BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

StarTek, Inc. is a global provider of business process outsourcing services. For over 25 years, we have partnered with our clients to effectively handle their customers throughout the customer life cycle. We have provided customer experience management solutions that solve strategic business challenges so that businesses can effectively manage customer relationships across all contact points. Headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, we operate facilities in the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Honduras. Effective January 1, 2012, we revised our business segments in order to better align them with our strategic approach to the markets and customers we serve. Refer to Note 14 for further information. Prior period segment amounts throughout the notes to the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to the new segment structure. The reclassification of historical business segment information had no impact on our basic financial statements. We operate within three business segments: Domestic, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

We are considered a "smaller reporting company" under the applicable disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accordingly, have elected to provide our audited statements of comprehensive loss, cash flows and changes in stockholders' equity for two, rather than three, years.

Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of significant intercompany balances and transactions.

Reclassifications

Effective January 1, 2012, we changed our method of allocating certain site human resource, recruiting and facilities costs, whereby these costs that are directly related to hiring, employment and maintenance at our facilities (not our corporate offices) are now recorded in cost of services rather than selling, general and administrative expenses. Historically, we recorded these human resource, recruiting and facilities personnel costs in selling, general and administrative expense as they were managed centrally from leadership positions at our corporate headquarters. Those corporate positions have been eliminated and site human resource, recruiting and facility personnel now report to the site directors within each facility. Given these reporting changes, we believe it is more appropriate to record these costs within cost of services as they are directly attributable to rendering our services at our facilities. The costs are variable and unique to each facility such that if we exit a facility, the corresponding human resource, recruiting and facility costs would also be eliminated.

We have reclassified 2011 information to conform to this presentation and the effect of the reclassification for the year ended December 31, 2011 was a $6,776 increase to cost of services and a corresponding decrease to selling, general and administrative expenses ($4,736 Domestic segment, $1,673 Asia Pacific segment and $367 Latin America segment).

The reclassification did not have any effect on our operating loss, net loss or earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2011. The reclassification also did not have any impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity or Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts included in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the period they are determined to be necessary.

Concentration of Credit Risk

We are exposed to credit risk in the normal course of business, primarily related to accounts receivable and derivative instruments. Historically, the losses related to credit risk have been immaterial. We regularly monitor credit risk to mitigate the possibility of current and future exposures resulting in a loss. We evaluate the creditworthiness of clients prior to entering into an agreement to provide services and on an on-going basis as part of the processes of revenue recognition and accounts receivable. We do not believe we are exposed to more than a nominal amount of credit risk in our derivative hedging activities, as the counter parties are established, well-capitalized financial institutions.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of our foreign operations that are recorded in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rate during the reporting period. Resulting translation adjustments, net of applicable deferred income taxes, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. Such gains and losses were not material for any period presented.

Revenue Recognition

Business Process Outsourcing Services —We invoice our clients monthly in arrears and recognize revenues for such services when completed. Substantially all of our contractual arrangements are based either on a production rate, meaning that we recognize revenue based on the billable hours or minutes of each call center agent, or on a rate per transaction basis. These rates could be based on the number of paid hours the agent works, the number of minutes the agent is available to answer calls, or the number of minutes the agent is actually handling calls for the client, depending on the client contract. Production rates vary by client contract and can fluctuate based on our performance against certain pre-determined criteria related to quality and performance. Additionally, some clients are contractually entitled to penalties when we are out of compliance with certain quality and/or performance obligations defined in the client contract. Such penalties are recorded as a reduction to revenue as incurred based on a measurement of the appropriate penalty under the terms of the client contract. Likewise, some client contracts stipulate that we are entitled to bonuses should we meet or exceed these predetermined quality and/or performance obligations. These bonuses are recognized as incremental revenue in the period in which they are earned.

As a general rule, our contracts do not include multiple elements. We provide initial training to customer service representatives upon commencement of new contracts and recognize revenues for such training as the services are provided based upon the production rate (i.e., billable hours and rates related to the training services as stipulated in our contractual arrangements). Accordingly, the corresponding training costs, consisting primarily of labor and related expenses, are recognized as incurred.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided for known and estimated potential losses arising from sales to customers based on a periodic review of these accounts. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, we consider the principal or most advantageous market in which we would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and credit risk.

Accounting guidance for the measurement of fair value establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

Level 2 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

Level 3 Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect our own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

Refer to Note 6, “Fair Value Measurements,” for additional information on how we determine fair value for our assets and liabilities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider cash equivalents to be short-term, highly liquid investments readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity at purchase that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our derivative instruments consist of foreign currency forward contracts and are recorded as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value, with changes in the fair value of qualifying hedges recorded in other comprehensive income. Changes in a derivative’s fair value are recognized currently in the statements of operations unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative’s gains and losses to offset the related results of the hedged item and requires that we must formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment.

