Notes Receivable and Other Long-term Receivables	9 Months Ended
Sep. 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% per annum, 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. In January 2013, the Company was informed that, as of November 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 agreed to refrain from exercising additional remedies for 120 days while Wellstat Diagnostics raised funds to capitalize the business and the parties attempted to negotiate a revised credit agreement. PDL 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 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, approximately $8.7 million was advanced pursuant to the forbearance agreement. On August 15, 2013, the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics completed a financing transaction to fulfill its obligations under the forbearance agreement. On August 15, 2013, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company determined that the new agreement should be accounted for as a modification of the existing agreement. Except as otherwise described here, the material terms of the amended credit agreement are substantially the same as those of the original credit agreement, including quarterly interest payments at the rate of 5% per annum (payable in cash or in kind). In addition, PDL will continue to receive quarterly royalty payments based on a low double digit royalty rate of Wellstat Diagnostics' net revenues. However, pursuant to the amended credit agreement: (i) the principal amount was reset to approximately $44.1 million which was comprised of approximately $33.7 million original loan principal and interest, $1.3 million term loan principal and interest and $9.1 million forbearance principal and interest; (ii) the specified internal rates of return increased; (iii) the default interest rate was increased; (iv) Wellstat Diagnostics' obligation to provide certain financial information increased in frequency to monthly; (v) internal financial controls were strengthened by requiring Wellstat Diagnostics to maintain an independent, third-party financial professional with control over fund disbursements; (vi) the Company waived the existing events of default; and (vii) the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics are required to contribute additional capital to Wellstat Diagnostics upon the sale of an affiliate entity. The restated credit agreement continues to have an ultimate maturity date of December 31, 2021 (but may mature earlier upon certain specified events). When the principal amount was reset it resulted in a $2.5 million reduction of the carrying value and was recorded as a financing cost as a component of interest and other income, net. The new carrying value is lower as a function of the variable nature of the internal rate of return to be realized by the Company based on when the note is repaid. The internal rate of return calculation, although increased, was reset when the credit agreement was amended and restated. Wellstat Diagnostics may prepay the amended 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 amended credit agreement is secured by a pledge of all of the assets of Wellstat Diagnostics, a pledge of all of Wellstat Diagnostics’ equity interests by the holders thereof, and a second lien on the assets of the affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company believes the fair value of the collateral is not less than $76.6 million. At September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, the carrying value of the note was included in non-current assets. As of September 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 to it under the Company's 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 September 30, 2013, the carrying value of all amounts advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics was $45.3 million, which was recorded in notes receivable. As of September 30, 2013, the maximum loss exposure was $45.3 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 for an aggregate of $55.0 million in total borrowings. Outstanding borrowings under the July 2012 loan bore interest at the rate of 13.5% per annum and outstanding borrowings as a result of the draw on the letter of credit bore interest at the rate of 14.0% per annum. Merus Labs was 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 were 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 made the second payment in June 2013 in the amount of $7.5 million. In September 2013, Merus Labs made two additional payments totaling $43.3 million, including the prepayment fee, in order to pay its remaining outstanding balance. In September 2013, Merus Labs prepaid in full its obligations under the credit agreement , including accrued interest through the payment date and a prepayment fee of 1% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding at the time of repayment. There was no outstanding balance owed as of September 30, 2013. 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, AxoGen 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 that should be bifurcated and separately recorded at its estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the change of control provision was approximately $1.0 million and $0.6 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. The estimated fair value of this embedded derivative is included in the carrying value of the AxoGen Note Receivable. The Company recognized approximately $0.0 million and $0.4 million related to the change in the estimated fair value of embedded derivative during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively. 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. On August 14, 2013, PDL purchased 1,166,666 shares of AXGN at $3.00 per share, totaling $3.5 million. The shares are classified as available for sale and recorded as short term investments on the balance sheet. As of September 30, 2013, the shares were valued at $5.2 million, which results in an unrealized gain of $1.7 million and is recorded in other comprehensive income. 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 by Avinger of a certain revenue milestone to be accomplished no later than the end of the first half of 2014, we will fund them 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 an additional amount funded upon reaching the revenue milestone 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 milestone is not achieved or (ii) the thirteenth interest payment date if the revenue milestone is 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% per annum, 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.

