10-K 1 a2183772z10-k.htm FORM 10-K
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549


FORM 10-K


ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 0-20540


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  95-4023433
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

26651 West Agoura Road
Calabasas, California 91302
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(818) 878-7900

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value   The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None
(Title of Class)

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements of the past 90 days. Yes ý No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer ý Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý

         As of June 30, 2007, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $370,551,251.

         As of March 10, 2008, the registrant had outstanding 35,388,148 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value.

         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the registrant's proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed within 120 days of the close of the registrant's fiscal year 2007, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current expectations, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions, and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Statements that include the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," and similar expressions that convey uncertainly of future events or outcomes are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our anticipated financial and operating performance for future periods. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed or suggested in the forward-looking statements herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences or prove our forward-looking statements, by hindsight, to be overly optimistic or unachievable include, but are not limited to the factors described in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Section titled "Risk Factors." Other factors also may contribute to the differences between our forward-looking statements and our actual results. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements in this document are based on information available to us as of the date we file this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or the reasons why our actual results may differ.

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PART I

Item 1.    Business

Overview and History

        On Assignment, Inc. is a diversified professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in specialty skills including Laboratory/Scientific, Healthcare/Nursing/Physician, Medical Financial, Information Technology and Engineering. We provide clients in these markets with short-term or long-term assignments of contract professionals, contract-to-permanent placement and direct placement of these professionals. As of December 31, 2007, our business consists of four operating segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering.

        The Life Sciences (formerly Lab Support) segment includes our domestic and international life science staffing businesses. Life Sciences segment revenues for 2007 were $134,622,000 and represented 23.7 percent of our total revenues. We provide locally based contract life science professionals to clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, medical device, personal care, chemical, automotive, educational and environmental industries. Our contract professionals include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants and other skilled scientific professionals.

        The Healthcare segment includes our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare (formerly Medical Financial and Allied, or MF&A) lines of business. Healthcare segment revenues for 2007 were $175,079,000 and represented 30.9 percent of our total revenues. We offer our healthcare clients contract professionals, both locally-based and traveling, from more than ten healthcare and medical financial and allied occupations. Our contract professionals include nurses, specialty nurses, health information management professionals, dialysis technicians, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, x-ray technicians, medical technologists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors and collections staff.

        Our Physician segment consists of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA), which we acquired on January 3, 2007.The Physician segment revenues for 2007 were $74,599,000 and represented 13.2 percent of our total revenues. VISTA is a leading provider of physician staffing, known as locum tenens, and permanent physician search services based in Salt Lake City, Utah. We provide short and long-term locum tenens services and full-service physician search and consulting services, primarily in the United States, with some locum tenens placements in Australia and New Zealand. We work with physicians in a wide range of specialties, placing them in hospitals, community-based practices and federal, state and local facilities.

        Our IT and Engineering segment consists of Oxford Global resources, Inc. (Oxford) which we acquired on January 31, 2007. The IT and Engineering segment revenues for 2007 were $182,880,000, which only included 11 months of activity due to the acquisition date, and represented 32.2 percent of our total revenues. Oxford, based in Beverly, Massachusetts, delivers high-end consultants with expertise in specialized information technology, hardware and software engineering and mechanical, electrical, validation and telecommunications engineering fields. We combine international reach with local depth, serving clients through a network of Oxford International recruiting centers in the United States and Europe, and Oxford & Associates branch offices in major metropolitan markets across the United States.

