Notes Receivable and Other Long-term Receivables	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]
Notes and Other Long-term Receivables	6. Notes Receivable and Other Long-term Receivables Notes receivable and other long-term receivables included the following significant agreements: Wellstat Diagnostics Note Receivable and Credit Agreement In March 2012, the Company executed a $7.5 million two-year senior secured note receivable with the holders of the equity interests in Wellstat Diagnostics. In addition to bearing interest at 10%, the note gave PDL certain rights to negotiate for certain future financing transactions. In August 2012, PDL and the borrowers amended the note receivable, providing a senior secured note receivable of $10.0 million, bearing interest at 12% per annum, to replace the original $7.5 million note. This $10.0 million note was repaid on November 2, 2012. On November 2, 2012, the Company and Wellstat Diagnostics entered into a $40.0 million credit agreement pursuant to which the Company is to accrue quarterly interest payments at the rate of 5% per annum (payable in cash or in kind). In addition, PDL will receive quarterly royalty payments based on a low double digit royalty rate of Wellstat Diagnostics' net revenues, generated by the sale, distribution or other use of Wellstat Diagnostics' products, if any, commencing upon the commercialization of its products. Under the credit agreement, Wellstat Diagnostics may prepay the credit agreement at a price that, together with interest and royalty payments already made to the Company, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. In the event of a change of control, bankruptcy or certain other customary events of defaults, or Wellstat Diagnostics' failure to achieve a specified annual revenue threshold in 2017, Wellstat Diagnostics will be required to prepay the credit agreement at a price that, together with interest and royalty payments already made to the Company, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. The credit agreement is secured by a pledge of all of the assets of Wellstat Diagnostics and a pledge of all of Wellstat Diagnostics’ equity interests by the holders thereof. In January 2013, the Company was informed that, as of December 31, 2012, Wellstat Diagnostics had used funds contrary to the terms of the credit agreement and breached Sections 2.1.2 and 7 of the credit agreement. PDL sent Wellstat Diagnostics a notice of default on January 22, 2013, and accelerated the amounts owed under the credit agreement. In connection with the notice of default, PDL exercised one of its available remedies and transferred approximately $8.1 million of available cash from a bank account of Wellstat Diagnostics to PDL and applied the funds to amounts due under the credit agreement. On February 28, 2013, the parties entered into a forbearance agreement whereby PDL has agreed to refrain from exercising additional remedies for 120 days while Wellstat Diagnostics raised funds to capitalize the business and the parties attempt to negotiate a revised credit agreement. PDL has agreed to provide up to $7.9 million to Wellstat Diagnostics to fund the business for the 120-day forbearance period under the terms of the credit agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, approximately $7.3 million was advanced pursuant to the forbearance agreement. Following the conclusion of the June 28 forbearance period, the Company agreed to forbear in its exercise of remedies for additional periods of time to allow the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics to complete a pending financing transaction. During such forbearance period, the Company provided approximately $1.3 million to Wellstat Diagnostics to fund ongoing operations of the business. We believe the close of the pending financing transaction will occur in the near future. In the event that the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics are successful in completing the financing transaction, PDL expects to enter into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wellstat Diagnostics. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the carrying value of the note was included in non-current assets. As of June 30, 2013, the Company determined that its interest in Wellstat Diagnostics represented a variable interest in a Variable Interest Entity since Wellstat Diagnostics' equity was not sufficient to finance its operations without amounts advanced under the note and forbearance agreement. However, the Company does not have the power to unilaterally direct operational activities of Wellstat Diagnostics and is not the primary beneficiary of Wellstat Diagnostics; therefore, Wellstat Diagnostics is not subject to consolidation. As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of all amounts advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics was $44.7 million, of which $43.6 million was recorded in notes receivable and $1.1 million was recorded in other assets. The Company estimates it has additional exposure of $2.1 million for amounts expected to be advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics after June 30, 2013 and for accrued interest on all amounts through the forbearance period. This increases our loss maximum exposure to $46.8 million. Amounts outstanding are collateralized by all assets and equity interests in Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company believes the fair value of the collateral is not less than $76.6 million. Merus Labs Note Receivable and Credit Agreement In July 2012, PDL loaned $35.0 million to Merus Labs in connection with its acquisition of a commercial-stage pharmaceutical product and related assets. In addition, PDL agreed to provide a $20.0 million letter of credit on behalf of Merus Labs for the seller of the assets to draw upon to satisfy the remaining $20.0 million purchase price obligation. The seller made this draw on the letter of credit in July 2013 and an additional loan to Merus Labs for $20.0 million was recorded. Outstanding borrowings under the July 2012 loan bear interest at the rate of 13.5% per annum and outstanding borrowings as a result of the draw on the letter of credit