the first quarter has been smaller than in past quarters.   The cash flow forecasts for Nurse Travel were updated to reflect a reduction in revenues for 2010, offset by future expected increases in cash flows from reduced expense levels similar to those historically maintained with these lower revenue levels. Given the current economic environment, historical revenue growth rates experienced during a recovery from a recession were evaluated in establishing inputs to the forecasted cash flows.  Despite the significant decline in revenue in 2009 and 2010 as a result of the economic downturn, increases were forecasted over the next four to five years anticipating an economic recovery as well as increased demand from the significant need for healthcare professionals as a result of healthcare reform. Revenue is forecasted to stabilize in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Revenue growth rates in the years beginning in 2011 reflect a recovery from the recession, however the Company does not anticipate returning to historical revenue highs for five to six years.  Forecasted revenues for each of the five years beginning in 2011 are less than 2008 actual revenues.  As of March 31, 2010, the Nurse Travel reporting unit represented 7.6 percent of the $202.8 million goodwill balance and the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded the carrying value by 30.9 percent.

The Physician segment’s revenues were growing for the first half of 2009, which was offset by a decline in the second half of 2009  in comparison with the first half of 2009 and the prior year resulting in a small year-over-year decline in 2009 of 1.7 percent.  This decline in revenues continued in the first quarter of 2010.  While the Company believes that the Physician reporting unit will not achieve its 2010 forecast, the Company also believes that there are significant growth opportunities in the near future as a result of the economic recovery,  healthcare reform and the shortage of physicians in order to meet the expected growth in demand.  The five-year compounded annual growth rate for VISTA between 2008 and 2013 has remained relatively consistent, around 6.1 to 6.7 percent, between the fourth quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010 discounted cash flow analyses. These growth rates are based on various factors such as the demand from healthcare reform and the growth of the high margin permanent placement business in the third and fourth quarter of 2009.  The Physician reporting unit represented 18.3 percent of the $202.8 million goodwill balance and the percentage by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded its carrying value at March 31, 2010 was 33.1 percent.

The discounted cash flows and the resulting fair value estimates of the reporting units are highly sensitive to changes in other assumptions which include an increase of less than 500 basis points in the discount rate and/or a less than thirty percent decline in the cash flow projections of a reporting unit could cause the fair value of certain significant reporting units to be below their carrying value.  Additionally, the assumption is that there will be an economic recovery throughout 2010 for all of the reporting units except for Nurse Travel and Physician. Changes in the timing of the recovery and the impact on the operations and costs may also affect the sensitivity of the projections including achieving future cost savings resulting from initiatives which contemplate further synergies from system and operational improvements in infrastructure and field support which were included in the forecasts.  Ultimately, future changes in these assumptions may impact the estimated fair value of a reporting unit and cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be below its carrying value, which would require a step two analysis and may result in impairment of goodwill.

Due to the many variables inherent in the estimation of a business’s fair value and the relative size of recorded goodwill, changes in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of the impairment analysis. Downward revisions of the forecasts, extended delays in the economic recovery, or a sustained decline of the stock price resulting in market capitalization significantly below book value could lead to an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives in future periods.

7. Property and Equipment.  The Company has capitalized costs related to its various technology initiatives. The net book value of the property and equipment related to software development was $7.8 million as of March 31, 2010 and $7.5 million as of December 31, 2009, which includes work-in-progress of $5.2 million and $4.5 million, respectively. The Company has also capitalized website development costs of $0.1 million as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, of which no costs were considered work-in-progress.

8. Stock Option Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. On March 17, 2010 the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was granted 67,568 restricted stock units (RSUs) with a grant date fair market value of $0.5 million which will vest in two equal components on February 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012 subject to continued employment through such vesting dates, contingent upon meeting certain performance objectives approved by the Compensation Committee based on adjusted EBITDA,
 
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measured over the twelve-month period between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.  The grant-date fair values of the above RSU awards are being expensed over their respective vesting terms based on estimates of the probability that the targets will be met.  Based on the current forecast for 2010, 83 percent of the performance target is expected to be met for this award.  All awards are subject to the CEO’s continued employment through applicable vesting dates.  All awards may vest on an accelerated basis in part or in full upon the occurrence of certain events.