        We were incorporated on December 30, 1985, and commenced operation of Lab Support (now known as Life Sciences), our first contract staffing line of business. Utilizing our experience and unique approach in servicing our clients and contract professionals, we expanded our operations into other industries requiring specialty staffing. In 1994, through our acquisition of 1st Choice Personnel, Inc. and Sklar Resource Group, Inc., we established our Healthcare Financial Staffing

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service line (now a part of our Healthcare segment). Originally named Finance Support, this service line changed its name in 1997 along with a shift in its business development focus to medical billing and collections for hospitals, HMO's and physician groups. In 1996, through our acquisition of Enviro Staff, we began providing contract professionals to the environmental services industry. LabStaffers, Inc. was acquired in 1998 to enhance our domestic Life Sciences business. In 1999, we expanded our Life Sciences operations into Europe. Also in 1999, we formed our Clinical Lab Staff service line, and in 2001, we formed our Diagnostic Imaging Staff service line. Both of these service lines provide scientific and medical professionals to hospitals, physicians' offices, clinics, reference laboratories and HMO's and are currently included as a part of our Healthcare segment. In 2002, through our acquisition of Health Personnel Options Corporation, we established our Nurse Travel line of business, which provides registered nurses to hospitals and managed healthcare organizations. In 2003, we expanded our service offerings for the Life Sciences segment to include clinical research and engineering. Clinical research provides life science professionals in medical and clinical trial research, and engineering provides contract professionals in manufacturing, packaging, research and development and quality control positions. For the Healthcare segment, our expanded service offerings in 2004 included local nursing and health information management (HIM). HIM provides health information professionals to healthcare clients to process insurance claims and manage patient data. On January 3, 2007, we acquired VISTA, a company that provides short and long-term physician staffing (locum tenens) solutions to healthcare providers. VISTA was founded in 1990 and its headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. On January 31, 2007 we acquired Oxford, a company that provides high-end consultants with expertise in specialized information technology (IT); software and hardware engineering; and mechanical, electrical, validation and telecommunications engineering fields. Oxford was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts.

        Financial information regarding our operating segments and our domestic and international revenues are included under "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.

        Our principal executive office is located at 26651 West Agoura Road, Calabasas, California 91302, and our telephone number is (818) 878-7900. We have approximately 85 branch offices in 24 states within the United States and in 4 foreign countries.

Industry and Market Dynamics

        The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that total employment will grow by 15.6 million jobs, or 10 percent, between 2006 and 2016. By comparison, there were 15.9 million new jobs created in the prior ten-year period. Employment growth will continue to be concentrated in the service sector with healthcare and social assistance, and professional and business services providing the strongest employment growth.

        The Staffing Industry Analysts Insight: 2008-2009 Staffing Industry Forecast (February 28, 2008), an independent staffing industry publication, estimated that total staffing industry revenues would be $135 billion in 2008 and $144 billion in 2009, up from $133 billion in 2007. The biggest industry segment, contract help, is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 0.9 percent in 2008 with revenues of $98 billion in 2008 while permanent placement is expected to grow 4.3 percent. Within the contract help segment, professional staffing is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.3 percent in 2008 to revenues of $58 billion. We believe that by outsourcing their labor needs to professional staffing firms, management at healthcare, scientific and IT facilities are realizing the cost advantages, improved flexibility to meet unexpected increases in business and access to greater expertise.

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        As of December 31, 2007, our staffing service offerings were grouped under four operating segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering.

    Life Sciences

        The Staffing Industry Analysts Insight: 2008-2009 Staffing Industry Forecast (February 28, 2008) states that professional staffing will increase 6.3 percent in 2008. We believe that the Life Sciences business will mirror the growth of the professional staffing industry as a whole, which includes the engineering industry.

        Our Life Sciences segment includes our domestic and international life science staffing businesses. We provide locally based, contract life science professionals to clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, personal care, chemical, medical device, automotive, education and environmental industries. Our Life Sciences segment operates from local branch offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Belgium.

    Healthcare

        The Staffing Industry Analysts Insight: 2008-2009 Staffing Industry Forecast (February 28, 2008) estimates that the healthcare staffing industry will grow 7 percent in 2008. The healthcare staffing industry grew by 6 percent in 2006 and 2007. Within the healthcare staffing industry, allied health and locum tenens continue to be the strongest areas, with each generating greater than 10 percent growth.

        In prior years, nursing employment levels were affected by cutbacks in the use of agency workers by hospitals and medical groups and their reluctance to pay market rates. Looking forward, nursing contract employment growth should be stimulated by various factors including a limited supply of nurses, more favorable nurse-patient ratios and an aging population.