In January 2013, the Company was informed that, as of November 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 agreed to refrain from exercising additional remedies for 120 days while Wellstat Diagnostics raised funds to capitalize the business and the parties attempted to negotiate a revised credit agreement. PDL 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 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, approximately $8.7 million was advanced pursuant to the forbearance agreement.

On August 15, 2013, the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics completed a financing transaction to fulfill its obligations under the forbearance agreement. On August 15, 2013, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company determined that the new agreement should be accounted for as a modification of the existing agreement.

Except as otherwise described here, the material terms of the amended credit agreement are substantially the same as those of the original credit agreement, including quarterly interest payments at the rate of 5% per annum (payable in cash or in kind). In addition, PDL will continue to receive quarterly royalty payments based on a low double digit royalty rate of Wellstat Diagnostics' net revenues. However, pursuant to the amended credit agreement: (i) the principal amount was reset to approximately $44.1 million which was comprised of approximately $33.7 million original loan principal and interest, $1.3 million term loan principal and interest and $9.1 million forbearance principal and interest; (ii) the specified internal rates of return increased; (iii) the default interest rate was increased; (iv) Wellstat Diagnostics' obligation to provide certain financial information increased in frequency to monthly; (v) internal financial controls were strengthened by requiring Wellstat Diagnostics to maintain an independent, third-party financial professional with control over fund disbursements; (vi) the Company waived the existing events of default; and (vii) the owners and affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics are required to contribute additional capital to Wellstat Diagnostics upon the sale of an affiliate entity. The restated credit agreement continues to have an ultimate maturity date of December 31, 2021 (but may mature earlier upon certain specified events).

When the principal amount was reset it resulted in a $2.5 million reduction of the carrying value and was recorded as a financing cost as a component of interest and other income, net. The new carrying value is lower as a function of the variable nature of the internal rate of return to be realized by the Company based on when the note is repaid. The internal rate of return calculation, although increased, was reset when the credit agreement was amended and restated.

Wellstat Diagnostics may prepay the amended 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 amended credit agreement is secured by a pledge of all of the assets of Wellstat Diagnostics, a pledge of all of Wellstat Diagnostics’ equity interests by the holders thereof, and a second lien on the assets of the affiliates of Wellstat Diagnostics. The Company believes the fair value of the collateral is not less than $76.6 million.

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

As of September 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 to it under the Company's 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 September 30, 2013, the carrying value of all amounts advanced to Wellstat Diagnostics was $45.3 million, which was recorded in notes receivable. As of September 30, 2013, the maximum loss exposure was $45.3 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 for an aggregate of $55.0 million in total borrowings.

Outstanding borrowings under the July 2012 loan bore interest at the rate of 13.5% per annum and outstanding borrowings as a result of the draw on the letter of credit bore interest at the rate of 14.0% per annum. Merus Labs was 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 were 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 made the second payment in June 2013 in the amount of $7.5 million. In September 2013, Merus Labs made two additional payments totaling $43.3 million, including the prepayment fee, in order to pay its remaining outstanding balance.

In September 2013, Merus Labs prepaid in full its obligations under the credit agreement , including accrued interest through the payment date and a prepayment fee of 1% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding at the time of repayment. There was no outstanding balance owed as of September 30, 2013.

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, AxoGen 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 that should be bifurcated and separately recorded at its estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the change of control provision was approximately $1.0 million and $0.6 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. The estimated fair value of this embedded derivative is included in the carrying value of the AxoGen Note Receivable. The Company recognized approximately $0.0 million and $0.4 million related to the change in the estimated fair value of embedded derivative during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

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.

On August 14, 2013, PDL purchased 1,166,666 shares of AXGN at $3.00 per share, totaling $3.5 million. The shares are classified as available for sale and recorded as short term investments on the balance sheet. As of September 30, 2013, the shares were valued at $5.2 million, which results in an unrealized gain of $1.7 million and is recorded in other comprehensive income.

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 by Avinger of a certain revenue milestone to be accomplished no later than the end of the first half of 2014, we will fund them 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 an additional amount funded upon reaching the revenue milestone 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 milestone is not achieved or (ii) the thirteenth interest payment date if the revenue milestone is 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.