In the first quarter of 2010, the Company granted RSUs to certain other executive officers with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1.1 million, forty percent of which vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, contingent upon continued employment and the Company meeting certain performance objectives during this period and 60 percent of which vest in equal increments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date based on continued employment only.  Compensation expense for the performance-based component of these awards is based on estimates of the probability that the targets will be met.  Based on the current forecast for 2010, 67 percent of the applicable performance target is expected to be met.  The maximum compensation expense related to the performance-based component of these awards that may be recognized is $0.2 million expensed over the vesting term.   Compensation expense that will be recognized related to the time-based component of these awards is $0.9 million, which is being expensed over the vesting term beginning on the grant date.

Compensation expense charged to operations related to stock-based compensation was $1.3 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) in selling, general and administrative expenses.

9. Commitments and Contingencies.  The Company is partially self-insured for its workers’ compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments, as well as its medical malpractice liability in the Physician segment. The Company accounts for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes or differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or the payments were made. The self-insurance claim liability was approximately $10.5 million at March 31, 2010 and $10.3 million at December 31, 2009.  Additionally, the Company has letters of credit outstanding to secure obligations for workers’ compensation claims with various insurance carriers.  The letters of credit outstanding at March 31, 2010 were $4.0 million and at December 31, 2009 were $3.8 million.

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company has an income tax reserve in other long-term liabilities related to uncertain tax positions of $0.3 million.

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, the Company does not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 
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10. Earnings per share. Basic earnings per share are computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, and diluted earnings per share are computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common share equivalents (consisting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards and units and employee stock purchase plan shares) outstanding during the periods using the treasury stock method.

The following is a reconciliation of the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
2010
   
2009
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to compute basic earnings per share
    36,361       35,840
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
          142
Number of shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
    36,361       35,982
               

The following table outlines the weighted average share equivalents outstanding during each period that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price for these options was greater than the average market price of the Company’s shares of common stock during the respective periods. Also excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share were other share equivalents that became anti-dilutive when applying the treasury stock method (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
2010(1)
   
2009
Anti-dilutive common share equivalents outstanding
    1,314       3,776
               
(1)  For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the inclusion of potential common stock has an anti-dilutive effect on the reported loss per share.  The number of common stock equivalents reported above represents the anti-dilutive shares that would have been excluded in the event that the Company had net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

11. Income Taxes. For the interim reporting periods, the Company prepares an estimate of the full-year income and the related income tax expense for each jurisdiction in which the Company operates.  Changes in the geographical mix, permanent differences or estimated level of annual pretax income can impact our actual effective rate.

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated value of the Company’s uncertain tax positions is a liability of $0.3 million, which includes penalties and interest, all of which was carried in other long-term liabilities.  If the Company’s positions are sustained by the taxing authority in favor of the Company, the entire $0.3 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The IRS has examined and concluded all tax matters for years through 2006.  Open tax years related to federal, state and foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination but are not considered material.

12. Segment Reporting. The Company has four reportable segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering. The Company’s management evaluates the performance of each segment primarily based on revenues, gross profit and operating income. The information in the following table is derived directly from the segments’ internal financial reporting used for corporate management purposes.

 
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The following table presents revenues, gross profit and operating income (loss) by reportable segment (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues:
           
 Life Sciences
  $ 23,050     $ 25,376  
 Healthcare
    18,576       31,511  
 Physician
    18,871       21,744  
 IT and Engineering
    35,816       38,171  
Total Revenues
  $ 96,313     $ 116,802  
Gross Profit:
               
   Life Sciences
  $ 7,294     $ 8,102  
   Healthcare
    4,969       8,307  
   Physician
    5,989       6,542  
   IT and Engineering
    12,571       14,033  
Total Gross Profit
  $ 30,823     $ 36,984  
Operating Income (Loss):
               
   Life Sciences
  $ 639     $ 1,747  
   Healthcare
    (2,125 )     (422 )
   Physician
    1,238       1,456  
   IT and Engineering
    1,240       1,074  
Total Operating Income
  $ 992     $ 3,855  

The Company operates internationally, with operations mainly in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The following table presents revenues by geographic location (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
2010
   
2009
Revenues:
         
  Domestic
  $ 89,728     $ 111,157
  Foreign
    6,585       5,645
  Total Revenues
  $ 96,313     $ 116,802

The Company does not report Life Sciences and Healthcare segments’ total assets separately as the operations are largely centralized. The following table presents total assets as allocated by reportable segment (in thousands):