        The combination of increased demand for health services and advances in life science and medical technology is expected to create significant demand for workers with specialized science and medical skills. Also influencing the demand for these workers is the departure of mature professionals from the ranks of full-time employment as they retire, reduce hours worked and pursue other career opportunities.

        Our Healthcare segment provides locally-based and traveling contract professionals to healthcare clients, including hospitals, integrated delivery systems, imaging centers, clinics, physician offices, reference laboratories, universities, managed care organizations and third-party administrators. These healthcare clients face shortages of operations-critical staff that limit their ability to generate revenues.

    Physician

        The Staffing Industry Analysts Briefing Report (February 27, 2008) states that the physician staffing market will increase 17 percent in 2008. This is one of the fastest growing sectors of the staffing markets. An ongoing shortage of physicians is fueling this growth.

        Our Physician staffing business places physicians in a wide range of specialties throughout the United States, as well as Australia and New Zealand, under the brand VISTA. The physician staffing market requires a high degree of specialized knowledge about credentialing and qualifications as well as unique insurance requirements that make it more difficult to replicate than certain other types of staffing. Our Physician segment operates out of one primary recruitment center with several branches.

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    IT and Engineering

        The Staffing Industry Analysts Insight: 2008-2009 Staffing Industry Forecast (February, 28, 2008) estimates that the IT staffing market will grow 6 percent in 2008 to $21.8 billion. Ongoing advances in the area of software development continue to fuel the shortage of IT professionals with relevant experience.

        Our IT and Engineering segment places only very highly qualified professionals across a wide range of disciplines. The segment operates out of several large sales and recruitment centers including one in Cork, Ireland under the brand Oxford International, and a number of domestic branch offices under the brand Oxford & Associates. Placements are highly diversified in that we average less than two contract placements per client.

Sales and Fulfillment

        Our strategy is to serve the needs of our targeted industries by effectively understanding and matching client staffing needs with qualified contract professionals. In contrast to the mass market approach generally used for contract office/clerical and light industrial personnel, we believe effective assignments of contract healthcare, life science, physician and IT and engineering professionals require the people involved in making assignments to have significant knowledge of the client's industry and the ability to assess the specific needs of the client as well as the contract professionals' qualifications. We believe that face-to-face selling is significantly more effective than the telephonic solicitation of clients, a tactic favored by many of our competitors. We believe our strategy of using industry professionals to develop personal relationships provides us with a competitive advantage recognized by our clients.

        Our corporate offices are organized to perform many functions that allow staffing consultants and recruiters to focus more effectively on business development and the assignment of contract professionals. These functions include the recruiting and hiring of staffing consultants, recruiters and support staff, as well as ongoing training, coaching and administrative support. Our corporate offices also select, open and maintain branch offices.

    Life Sciences

        We have developed a tailored approach to the assignment-making process that utilizes staffing consultants. Unlike traditional approaches that tend to be focused on telephonic solicitation, our Life Sciences staffing consultants are experienced professionals who work in our branch office network in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Belgium to enable face-to-face meetings with clients and contract professionals. At December 31, 2007, we had 44 Life Sciences segment branch offices. Most of our staffing consultants are either focused on sales and business development or on fulfillment. Sales staffing consultants meet with clients' managers to understand client needs, formulate position descriptions and assess workplace environments. Fulfillment staffing consultants meet with candidates to assess their qualifications and interests and place these contract professionals on quality assignments with clients.

        Contract professionals assigned to clients are generally our employees, although clients provide on-the-job supervisors for these professionals. Therefore, clients control and direct the work of contract professionals and approve hours worked, while we are responsible for many of the activities typically handled by the client's human resources department.