will bear interest at the rate of 14.0% per annum. Merus Labs is required to make four periodic principal payments in respect of the July 2012 loan, with repayment of the remaining principal balance of all loans due on March 31, 2015. The borrowings are subject to mandatory prepayments upon certain asset dispositions or debt issuances as set forth in the credit agreement. Merus Labs made the first of these payments in December 2012 in the amount of $5.0 million and the second payment was made in June 2013 in the amount of $7.5 million. The credit agreement provides for a number of standard events of default, including payment, bankruptcy, covenant, judgment and cross-defaults. AxoGen Note Receivable and Royalty Agreement In October 2012, PDL entered into the Royalty Agreement with AxoGen pursuant to which the Company will receive specified royalties on AxoGen’s net revenues (as defined in the Royalty Agreement) generated by the sale, distribution or other use of AxoGen’s products. The Royalty Agreement has an eight years term and provides PDL with royalties of 9.95% based on AxoGen Net Revenues, subject to agreed-upon guaranteed quarterly minimum payments of approximately $1.3 to $2.3 million beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the right to require AxoGen to repurchase the Royalty Agreement at the end of the fourth year. AxoGen has been granted certain rights to call the contract in years five through eight. The total consideration PDL paid to AxoGen for the royalty rights was $20.8 million, including the termination of an interim funding of $1.8 million in August 2012. AxoGen was required to use a portion of the proceeds from the Royalty Agreement to pay the outstanding balance under its existing credit facility. AxoGen plans to use the remainder of the proceeds to support the business plan for its products. The royalty rights are secured by the cash and accounts receivable of AxoGen. Under the Royalty Agreement, beginning on October 1, 2016, or in the event of the occurrence of a material adverse event or AxoGen's bankruptcy or material breach of the Royalty Agreement, the Company may require AxoGen to repurchase the royalty rights at a price that, together with payments already made by AxoGen, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. The Company has concluded that the repurchase option is an embedded derivative which should be bifurcated and separately accounted for at fair value. In the event of a change of control of AxoGen, it must repurchase the assigned interests from the Company for a repurchase price equal to an amount that, together with payments already made by AxoGen, would generate a 32.5% internal rate of return to the Company. The Company has concluded that the change of control provision is an embedded derivative which should be bifurcated and separately recorded at its estimated fair value. The fair value of the change of control provision was approximately $1.0 million and $0.6 million as of June 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. The value of this embedded derivative is included in the carrying value of the AxoGen Note Receivable. The Company recognized approximately $0.4 million in income related to this embedded derivative during the three and six month period ended June 30, 2013. In addition, at any time after September 30, 2016, AxoGen, at its option, can repurchase the assigned interests under the Royalty Agreement for a price applicable in a change of control. During the term of the Royalty Agreement, the Company is entitled to designate an individual to be a member of AxoGen's board of directors. The Company has exercised this right and on October 5, 2012, upon close of the transaction, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer was elected to AxoGen's board of directors. Avinger Note Receivable and Royalty Agreement On April 18, 2013, PDL entered into a credit agreement with Avinger, under which we made available to Avinger up to $40.0 million to be used by Avinger in connection with the commercialization of its currently marketed lumivascular catheter devices and in the development of Avinger's lumivascular atherectomy device. Of the $40.0 million available to Avinger, we funded an initial $20.0 million, net of fees, at close of the transaction. Upon the attainment of certain revenue milestones to be accomplished no later than the end of the first half of 2014, we will fund Avinger an additional amount between $10.0 million and $20.0 million (net of fees) at Avinger's election. Outstanding borrowings under the initial loan bear interest at a stated rate of 12% per annum, and any future outstanding borrowings as a result of additional amounts funded upon reaching the revenue milestones will bear interest at the rate of 14% per annum. Avinger is required to make quarterly interest and principal payments. Principal repayment will commence on: (i) the eleventh interest payment date if the revenue milestones are not achieved or (ii) the thirteenth interest payment date if the revenue milestones are achieved. The principal amount outstanding at commencement of repayment, after taking into account any payment-in-kind, will be repaid in equal installments until final maturity of the loans. The loans will mature in April 2018. In connection with entering into the credit agreement, the Company will receive a low, single-digit royalty on Avinger's net revenues through April 2018. Avinger may prepay the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the notes receivable at any time. If Avinger repays the notes receivable prior to April 2018, the royalty on Avinger's net revenues will be reduced by 50% and will be subject to certain minimum payments from the prepayment date through April 2018. The obligations under the credit agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of Avinger and any of its subsidiaries (other than controlled foreign corporations, if any). The credit agreement provides for a number of standard events of default, including payment, bankruptcy, covenant, representation and warranty and judgment defaults. For carrying value and fair value information related to our notes receivable and other long-term receivables, see Note 3.