   
March 31,
2010
   
December 31, 2009
Total Assets:
         
   Life Sciences and Healthcare
  $ 78,467     $ 78,645
   Physician
    69,628       69,912
   IT and Engineering
    198,616       194,905
  Total Assets
  $ 346,711     $ 343,462

13. Subsequent Event. On April 19, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Cambridge Group Ltd. (Cambridge), a Connecticut-based privately-held provider of specialized staffing services in the areas of Physician, Clinical/Scientific and Information Technology, for a purchase price of $5.5 million in cash, plus potential future earn-out payments, based upon operating results in the next two fiscal years.  Cambridge will be reported under the Life Sciences, IT and Engineering and Physician segments.

 
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Item 2 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information in this discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our anticipated financial and operating performance for future periods.  Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the continued negative impact of the current credit crisis and global economic slowdown; (2) actual demand for our services; (3) our ability to attract, train and retain qualified staffing consultants; (4) our ability to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients; (5) the availability of qualified contract nurses and other qualified contract professionals; (6) our ability to manage our growth efficiently and effectively; (7) continued performance of our information systems; and (8) other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our  Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010, under the section “Risk Factors”. Other factors also may contribute to the differences between our forward-looking statements and our actual results.  In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance.  All forward-looking statements in this document are based on information available to us as of the date we file this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or the reasons why our actual results may differ.

OVERVIEW

On Assignment, Inc. is a diversified professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in specialty skills including Laboratory/Scientific, Healthcare/Nursing, Physicians, Medical Financial, Information Technology and Engineering. We provide clients in these markets with short-term or long-term assignments of contract professionals, contract-to-permanent placement and direct placement of these professionals. Our business currently consists of four operating segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician, and IT and Engineering.

The Life Sciences segment includes our domestic and international life science staffing lines of business. We provide locally-based, contract life science professionals to clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, medical device, personal care, chemical, nutraceutical, materials science, consumer products, environmental petrochemical and contract manufacturing industries. Our contract professionals include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants and other skilled scientific professionals.

The Healthcare segment includes our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business. We offer our healthcare clients contract professionals, both locally-based and traveling, from more than ten healthcare and allied healthcare occupations. Our contract professionals include nurses, specialty nurses, health information management professionals, dialysis technicians, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, x-ray technicians, medical technologists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors and collections staff.

Our Physician segment consists of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA) which is a leading provider of physician staffing, known as locum tenens coverage, and permanent physician search services based in Salt Lake City, Utah. We provide short and long-term locum tenens coverage and full-service physician search and consulting in the United States with capabilities in Australia and New Zealand. VISTA works with physicians from nearly all medical specialties, placing them in hospitals, community-based practices, and federal, state and local facilities.

Our IT and Engineering segment consists of Oxford Global Resources, Inc. (Oxford) which delivers high-end consultants with expertise in specialized information technology, software and hardware engineering, and mechanical, electrical, validation and telecommunications engineering fields. We combine international reach with local depth, serving clients through a network of Oxford International recruiting centers in the United States and Europe, and Oxford & Associates branch offices in major metropolitan markets across the United States. Oxford is based in Beverly, Massachusetts.
 
 
First Quarter 2010 Update

Demand for our services was down significantly compared to the first quarter in 2009 as labor markets remain weak. However, demand for IT and Engineering and Life Science professionals improved during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the prior quarter and we are beginning to see early signs of a recovery in demand for healthcare professionals in the early part of the second quarter of 2010. Our first quarter consolidated gross margin expanded over the first quarter of 2009 as the revenue mix shifted to higher margin segments.

 
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Seasonality
 
 
Demand for our staffing services historically has been lower during the first and fourth quarters due to fewer business days resulting from client shutdowns, adverse weather conditions and a decline in the number of contract professionals willing to work during the holidays.  As is common in the staffing industry, we run special incentive programs to keep our contract professionals, particularly nurses, working through the holidays. Demand for our staffing services usually increases in the second and third quarters of the year. In addition, our cost of services typically increases in the first quarter primarily due to the reset of payroll taxes.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table summarizes selected statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of revenues:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of services
    68.0       68.3  
Gross profit
    32.0       31.7  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    31.0       28.4  
Operating income
    1.0       3.3  
Interest expense
    (1.6 )     (0.9 )
Interest income
           
