Significant Accounting Policies: (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Basis of Presentation

Mastech Holdings, Inc. (referred to in this report as “Mastech”, the “Company”, “us”, “our” or “we”) is a provider of information technology staffing services. Our business combines technical expertise with business process experience to deliver a broad range of services within business intelligence / data warehousing; service oriented architecture; web services; enterprise resource planning & customer resource management; and e-Business solutions segments. Headquartered in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, we have approximately 750 consultants that provide services across a broad spectrum of industry verticals on a national basis.

Accounting Principles

Accounting Principles

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash and highly liquid debt investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Receivables

Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Receivables

The Company extends credit to clients based upon management’s assessment of their creditworthiness. A substantial portion of the Company’s revenue, and the resulting accounts receivable, are from Fortune 1000 companies, major systems integrators and other staffing organizations.

Unbilled receivables represent amounts recognized as revenues based on services performed and, in accordance with the terms of the client contract, will be invoiced in a subsequent period.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Accounts receivable are reviewed periodically to determine the probability of loss. The Company records an allowance for uncollectible accounts when it is probable that the related receivable balance will not be collected based on historical collection experience, client-specific collection issues, and other matters the Company identifies in its collection monitoring.

The Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts was $260,000 and $358,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There were no bad debt expense charges from continuing operations reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years ended December 31, 2014.

Equipment, Enterprise Software and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment, Enterprise Software and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment, enterprise software and leasehold improvements are stated at historical cost. The Company provides for depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of (a) the remaining term of the lease or (b) the estimated useful life of the improvements. Repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the useful life of the respective assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Upon disposal, assets and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the Company’s accounts and the resulting gains or losses are reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The estimated useful lives of depreciable assets are primarily as follows:


Laptop Computers		18 months
Equipment		3-5 years
Enterprise Software		3 years

Depreciation and amortization expense related to fixed assets totaled $143,000, $153,000 and, $158,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company records an estimated liability for income and other taxes based on what management determines will likely be paid in the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Management uses its best judgment in the determination of these amounts. However, the liabilities ultimately realized and paid are dependent on various matters, including the resolution of the tax audits in the various affected tax jurisdictions, and may differ from the amounts recorded. An adjustment to the estimated liability would be recorded through income in the period in which it becomes probable that the amount of the actual liability differs from the amount recorded.

Management determines the Company’s income tax provision using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which we expect to recover or settle the temporary differences. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes is recognized in the period that the change is enacted. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets and records a valuation allowance when, in management’s opinion, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. For the periods presented, no valuation allowance has been provided.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740-10, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. Accordingly, the Company has reported a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company provided $138,000 and $111,000 for uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties, related to various state income tax matters.

During 2013, the Company’s 2011 federal tax return was audited by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) resulting in no adjustments to our filed return. During 2011, the IRS completed its examination of the Company’s federal income tax returns for the years 2008 (post spin-off) and 2009. Amendments to our income tax return as a result of such examination were immaterial. All periods remain subject to examination by various state authorities, conditioned upon statutory limitations.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

The Company has one reportable segment in accordance with ASC Topic 280 “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on time-and-material contracts as services are performed and expenses are incurred. Time-and-material contracts typically bill at an agreed upon hourly rate, plus out-of-pocket expense reimbursement. Out-of-pocket expense reimbursement amounts vary by assignment, but on average represent approximately 2% to 3% of total revenues. Revenue is earned when the Company’s consultants are working on projects. Revenue recognition is negatively impacted by holidays and consultant vacation and sick days.

In certain situations related to client direct hire assignments, where the Company’s fee is contingent upon the hired resources’ continued employment with the client, revenue recognition is deferred until such employment conditions are satisfied.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Effective October 1, 2008, the Company adopted a Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which, as amended, provides that up to 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock shall be allocated for issuance to directors, executive management and key personnel. Grants under the Plan can be made in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares or stock awards. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing share price of the Company common stock at the grant date and generally vest over a four-year period.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC Topic 718 “Share-based Payments” which requires us to measure all share-based payments based on their estimated fair value at the grant date and recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period. The fair value of our stock options is determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock

The Company maintains a stock repurchase program which expires on December 22, 2016. Under this program, the Company may make treasury stock purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and normal trading restrictions. At December 31, 2014, the Company held 794,289 shares in its treasury at a cost of $3.9 million.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income consists of net income and unrealized gains or losses, net of taxes, on cash flow hedging transactions related to foreign exchange derivative contracts.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risks largely as a result of its Indian-based global recruitment centers. During 2012, the Company’s expenditures in Indian rupees, in support of these operations, increased significantly. Accordingly, to mitigate and manage the risk of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company entered into foreign currency forward contracts in June 2012 and continued its hedging strategy through 2014. These forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedging instruments and qualified as effective hedges at inception under ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes.

All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. The effective portion of the changes in fair value on these instruments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and are reclassified into the Consolidated Statement of Operations on the same line item and in the same period in which the underlying hedge transactions affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of these instruments deemed ineffective are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as foreign exchange gains (losses). Forward points (premiums/discounts) are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as foreign exchange gains/ (losses).

With respect to derivatives designated as hedges, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking such transactions. The Company evaluates hedge effectiveness at the time a contract is entered into and on an ongoing basis. If a contract is deemed ineffective, the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as foreign exchange gains (losses).

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the incremental shares outstanding assuming the exercise of dilutive stock options and the vesting of restricted shares and performance shares, calculated using the treasury stock method.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-8, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity”. This ASU changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results and does not prohibit continuing involvement. The standard also expands the disclosures for discontinued operations and requires new disclosures related to individually material disposals that do not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and should be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company did not early adopt this standard for purposes of the discontinued operations disclosed in Note 2 below.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-9, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which stipulates that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and is to be applied retrospectively at the entity’s election either to each prior reporting period presented or with the cumulative effect of application recognized at the date of initial application. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Update 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. Generally, share-based payment awards require a specific performance target to be achieved in order for employees to become eligible to vest in the awards. Also, an award with a performance target generally requires an employee to render service until the performance target is achieved. In some cases, however, the terms of an award may provide that the performance target could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. That is, the employee would be eligible to vest in the award regardless of whether the employee is rendering service on the date the performance target is achieved. This Update is intended to resolve the diverse accounting treatment of those awards in practice.

The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance in Topic 718 as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. As indicated in the definition of vest, the stated vesting period (which includes the period in which the performance target could be achieved) may differ from the requisite service period. For all entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted.

The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.