6. Notes Receivable and Other Long-term Receivables

Notes receivable and other long-term receivables included the following significant agreements:

Wellstat Diagnostics Note Receivable and Credit Agreement

In March 2012, the Company executed a $7.5 million two-year senior secured note receivable with the holders of the equity interests in Wellstat Diagnostics. In addition to bearing interest at 10%, the note gave PDL certain rights to negotiate for certain future financing transactions. In August 2012, PDL and the borrowers amended the note receivable, providing a senior secured note receivable of $10.0 million, bearing interest at 12% per annum, to replace the original $7.5 million note. This $10.0 million note was repaid on November 2, 2012.

On November 2, 2012, the Company and Wellstat Diagnostics entered into a $40.0 million credit agreement pursuant to which the Company is to accrue quarterly interest payments at the rate of 5% per annum (payable in cash or in kind). In addition, PDL will receive quarterly royalty payments based on a low double digit royalty rate of Wellstat Diagnostics' net revenues, generated by the sale, distribution or other use of Wellstat Diagnostics' products, if any, commencing upon the commercialization of its products.

Under the credit agreement, Wellstat Diagnostics may prepay the credit agreement at a price that, together with interest and royalty payments already made to the Company, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. In the event of a change of control, bankruptcy or certain other customary events of defaults, or Wellstat Diagnostics' failure to achieve a specified annual revenue threshold in 2017, Wellstat Diagnostics will be required to prepay the credit agreement at a price that, together with interest and royalty payments already made to the Company, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. The credit agreement is secured by a pledge of all of the assets of Wellstat Diagnostics and a pledge of all of Wellstat Diagnostics’ equity interests by the holders thereof.

In January 2013, the Company was informed that, as of December 31, 2012, Wellstat Diagnostics had used funds contrary to the terms of the credit agreement and breached Sections 2.1.2 and 7 of the credit agreement. PDL sent Wellstat Diagnostics a notice of default on January 22, 2013, and accelerated the amounts owed under the credit agreement. In connection with the notice of default, PDL exercised one of its available remedies and transferred approximately $8.1 million of available cash from a bank account of Wellstat Diagnostics to PDL and applied the funds to amounts due under the credit agreement. On February 28, 2013, the parties entered into a forbearance agreement whereby PDL has agreed to refrain from exercising additional remedies for 120 days while Wellstat Diagnostics raised funds to capitalize the business and the parties attempt to negotiate a revised credit agreement. PDL has agreed to provide up to $7.9 million to Wellstat Diagnostics to fund the business for the 120-day forbearance period under the terms of the credit agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, approximately $7.3 million was advanced pursuant to the forbearance agreement. Following the conclusion of the June 28 forbearance period, the Company agreed to forbear in its exercise of remedies for additional periods of time to allow the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics to complete a pending financing transaction. During such forbearance period, the Company provided approximately $1.3 million to Wellstat Diagnostics to fund ongoing operations of the business. We believe the close of the pending financing transaction will occur in the near future. In the event that the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics are successful in completing the financing transaction, PDL expects to enter into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wellstat Diagnostics.

At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the carrying value of the note was included in non-current assets.

As of June 30, 2013, the Company determined that its interest in Wellstat Diagnostics represented a variable interest in a Variable Interest Entity since Wellstat Diagnostics' equity was not sufficient to finance its operations without amounts advanced under the note and forbearance agreement. However, the Company does not have the power to unilaterally direct operational activities of Wellstat Diagnostics and is not the primary beneficiary of Wellstat Diagnostics; therefore, Wellstat Diagnostics is not subject to consolidation.

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of all amounts advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics was $44.7 million, of which $43.6 million was recorded in notes receivable and $1.1 million was recorded in other assets. The Company estimates it has additional exposure of $2.1 million for amounts expected to be advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics after June 30, 2013 and for accrued interest on all amounts through the forbearance period. This increases our loss maximum exposure to $46.8 million.

Amounts outstanding are collateralized by all assets and equity interests in Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company believes the fair value of the collateral is not less than $76.6 million.

Merus Labs Note Receivable and Credit Agreement

In July 2012, PDL loaned $35.0 million to Merus Labs in connection with its acquisition of a commercial-stage pharmaceutical product and related assets. In addition, PDL agreed to provide a $20.0 million letter of credit on behalf of Merus Labs for the seller of the assets to draw upon to satisfy the remaining $20.0 million purchase price obligation. The seller made this draw on the letter of credit in July 2013 and an additional loan to Merus Labs for $20.0 million was recorded. Outstanding borrowings under the July 2012 loan bear interest at the rate of 13.5% per annum and outstanding borrowings as a result of the draw on the letter of credit will bear interest at the rate of 14.0% per annum. Merus Labs is required to make four periodic principal payments in respect of the July 2012 loan, with repayment of the remaining principal balance of all loans due on March 31, 2015. The borrowings are subject to mandatory prepayments upon certain asset dispositions or debt issuances as set forth in the credit agreement. Merus Labs made the first of these payments in December 2012 in the amount of $5.0 million and the second payment was made in June 2013 in the amount of $7.5 million.