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (0.6 )     2.4  
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    (0.3 )     1.0  
Net income (loss)
    (0.3 %)     1.4 %


CHANGES IN RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009

Revenues

 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
   
Change
   
2010
   
2009
     $       %
Revenues by segment (in thousands):
 
                          (Unaudited)
 Life Sciences
  $ 23,050     $ 25,376     $ (2,326 )     (9.2%)
 Healthcare
    18,576       31,511       (12,935 )     (41.0%)
 Physician
    18,871       21,744       (2,873 )     (13.2%)
 IT and Engineering
    35,816       38,171       (2,355 )     (6.2%)
Total Revenues
  $ 96,313     $ 116,802     $ (20,489 )     (17.5%)


Revenues decreased $20.5 million, or 17.5 percent, as a result of weakened demand for our services in all segments.

Life Sciences segment revenues decreased $2.3 million, or 9.2 percent. The decrease in revenues was primarily due to a 7.4 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment and a 2.6 percent decrease in the average bill rate. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.2 million, or 19.9 percent increase in direct hire and conversion fees. Based on our research and client feedback, we believe this was a direct result of our clients’ decisions to focus more on cost containment than on completing projects and developing new products or enhancing existing product lines during this challenging economic period, decreased venture capital funding in the life sciences sector, softness in the clinical trials arena, which is closely tied to the struggling pharmaceutical industry, decreased demand for recent graduates and lower level scientific skill disciplines.

Healthcare segment revenues (comprised of our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business) decreased $12.9 million, or 41.0 percent. Nurse Travel revenues decreased $12.3 million, or 57.7 percent, to $9.0 million primarily as a result of a 54.9 percent decrease in the average number of nurses on assignment and a 6.2 percent decrease in the average bill rate. Allied Healthcare revenues decreased $0.6 million, or 6.3 percent, to $9.6 million due to a 10.7 percent decrease in the average number of contract professionals on assignment and a $0.2 million decrease in direct hire and conversion fee revenues.  These decreases were partially offset by a 5.3 percent

 
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increase in the average bill rate. Based on our research and client feedback, we believe the decrease in revenues was attributable to less demand from hospitals and other healthcare facilities as they reduced their usage of contract professionals in response to declining patient admissions, endowment balances and reduced charitable contributions.

Physician segment revenues decreased $2.9 million, or 13.2 percent. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to a 22.7 percent decrease in the average number of physicians on assignment and a 3.7 percent decrease in the average bill rate. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.3 million, or 61.4 percent increase in direct hire and conversion fee revenues.  Based on industry research and client feedback, we believe the decrease in revenues reflects two significant issues. First, the uncertainty surrounding health care reform has slowed down our clients’ normal hiring decisions as they try to understand the impact of current legislation. Second, the current economic conditions and high unemployment have reduced the number of elective procedures and lowered patient census at client facilities. As a result, short term demand has been lower.

IT and Engineering segment revenues decreased $2.4 million, or 6.2 percent.  The decrease in revenues was primarily due to a 10.0 percent decrease in the average bill rate, and a $0.5 million decrease in reimbursable revenue for billable expenses and conversion fee revenues. These decreases were partially offset by a 4.0 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment. Based on client feedback, the decrease in revenues was mainly the result of the current economic environment and the lack of capital available to clients for projects and programs.

Gross profit and gross margin

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
   
2010
   
2009
   
Gross Profit
   
Gross Margin
   
Gross Profit
   
Gross Margin
Gross Profit by segment (in thousands):
 
(Unaudited)
 Life Sciences
  $ 7,294       31.6%     $ 8,102       31.9%
 Healthcare
    4,969       26.7%       8,307       26.4%
 Physician
    5,989       31.7%       6,542       30.1%
 IT and Engineering
    12,571       35.1%       14,033       36.8%
Total Gross Profit
  $ 30,823       32.0%     $ 36,984       31.7%

The year-over-year gross profit decrease was primarily due to the decline in revenues in all four segments, partially offset by a 34 basis point expansion in consolidated gross margin. The increase in gross margin was primarily attributable to margin expansion in the Healthcare and Physician segments and a reduction in the percent of revenues related to the Nurse Travel line of business which has the lowest gross margin.

