
2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the interim financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the interim financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management's estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Significant estimates include incentives earned or penalties incurred on contracts, best estimate of selling price in multiple element arrangements, valuation allowances related to deferred income taxes, self-insurance loss accruals, allowances for doubtful accounts and notes, income tax accruals, acquisition accounting, asset impairments and facilities realignment accruals. The Company periodically reviews these matters and reflects changes in estimates as appropriate. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share

A reconciliation of the number of shares of common stock used in the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Basic weighted average number of common shares	14,479	14,325	14,417	14,291
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards	—	336	—	—
Diluted weighted average number of common shares	14,479	14,661	14,417	14,291

The following outstanding stock-based awards were excluded from the computation of the effect of dilutive securities on loss per share for the following periods because they would have been anti-dilutive:



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Options	113	180	113	180
Stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs)	357	74	357	483
Restricted stock/units	608	18	608	468
Performance contingent SARs	280	305	280	305
	1,358	577	1,358	1,436

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company allocates the cost of acquired companies to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the remaining amount classified as goodwill. Since the entities the Company has acquired do not have significant tangible assets, a significant portion of the purchase price has been allocated to intangible assets and goodwill. The identification and valuation of these intangible assets and the determination of the estimated useful lives at the time of acquisition, as well as the completion of impairment tests require significant management judgments and estimates. These estimates are made based on, among other factors, consultations with an accredited independent valuation consultant, reviews of projected future operating results and business plans, economic projections, anticipated highest and best use of future cash flows and the market participant cost of capital. The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets, and potentially result in a different impact to the Company's results of operations. Further, changes in business strategy and/or market conditions may significantly impact these judgments thereby impacting the fair value of these assets, which could result in an impairment of the goodwill.

The Company tests goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually (as of December 31) and whenever events or circumstances change that indicate impairment may have occurred. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in stock price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate of the pharmaceutical industry; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of goodwill, and indefinite lived intangible assets and our consolidated financial results. At September 30, 2011 no indicators of impairment were identified.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the recoverability of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company did not identify any events or changes in circumstances that indicated that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011.

Reclassifications

The Company reclassified certain prior period financial statement balances to conform to the current year presentation. See Note 13, Discontinued Operations, for further information.

Forward Looking Accounting Standards Updates

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-05, "Presentation of Comprehensive Income" (ASU 2011-05), which requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. ASU 2011-05 will be effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will not have a material effect on the Company's operating results or financial position.

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08 (ASU 2011-08), "Testing Goodwill for Impairment". ASU 2011-08 updates guidance on the periodic testing of goodwill for impairment. This updated guidance will allow companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that goodwill will be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. This new guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2011-08, but does not believe the adoption will have a material effect on the Company's operating results or financial position.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Updates

In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13 (ASU 2009-13), “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements-a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force”. ASU 2009-13 updates the existing multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements guidance included under Accounting Standards Codification 605-25. The revised guidance:


•	eliminates the need for objective and reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered element in order for a delivered item to be treated as a separate unit of accounting;


•	eliminates the residual value method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method, which allocates any discount in the arrangement proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable's selling price;


•	establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, which is based on:


◦	vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) if available;


◦	third party evidence (TPE) if VSOE is not available; or


◦	an estimated selling price if neither VSOE nor TPE is available;


•	requires that a vendor determine its best estimate of selling price in a manner that is consistent with that used to determine the price to sell the deliverable on a stand-alone basis; and


•	expands the disclosure requirements for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements.

The Company frequently provides promotional services under multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements (Arrangements) through its Pharmakon, Group DCA and Interpace BioPharma business units. The significant deliverables in these Arrangements generally include:


•	for Pharmakon:


◦	recruitment mailings (Recruitment) to generate attendance at interactive meetings and events; and


◦	the various forms of interactive meetings and events (Events);


•	for Group DCA:


◦	the content development phase (Development) of an interactive digital program; and


◦	the hosting period (Delivery) of an interactive digital program, which could include various services, but is primarily comprised of i) the design and delivery of recruitment activities to generate participation in a program and ii) the online hosting, program management and progress reporting services; and


•	for Interpace BioPharma:


◦	full supply chain management, operations, marketing, compliance, and regulatory/medical management services; and


◦	a dedicated sales team providing product detailing services.