    Healthcare

        The sales and fulfillment functions of our Nurse Travel line of business are aligned with more traditional nurse travel companies. We employ regional sales directors and account managers to

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identify and sell services to healthcare clients who need nurses. We employ recruiters to find nurses and place them on assignment as contract professionals with healthcare providers for periods ranging from three weeks to thirteen weeks and longer. We serve a diverse collection of healthcare clients, including hospitals, integrated delivery systems and managed care organizations on a national basis. We seek to address occupations that represent "high demand and highly-skilled" staff such as operating room nurses, which are essential to maintaining the hospital's ability to care for patients and maintain business and revenues. The critical nature of these occupations to drive revenue motivates clients to respond to our ability to rapidly fill open positions with experienced nurses. We recruit and place on travel assignments is primarily managed at our locations in Cincinnati, Ohio and San Diego, California.

        The nurses we assign to clients are our employees, although clients provide on-the-job supervisors for the nurses. Therefore, clients control and direct the work of nurses and approve hours worked, while we are responsible for many of the activities typically handled by the client's human resources department.

        At December 31, 2007, we had 30 Allied Healthcare branch offices in the United States, of which 15 share office space with the Life Sciences division. We have developed a tailored approach to the assignment-making process that utilizes staffing consultants. Staffing consultants are experienced professionals who work in our branch offices and personally meet with clients and contract professionals. Our staffing consultants are typically either focused primarily on sales and business development or on fulfillment. Sales staffing consultants meet with clients to understand their staffing needs, formulate position descriptions and assess workplace environments. Fulfillment staffing consultants meet with candidates to assess their qualifications and interests and place these contract professionals on quality assignments with clients.

        The contract professionals assigned to our Allied Healthcare clients are usually our employees, although clients provide on-the-job supervisors for these professionals. Therefore, clients control and direct the work of contract professionals and approve hours worked, while we are responsible for many of the activities typically handled by the client's human resources department.

    Physician

        The sales and fulfillment functions at our Physician segment are similar to those of our competitors. Our staffing specialists are organized by geographic territories so that a single individual can handle a client's locum tenens needs for all disciplines. Our recruiters and staffing specialists have the clinical expertise to identify physician candidates with the skills, experience and availability to meet our clients' needs. Our Physician business is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the majority of our recruiters and all back office functions are located. In addition we have three branch locations that also carry out recruiting functions. We supply doctors in a wide range of specialties throughout the United States and in Australia and New Zealand. Assignments are typically booked up to three months in advance and last six weeks.

        The physicians we place at clients are independent contractors. Clients assign shifts and approve hours worked, while we are responsible for issuing payments to the physicians for services rendered to our clients.

    IT and Engineering

        Our IT and Engineering segment is headquartered outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where all of the back-office activities are located along with several large recruiting centers. The segment operates in two separate formats. One consists of 11 sales and recruiting hubs that manage client orders submitted from anywhere in the country and fulfill those orders with appropriate candidates identified from a nationwide database of skilled IT and engineering professionals. The right

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candidates for these assignments often reside in locations that are remote from the client worksite and will travel away from their homes to perform the assignments. The other operating format consists of 11 branch offices that typically receive orders from clients in their local market and fulfill those orders with people from the local market. In each of these formats, we employ both client-oriented sales people and recruiters. Because our IT and Engineering segment addresses a wide range of disciplines within the IT and engineering markets, our sales people and recruiters generally specialize in a given discipline. We also have a sales and recruiting hub in Cork, Ireland to service the European market. Our competitive advantage in this segment comes from our effort to respond very quickly to a client's request.

        Contract professionals assigned to clients are generally our employees, although clients provide on-the-job supervisors for these professionals. Therefore, clients control and direct the work of contract professionals and approve hours worked, while we are responsible for many of the activities typically handled by the client's human resources department.

Clients

    Life Sciences

        Our clients in the Life Sciences segment include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, along with a broad range of clients in food and beverage, medical device, personal care, chemical, automotive, education and environmental industries. Our primary contacts with our clients are a mix of end users and process facilitators. End users consist of lab directors and managers and department heads. Facilitators consist of human resource managers, procurement departments and administrators and are more price sensitive than end users who typically are more focused on technical capabilities. Assignments in our Life Sciences segment typically have a term of three to six months.