Life Sciences segment gross profit decreased $0.8 million, or 10.0 percent. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to a 9.2 percent decrease in the segment revenues and a 29 basis point contraction in gross margin mainly due to a 3.7 percent decrease in bill/pay spread an increase in unemployment insurance expense and an increase in worker’s compensation insurance expense.  The contraction in gross margin was partially offset by a $0.2 million, or 19.9 percent, increase in direct hire and conversion fee revenues.

Healthcare segment gross profit decreased $3.3 million, or 40.2 percent. The decrease in gross profit was due to a 41.0 percent decrease in the segment revenues, partially offset by a 39 basis point expansion in gross margin. The expansion in gross margin was primarily due to a $1.8 million, or 55.4 percent, decrease in other employee-related expenses. The expansion in gross margin was partially offset by a 14.7 percent decrease in the bill/pay spread an increase as percentage of sales in unemployment insurance expense and an increase in workers’ compensation insurance expense. Within this segment Allied Healthcare gross profit decreased 10.3 percent while gross margin decreased 139 basis points and Nurse Travel gross profit decreased 59.8 percent while gross margin decreased 115 basis points.

Physician segment gross profit decreased $0.6 million, or 8.5 percent. The decrease in gross profit was due to a $2.9 million, or 13.2 percent, decrease in the segment revenues, partially offset by a 165 basis point expansion in gross margin. The expansion in gross margin was primarily due to a $0.6 million decrease in medical malpractice expense as well as a $0.3 million increase in direct hire and conversion fee revenues. The expansion in gross margin was partially offset by a 7.3 percent decrease in bill/pay spread.

IT and Engineering segment gross profit decreased $1.5 million, or 10.4 percent, primarily due to a 6.2 percent decrease in revenues and a contraction in gross margin of 167 basis points.  The contraction in gross margin was primarily due to a 12.2 percent decrease in the bill/pay spread and a $0.3 million decrease in conversion fee revenues. The decrease in gross margin was partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in other employee expenses.

 
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, SG&A expenses decreased $3.3 million, or 10.0 percent, to $29.8 million from $33.1 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily due to a $1.9 million decrease in compensation and benefits as a result of decreased headcount as compared with the same period in 2009.  The decrease in SG&A expenses was also due to a $0.9 million decrease in amortization expense as well as a $0.3 million decrease in bad debt expense. Total SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 31.0 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from 28.4 percent in the same period in 2009, primarily due to revenues decreasing more than SG&A expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Interest expense and interest income

Interest expense was $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with $1.1 million in the same period in 2009.  This increase was primarily due to a $0.7 million gain in 2009 for the mark-to-market adjustment on our interest rate swap, which expired on June 30, 2009, partially offset by lower average debt balances.

Interest income decreased to $32,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with $56,000 in the same period in 2009 due to lower account balances invested in interest-bearing accounts and lower average interest rates.

Benefit for Income Taxes

The benefit for income taxes was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with a provision of $1.2 million for the same period in the prior year. The annual effective tax rate was 43.7 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 41.6 percent for the same period in 2009.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our working capital at March 31, 2010 was $63.1 million, including $30.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. Our operating cash flows have been our primary source of liquidity and historically have been sufficient to fund our working capital and capital expenditure needs. Our working capital requirements consist primarily of the financing of accounts receivable, payroll expenses and the periodic payments of principal and interest on our term loan.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with $18.2 million in the same period in 2009.  This decrease was primarily due to lower earnings in the first three months of 2010 and the decline in cash generated from the change in net operating assets and liabilities.
 
Net cash used in investing activities was $1.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with $1.7 million in the same period in 2009.  This decrease was primarily due to lower capital expenditures.  Capital expenditures related to information technology projects, leasehold improvements and various property and equipment purchases for the three months ended March 31, 2010 totaled $1.3 million, compared with $1.6 million in the comparable 2009 period. We estimate capital expenditures to be approximately $5.0 million for calendar 2010.

Net cash used in financing activities was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with net cash used by financing activities of $15.8 million for the same period in 2009, which included a $15.0 million pay down of our term loan facility in the first quarter of 2009.
 
Under terms of our amended credit facility, we are required to maintain certain financial covenants, including a minimum total leverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio, a limitation on capital expenditures and limitation on payment of dividends of more than $2.0 million per year. The maximum total leverage ratio (total debt to EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement for the preceding 12 months) is as follows:

January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009
3.25 to 1.00
January 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
3.00 to 1.00
    October 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011
2.75 to 1.00
    January 1, 2012 and thereafter
    2.50 to 1.00

Additionally, the minimum interest coverage ratio (EBITDA to interest expense, as defined by the credit agreement for the preceding 12 months) is 4.00 to 1.00 until maturity.  The LIBOR rate as defined includes a 3.0 percent floor.