ASU 2009-13 became effective for, and was adopted by, the Company beginning January 1, 2011 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2009-13 as of January 1, 2011 impacted the revenue recognition policies of these business units in the Company's Marketing Services and Product Commercialization Services segments as follows:

Prior to the Adoption of ASU 2009-13

Prior to its adoption of ASU 2009-13, the Company separated the deliverables in its Arrangements into separate units of accounting, as required by the applicable revenue recognition accounting guidance in effect at the time, if a) the delivered item(s) had value to the customer on a standalone basis, b) there was objective and reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered item(s), and c) if an arrangement included a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) was considered probable and substantially in the control of the Company. The application of this guidance resulted in the following accounting treatment at each business unit:

Pharmakon

In general, prior to January 1, 2011 and the adoption of ASU 2009-13, the Company divided the deliverables within these Arrangements into two units of accounting: Recruitment and Events. Recruitment, which is delivered in advance of the Events, was determined to have standalone value to the customer. The Company was able to establish VSOE for the undelivered item, the Events, based on prices charged to its customers when sold on a standalone basis. Revenue was allocated to the deliverables using the residual value method, and was then recognized in accordance with the revenue recognition policies of the individual units of accounting based on the characteristics of the underlying deliverables. Generally, revenue was recognized as Recruitment mailings were mailed and when Events were conducted.

Group DCA

The Company acquired Group DCA on November 3, 2010. Historically, Development and Delivery services provided by Group DCA did not qualify as separate units of accounting under the accounting guidance in effect at the time due to the lack of objective and reliable evidence, either from VSOE or TPE, of the fair value of the Delivery unit of accounting, which was the undelivered item in the arrangements. As a result, the Company grouped the deliverables under these Arrangements into one unit of accounting and deferred all revenue related to the programs until it had achieved the recognition criteria applicable to the combined single unit of accounting. Generally, all revenue recognition criteria were met and revenue recognition commenced at the inception of a program's hosting period, and revenue was recognized ratably over the period. Group DCA revenues were not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements during the year ended December 31, 2010.

For further information on the Company's revenue recognition policy refer to "Revenue & Cost of Services" in Footnote 1 in the Company's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Impact of the Adoption of ASU 2009-13

Pharmakon

Effective January 1, 2011, the residual value method was no longer an allowable method of allocating arrangement consideration. Pharmakon now utilizes the selling price hierarchy, described above. In applying this hierarchy, the Company first determined that both VSOE and TPE continue to be unavailable for establishing the relative selling price of Recruitment. Based on that determination, the Company now utilizes its best estimate to determine the selling price of this deliverable. The Company has determined that the rate card price Pharmakon charges for this service represents the best estimate of selling price of the Recruitment deliverable as the business unit has an established pricing policy and the rate card price is the price Pharmakon would charge its customers for this service if provided on a standalone basis. The rate card price was determined by estimating the average cost incurred by Pharmakon to provide this service to its customers plus an average profit margin per the business unit pricing policy, and is consistent with the pricing on all services provided by Pharmakon. The application of ASU 2009-13 resulted in little to no change in the allocation of consideration when compared to the residual value method and therefore the adoption of ASU 2009-13 did not have a material impact on Pharmakon revenue recognition during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on subsequent periods.

Group DCA

Under the guidance in ASU 2009-13, Group DCA is now required to estimate the selling price of a deliverable if it has standalone value to the customer and both VSOE and TPE of the selling price are not available. As a result, the deliverables in Group DCA Arrangements have been determined to be separate units of accounting and consideration is allocated based on relative selling prices. Selling prices are estimated for most deliverables through an analysis of historical selling price as well as estimated internal labor hours and an average billing rate based on employee costs. Revenue is recognized for each unit of accounting depending upon the characteristics of their underlying deliverables. For Development, revenue is recognized as the service is being provided to the customer. Revenue allocated to Delivery is recognized ratably over the hosting period. The adoption of the new guidance did not materially impact Group DCA revenue recognition during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011.

Interpace BioPharma

Under the guidance in ASU 2009-13, the Company has determined that there are two units of accounting within its arrangements: the Dedicated Sales Team providing product detailing services; and the Commercial Operations providing full supply chain management, operations, marketing, compliance, and regulatory/medical management services. Due to the significant level of customization, selling prices are determined for the Dedicated Sales Team through internal development of a program budget consistent with the manner of deriving selling prices that the Company employs in its Sales Services segment. Selling prices for Commercial Operations are determined by estimating the expenditures required to perform the services, plus the addition of a reasonable profit margin consistent with the expected profit margin to be generated by the Dedicated Sales Team. Revenue is recognized for Dedicated Sales Team on a straight-line basis over the product detailing service period which begins upon deployment of the sales force. Revenue is recognized for Commercial Operations as services are provided over the term of the service period. As the formation of Interpace BioPharma occurred during the current year, the new guidance did not have a comparative impact.