Equity Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Equity Investments

Equity Investments

4.  Equity Investments

Covance held a minority equity position in Caprion Proteomics (“Caprion”), a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, since December 2008. In July 2012, Covance sold 100% of its holdings in Caprion for cash proceeds of approximately $4.7 million, resulting in a gain on the sale of its investment of approximately $1.5 million. The investment was previously included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Covance has a 47% minority equity position in Noveprim Limited (“Noveprim”), a supplier of research products, which was acquired in March 2004 at a total cost of $20.7 million.  The excess of the purchase price over the underlying equity in Noveprim’s net assets at the date of acquisition of $13.8 million represented goodwill and was included in the carrying value of Covance’s investment.  During the fourth quarter of 2011, the investment was determined to have experienced an other-than-temporary impairment in value due to a decline in demand for the research products supplied by Noveprim. As a result, Covance recorded a $12.1 million impairment charge against the goodwill recognized upon the initial investment in Noveprim, to reduce the carrying value of the investment to its estimated fair value. Further, during the second quarter of 2012, the investment was determined to have experienced an additional impairment in value due to a further decline in demand for the research products supplied by Noveprim.  As a result, Covance recorded a $7.4 million impairment charge to write off the remaining carrying value of the investment as of June 30, 2012, net of the elimination of profit on inventory purchased from Noveprim. The Company suspended equity accounting for this investment as the carrying value of its investment is zero. The fair value in both of the above instances was measured with an income approach using internally developed estimates of future cash flows, which are Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. Previously, this investment was reflected in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. During the three month period ended September 30, 2012, Covance did not recognize any share of Noveprim’s results, as equity accounting was suspended.  During the nine month period ended September 30, 2012, Covance recognized income of $17 thousand, representing its share of Noveprim’s earnings, net of the elimination of profit on inventory purchased from Noveprim and still on hand at Covance. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, Covance recognized income of $0.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively, representing its share of Noveprim’s earnings, net of the elimination of profit on inventory purchased from Noveprim and still on hand at Covance. The carrying value of Covance’s investment in Noveprim at December 31, 2011 was $10.4 million.

Covance has a minority equity position (less than 20%) in BioClinica, Inc. (“BIOC”) (Nasdaq GM:BIOC).  BIOC uses proprietary medical imaging technologies to process and analyze medical images, and also provides other services, including the data-basing and regulatory submission of medical images, quantitative data and text.  As Covance owns less than a 20% interest in BIOC and does not exercise significant influence over the operating or financial decisions of BIOC, the investment is accounted for as an available-for-sale security.  The cost basis of Covance’s investment in BIOC is $1.4 million.  The carrying value of Covance’s investment in BIOC as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $15.1 million and $10.0 million, respectively, as determined based on quoted market prices in an active market. This investment is reflected in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The $5.1 million increase in the carrying value of the investment results in a $3.3 million increase in the unrealized gain on investment, net of tax, which is included within accumulated other comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheet. Accordingly, the balance in the unrealized gain on investment at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $8.5 million and $5.2 million, net of tax, respectively.