The credit agreement provides for a number of standard events of default, including payment, bankruptcy, covenant, judgment and cross-defaults.

AxoGen Note Receivable and Royalty Agreement

In October 2012, PDL entered into the Royalty Agreement with AxoGen pursuant to which the Company will receive specified royalties on AxoGen’s net revenues (as defined in the Royalty Agreement) generated by the sale, distribution or other use of AxoGen’s products. The Royalty Agreement has an eight years term and provides PDL with royalties of 9.95% based on AxoGen Net Revenues, subject to agreed-upon guaranteed quarterly minimum payments of approximately $1.3 to $2.3 million beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the right to require AxoGen to repurchase the Royalty Agreement at the end of the fourth year. AxoGen has been granted certain rights to call the contract in years five through eight. The total consideration PDL paid to AxoGen for the royalty rights was $20.8 million, including the termination of an interim funding of $1.8 million in August 2012. AxoGen was required to use a portion of the proceeds from the Royalty Agreement to pay the outstanding balance under its existing credit facility. AxoGen plans to use the remainder of the proceeds to support the business plan for its products. The royalty rights are secured by the cash and accounts receivable of AxoGen.

Under the Royalty Agreement, beginning on October 1, 2016, or in the event of the occurrence of a material adverse event or AxoGen's bankruptcy or material breach of the Royalty Agreement, the Company may require AxoGen to repurchase the royalty rights at a price that, together with payments already made by AxoGen, would generate a specified internal rate of return to the Company. The Company has concluded that the repurchase option is an embedded derivative which should be bifurcated and separately accounted for at fair value.

In the event of a change of control of AxoGen, it must repurchase the assigned interests from the Company for a repurchase price equal to an amount that, together with payments already made by AxoGen, would generate a 32.5% internal rate of return to the Company. The Company has concluded that the change of control provision is an embedded derivative which should be bifurcated and separately recorded at its estimated fair value. The fair value of the change of control provision was approximately $1.0 million and $0.6 million as of June 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. The value of this embedded derivative is included in the carrying value of the AxoGen Note Receivable. The Company recognized approximately $0.4 million in income related to this embedded derivative during the three and six month period ended June 30, 2013.

In addition, at any time after September 30, 2016, AxoGen, at its option, can repurchase the assigned interests under the Royalty Agreement for a price applicable in a change of control.

During the term of the Royalty Agreement, the Company is entitled to designate an individual to be a member of AxoGen's board of directors. The Company has exercised this right and on October 5, 2012, upon close of the transaction, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer was elected to AxoGen's board of directors.

Avinger Note Receivable and Royalty Agreement

On April 18, 2013, PDL entered into a credit agreement with Avinger, under which we made available to Avinger up to $40.0 million to be used by Avinger in connection with the commercialization of its currently marketed lumivascular catheter devices and in the development of Avinger's lumivascular atherectomy device. Of the $40.0 million available to Avinger, we funded an initial $20.0 million, net of fees, at close of the transaction. Upon the attainment of certain revenue milestones to be accomplished no later than the end of the first half of 2014, we will fund Avinger an additional amount between $10.0 million and $20.0 million (net of fees) at Avinger's election. Outstanding borrowings under the initial loan bear interest at a stated rate of 12% per annum, and any future outstanding borrowings as a result of additional amounts funded upon reaching the revenue milestones will bear interest at the rate of 14% per annum.

Avinger is required to make quarterly interest and principal payments. Principal repayment will commence on: (i) the eleventh interest payment date if the revenue milestones are not achieved or (ii) the thirteenth interest payment date if the revenue milestones are achieved. The principal amount outstanding at commencement of repayment, after taking into account any payment-in-kind, will be repaid in equal installments until final maturity of the loans. The loans will mature in April 2018.

In connection with entering into the credit agreement, the Company will receive a low, single-digit royalty on Avinger's net revenues through April 2018. Avinger may prepay the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the notes receivable at any time. If Avinger repays the notes receivable prior to April 2018, the royalty on Avinger's net revenues will be reduced by 50% and will be subject to certain minimum payments from the prepayment date through April 2018.

The obligations under the credit agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of Avinger and any of its subsidiaries (other than controlled foreign corporations, if any). The credit agreement provides for a number of standard events of default, including payment, bankruptcy, covenant, representation and warranty and judgment defaults.

For carrying value and fair value information related to our notes receivable and other long-term receivables, see Note 3.