 
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In 2009, we paid down $48.0 million on the principal balance of our term loan.  The payments were sufficient to cover the excess cash flow payment required by the bank, as well as all minimum quarterly payments until maturity on January 31, 2013.  Based on our most recent forecast, we believe we will maintain compliance with the covenants contained in our credit facility for the next 12 months.

The purchase of VISTA included a $4.1 million holdback for potential claims that are indemnifiable by the selling shareholders pursuant to the acquisition agreement.  We released $3.6 million of the $4.1 million holdback for potential claims that are indemnifiable by the selling shareholders of VISTA as of March 31, 2010. We anticipate resolving the remaining indemnification claims, which total $0.5 million, in 2010 by the mutual agreement of the applicable parties.  The Company has no additional earn-out payment obligations related to VISTA and Oxford.

We continue to make progress on enhancements to our front-office and back-office information systems.  These enhancements include the consolidation of back-office systems across all corporate functions, as well as enhancements to and broader application of our front-office software across all lines of business. The timing of the full integration of information systems used by VISTA and Oxford will remain a consideration of management.

We believe that our working capital as of March 31, 2010, our credit facility and positive operating cash flows expected from future activities will be sufficient to fund future requirements of our debt obligations, accounts payable and related payroll expenses as well as capital expenditure initiatives for the next twelve months.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, Recent Accounting Updates, to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item I of this report for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.

Critical Accounting Policies

Other than the expanded disclosure of our goodwill and identifiable intangible assets policy presented below, there have been no other significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with those disclosed in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets.   During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, our stock price maintained the higher share price achieved during the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared with the lower stock prices in 2009 and the excess of book value over our market capitalization continued to be within a reasonable range.  However, overall operating results for our reporting units were below our forecasts for the first quarter.  As a result of the operating results and updated forecasts for the Nurse Travel and Physician reporting units, we do not believe that they are going to achieve their original forecasts and that we had a triggering event for these reporting units. We performed step one of the impairment analysis for these reporting units and noted no impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets.  We believe that our other reporting units will be able to meet or exceed their forecasts for the full year 2010.

While the Nurse Travel reporting unit’s revenues continued to decline in the first quarter, we believe that Nurse Travel is beginning to experience some stabilization because the sequential decline in the first quarter has been smaller than in past quarters.  We updated our cash flow forecasts for Nurse Travel to reflect a reduction in revenues for 2010, offset by future expected increases in cash flows from reduced expense levels similar to those historically maintained with these lower revenue levels. Given the current economic environment, we evaluated historical revenue growth rates experienced during a recovery from a recession in establishing inputs to the forecasted cash flows.  Despite the significant decline in revenue in 2009 and 2010 as a result of the economic downturn, increases were forecasted over the next four to five years anticipating an economic recovery as well as increased demand from the significant need for healthcare professionals as a result of healthcare reform. Revenue is forecasted to stabilize in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Revenue growth rates in the years beginning in 2011 reflect a recovery from the recession, however we do not anticipate returning to historical revenue highs for five to six years.  Our forecasted revenues for each of the five years beginning in 2011 are less than 2008 actual revenues.  As of March 31, 2010, the Nurse Travel reporting unit represented 7.6 percent of our $202.8 million goodwill balance and the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded the carrying value by 30.9 percent.

The Physician segment’s revenues were growing for the first half of 2009, which was offset by a decline in the second half of 2009 in comparison with the first half of 2009 and the prior year resulting in a small year-over-year decline in 2009 of 1.7 percent.  This decline in revenues continued in the first quarter of 2010.  While we believe that the Physician reporting unit will not achieve its 2010 forecast, we also believe that there are significant growth opportunities in the near future as a result of the economic recovery,  healthcare reform and the shortage of physicians in order to meet the expected growth in demand.

 
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The five-year compounded annual growth rate for VISTA between 2008 and 2013 has remained relatively consistent, around 6.1 to 6.7 percent, between the fourth quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010 discounted cash flow analyses. These growth rates are based on various factors such as the demand from healthcare reform and the growth of the high margin permanent placement business in the third and fourth quarter of 2009.  The Physician reporting unit represented 18.3 percent of our $202.8 million goodwill balance and the percentage by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined by the discounted cash flow analysis exceeded its carrying value at March 31, 2010 was 33.1 percent.

