Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC. All adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2020. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year.
Fair value measurements	Separate disclosure is required for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis from those measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The Company has cash held in money market accounts (level 1), contingent purchase consideration (level 3) and interest rate swaps arrangements (level 2) that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (Note 7 and Note 8).
Recently issued accounting standards	Recently Adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13") In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 provides guidance on measurement of credit losses on financial instruments that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities and loans, and that requires entities to use a new, forward-looking “expected loss” model that is expected to generally result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The guidance became effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820) ("ASU 2018-13") In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13. ASU 2018-13 improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 which has resulted in expanded disclosures around the Company's recurring level 3 fair value measurements. The disclosures are included in note 7 of the condensed consolidated financial statements. ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract ("ASU 2018-15") In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15. ASU 2018-15 clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. ASU 2018-15 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. ASU 2017-4, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-4") In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-4. ASU 2017-4 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-4 is effective for annual and interim goodwill tests beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company's measurement period is September 30. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidation financial statements. Not Yet Adopted ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting In March 2020, the FASB issued Topic 848. Topic 848 provides relief for impacted areas as it relates to impending reference rate reform. ASC 848 contains optional expedients and exceptions for applying US GAAP to debt arrangements, contracts, hedging relationships, and other areas or transactions that are impacted by reference rate reform. This guidance is effective for upon issuance for all entities and elections of certain optional expedients are required to apply the provisions of the guidance. The Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard and will disclose the nature and reason for any elections that the Company makes. ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans ("ASU 2018-14") In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14. ASU 2018-14 modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement plans. ASU 2018-14 is effective for all entities for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2018-14 on its consolidated financial statements. ASU 2019-12, Simplifications to Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12") In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including deferred taxes for goodwill and allocating taxes for members of a consolidated group. ASU 2019-12 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2019-12 on its consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC.

All adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2020. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year.

Fair value measurements

Separate disclosure is required for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis from those measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The Company has cash held in money market accounts (level 1), contingent purchase consideration (level 3) and interest rate swaps arrangements (level 2) that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (Note 7 and Note 8).

Recently issued accounting standards

Recently Adopted

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13")

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 provides guidance on measurement of credit losses on financial instruments that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities and loans, and that requires entities to use a new, forward-looking “expected loss” model that is expected to generally result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The guidance became effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820) ("ASU 2018-13")

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13. ASU 2018-13 improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 which has resulted in expanded disclosures around the Company's recurring level 3 fair value measurements. The disclosures are included in note 7 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract ("ASU 2018-15")

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15. ASU 2018-15 clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. ASU 2018-15 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2017-4, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-4")

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-4. ASU 2017-4 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-4 is effective for annual and interim goodwill tests beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company's measurement period is September 30. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020 and has evaluated the effects of this standard and determined that the adoption will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidation financial statements.

Not Yet Adopted

ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting

In March 2020, the FASB issued Topic 848. Topic 848 provides relief for impacted areas as it relates to impending reference rate reform. ASC 848 contains optional expedients and exceptions for applying US GAAP to debt arrangements, contracts, hedging relationships, and other areas or transactions that are impacted by reference rate reform. This guidance is effective for upon issuance for all entities and elections of certain optional expedients are required to apply the provisions of the guidance. The Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard and will disclose the nature and reason for any elections that the Company makes.

ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans ("ASU 2018-14")

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14. ASU 2018-14 modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement plans. ASU 2018-14 is effective for all entities for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2018-14 on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2019-12, Simplifications to Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12")

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including deferred taxes for goodwill and allocating taxes for members of a consolidated group. ASU 2019-12 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2019-12 on its consolidated financial statements.