We generally are able to apply cash flow hedge accounting which associates the results of the hedges with forecasted future expenses. The current mark-to-market gain or loss is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be re-classified to operations as the forecasted expenses are incurred, typically within one year. During 2012 and 2011, our cash flow hedges were highly effective and there were no amounts charged for hedge ineffectiveness. While we expect that our derivative instruments that have been designated as hedges will continue to meet the conditions for hedge accounting, if hedges do not qualify as highly effective or if we do not believe that forecasted transactions will occur, the changes in the fair value of the derivatives used as hedges will be reflected in earnings.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at depreciated cost. Additions and improvement activities are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method based on their estimated useful lives, as follows:



	Estimated Useful Life
Buildings and building improvements	15-30 years
Telephone and computer equipment	3-5 years
Software	3 years
Furniture, fixtures, and miscellaneous equipment	5-7 years

We depreciate leasehold improvements associated with operating leases over the shorter of the expected useful life or remaining life of the lease. Depreciation for assets obtained under a capital lease is included in depreciation expense.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We periodically, on at least an annual basis, evaluate potential impairments of our long-lived assets. In our annual evaluation or when we determine that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable, based upon the existence of one or more indicators of impairment, we evaluate the projected undiscounted cash flows related to the assets. If these cash flows are less than the carrying values of the assets, we measure the impairment based on the excess of the carrying value of the long-lived asset over the long-lived asset’s fair value. Our projections contain assumptions pertaining to anticipated levels of utilization and revenue that may or may not be under contract but are based on our experience and/or projections received from our customers.

Assets Held for Sale

We classify an asset as held for sale when the facts and circumstances meet the criteria for such classification, including the following (a) we have committed to a plan to sell the asset, (b) the asset is available for immediate sale, (c) we have initiated actions to complete the sale, (d) the sale is expected to be completed within one year, (e) the asset is being actively marketed at a price that is reasonable relative to its fair value and (f) the plan to sell is unlikely to be subject to significant changes or termination. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell.

Restructuring Charges

On an ongoing basis, management assesses the profitability and utilization of our facilities and in some cases management has chosen to close facilities. Severance payments that occur from reductions in workforce are in accordance with our postemployment policy and/or statutory requirements that are communicated to all employees upon hire date; therefore, severance liabilities are recognized when they are determined to be probable and estimable. Other liabilities for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity are recognized when the liability is incurred, instead of upon commitment to an exit plan. A significant assumption used in determining the amount of the estimated liability for closing a facility is the estimated liability for future lease payments on vacant facilities. We determine our estimate of sublease payments based on our ability to successfully negotiate early termination agreements with landlords, a third-party broker or management’s assessment of our ability to sublease the facility based upon the market conditions in which the facility is located. If the assumptions regarding early termination and the timing and amounts of sublease payments prove to be inaccurate, we may be required to record additional losses, or conversely, a future gain.

Operating Leases

Rent holidays, landlord/tenant incentives and escalations are included in some instances in the base price of our rent payments over the term of our operating leases. We recognize rent holidays and rent escalations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The landlord/tenant incentives are recorded as deferred rent and amortized on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Deferred Gains on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

We amortize deferred gains on the sale and leaseback of properties under operating leases over the life of the lease. The amortization of these gains is recorded as a reduction to rent expense. The deferred gain is recorded in our consolidated balance sheet in current and other current liabilities.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect net effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and amounts used for income tax purposes. We are subject to foreign income taxes on our foreign operations. We are required to estimate our income taxes in each jurisdiction in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and financial reporting purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recorded as deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period during which such rates are enacted. We record a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that we will not realize the net deferred tax assets in a certain jurisdiction.

We record tax benefits when they are more likely than not to be realized. Our policy is to reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable.

Stock-Based Compensation

We recognize expense related to all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, based on the grant-date fair values amortized straight-line over the period during which the employees are required to provide services in exchange for the equity instruments. We include an estimate of forfeitures when calculating compensation expense. We use the Black-Scholes method for valuing stock-based awards. See Note 9, “Share-Based Compensation,” for further information regarding the assumptions used to calculate share-based payment expense.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2011-04, Amendment to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs ("ASU 2011-04"), which amended ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The objective of this guidance is to develop common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The guidance also requires expanded fair value disclosures related to Level 3 financial instruments and Level 3 financial instrument transfers. The guidance does not require any new fair value measurements. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or notes to our consolidated financial statements.

In 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued two Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”), which amend guidance for the presentation of comprehensive income. The amended guidance requires an entity to present components of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate, but consecutive statements. The prior option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of stockholders' equity has been eliminated. Although the new guidance changes the presentation of comprehensive income, there are no changes to the components that are recognized in net income or other comprehensive income under existing guidance. We adopted these ASUs using one continuous statement during 2012 for all periods presented. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In October 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2012-04, Technical Corrections and Improvements (“ASU 2012-04”). The amendments in this update cover a wide range of Topics in the Accounting Standards Codification. These amendments include technical corrections and improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification and conforming amendments related to fair value measurements. The amendments in this update will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2012-02, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment ("ASU 2012-02"). The intent of ASU 2012-02 is to simplify how registrants test indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment and to improve consistency in impairment testing guidance among long-lived asset categories. ASU 2012-02 permits registrants to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with U.S. GAAP. An entity will have an option not to calculate annually the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset if the entity determines that it is not more likely than not that the asset is impaired. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.