The discounted cash flows and the resulting fair value estimates of our reporting units are highly sensitive to changes in other assumptions which include an increase of less than 500 basis points in the discount rate and/or a less than thirty percent decline in the cash flow projections of a reporting unit could cause the fair value of certain significant reporting units to be below their carrying value.  Additionally, we have assumed that there will be an economic recovery throughout 2010 for all of the reporting units except for Nurse Travel and Physician. Changes in the timing of the recovery and the impact on our operations and costs may also affect the sensitivity of the projections including achieving future cost savings resulting from initiatives which contemplate further synergies from system and operational improvements in infrastructure and field support which were included in our forecasts.  Ultimately, future changes in these assumptions may impact the estimated fair value of a reporting unit and cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be below its carrying value, which would require a step two analysis and may result in impairment of goodwill.

Due to the many variables inherent in the estimation of a business’s fair value and the relative size of recorded goodwill, changes in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis. Downward revisions of our forecasts, extended delays in the economic recovery, or a sustained decline of our stock price resulting in market capitalization significantly below book value could lead to an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives in future periods.

Commitments

We have not entered into any significant commitments or contractual obligations that have not been previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

 
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Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.  We are exposed to certain market risks arising from transactions in the normal course of business, principally risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and changes in interest rates. We are exposed to foreign currency risk from the translation of foreign operations into U.S. dollars. Based on the relative size and nature of our foreign operations, we do not believe that a ten percent change in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar would have a material impact on our financial statements. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with our debt instruments. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further description of our debt instruments.   Including the effect of our interest rate cap contract, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $0.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009.  Excluding the effect of our interest rate swap agreement, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009. However, given that our loan agreement has an interest rate floor (3.0 percent in the case of LIBOR), short-term rates would have to move up by approximately 250 basis points before it would impact us. We have not entered into any market risk sensitive instruments for trading purposes.

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.  The term “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of the Company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within required time periods.  We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

The information set forth above under Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies, contained in the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the Section “Risk Factors” for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4 – Removed and Reserved

Item 5 – Other Information

None.

Item 6 – Exhibits

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Number
 
Footnote
 
Description
3.1
 
(1)
 
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of On Assignment, Inc.
3.2
 
(2)
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of On Assignment, Inc., as amended.
3.3
 
(3)
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of On Assignment, Inc.
4.1
 
(4)
 
Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
4.2
 
(5)
 
Rights Agreement, dated June 4, 2003, between On Assignment, Inc. and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation as Rights Agent, which includes the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit C.
10.1*
     
First Amendment to Senior Executive Agreement, dated March 30, 2010 by and between On Assignment, Inc. and Peter Dameris. †
31.1*
     
Certification of Peter T. Dameris, Chief Executive Officer and President pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
31.2*
     
Certification of James L. Brill, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
32.1*
     
Certification of Peter T. Dameris, Chief Executive Officer and President, and James L. Brill, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.


 
 
*
Filed herewith.
 
These exhibits relate to management contracts or compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements in which directors and/or executive officers of the Registrant may participate.


(1)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the

 
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 Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2000.

(2)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1993.

(3)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2002.

(4)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-50646) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 1992.

(5)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2003.



 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.
     
Date: May 10, 2010
 
 
By:
/s/ Peter T. Dameris
   
Peter T. Dameris
   
Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date: May 10, 2010
 
 
By:
/s/ James L. Brill
   
James L. Brill
   
Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
   
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 
 
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Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) 
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Peter T. Dameris, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of On Assignment, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2010
 
/s/ Peter T. Dameris
 
 
Peter T. Dameris
Chief Executive Officer and President


 
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Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) 
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, James L. Brill certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of On Assignment, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2010
 
/s/ James L. Brill
 
 
James L. Brill
Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer


 
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Exhibit 32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)

The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of On Assignment, Inc. (the “Company”), each hereby certifies that, to his knowledge on the date hereof:
(a) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended March 31, 2010 filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(b) information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 10, 2010
By:
/s/ Peter T. Dameris
   
Peter T. Dameris
   
Chief Executive Officer and President
     
Date: May 10, 2010
By:
/s/ James L. Brill
   
James L. Brill
   
Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer


 
26