    Healthcare

        In our Healthcare segment, we serve a diverse collection of healthcare clients, including hospitals, integrated delivery systems, imaging centers, clinics, physician offices, reference laboratories, universities, managed care organizations and third-party administrators. In doing so, we address occupations that are "high demand and highly-skilled" staff, such as operating room nurses and health information professionals that are essential to the hospital's ability to care for patients and maintain business and revenues. Today, many clients in our Healthcare segment face shortages of these operations-critical staff. Assignments in our Healthcare segment typically have a term of three to thirteen weeks.

    Physician

        Clients in our Physician segment include hospitals, doctors' practice groups, large healthcare systems and government agencies. We are called on to supply temporary and permanent doctors because of the difficulty that healthcare providers have finding qualified practitioners. Assignments in our Physician segment typically have a term of six weeks.

    IT and Engineering

        In our IT and Engineering segment, we supply a very wide range of clients. Our clients range from very large companies that may, for example, be installing new enterprise wide computer systems and have a need for a project manager with a certain type of experience to a system integrator who is looking for a similar person. We can also provide a person with a specific type of embedded software expertise to a smaller company finishing up the development of a new product. The disciplines in our IT and Engineering segment are quite varied in the information technology,

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hardware/software, engineering and telecom markets. Assignments in our IT and Engineering segment typically have a term of approximately five months.

        During the year ended December 31, 2007, we provided contract professionals to approximately 6,747 clients. In 2007, we earned 2.9 percent of our consolidated revenues from several clients operating under a single contract with Los Angeles County versus 13.1 percent in 2006. The revenues from this contract are included in Healthcare segment revenues. No other single client or contract accounted for 2.9 percent or more of total revenues during the 2007 period.

        All contract assignments, regardless of their planned length, may be terminated with limited notice by the client or the contract professional.

The Contract Professional

    Life Sciences

        Our Life Sciences segment's life science professionals include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants and other skilled scientific professionals. These contract professionals range from individuals with bachelor's and/or master's degrees and considerable experience, to technicians with limited chemistry or biology backgrounds and lab experience.

    Healthcare

        Our Healthcare segment's contract professionals include nurses, specialty nurses, health information management professionals, dialysis technicians, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, x-ray technicians, medical technologists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors and collections staff.

    Physician

        In our Physician segment, the doctors come from 33 different specialties including; emergency medicine, psychiatry, anesthesiology, radiology, family practice, surgical specialties, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology. All of these professionals are independent contractors as we do not practice medicine.

    IT and Engineering

        Our IT and Engineering segment's professionals come from various information technology, hardware/software, telecom and engineering disciplines. Typically they have a great deal of knowledge and experience in a fairly narrow field which makes them uniquely qualified to fill a given assignment.

        Hourly wage or contract rates for our contract professionals are established according to local market conditions. Generally, (but specifically excluding our locum tenens physicians), we pay the related costs of employment including social security taxes, federal and state unemployment taxes, workers' compensation insurance and other similar costs. After minimum service periods and hours worked, we also provide our contract professional employees with paid holidays, allow participation in our 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, create eligibility for bonuses and facilitate access to and supplement the cost of health insurance for our contract professionals. For travel assignments, we pay for all travel-related costs including airfare, car rentals, mileage and housing, or alternatively, we provide per diem allowances.

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        Contract professionals often work with a number of staffing companies and develop relationships or loyalty based on a variety of factors, including competitive salaries and benefits, availability and diversity of assignments, quality and duration of assignments and responsiveness to requests for placement. Contract professionals seeking traveling positions are also interested in the quality of travel and housing accommodations as well as the quality of the clinical experience while on assignment.

Growth Strategy

        We remain committed to growing our operations in the life science, healthcare, physician and IT and engineering markets that we currently serve, primarily through supporting our core service offerings and growing our newer service lines.

        In 2006, our strategy continued to focus on optimizing our income generating capabilities by growing revenues, maintaining or expanding margins and leveraging selling, general and administrative expenses. Another key initiative for us in 2006 was to focus on increasing our staffing consultant productivity, which we define as quarterly gross profit per staffing consultant, for both the Life Sciences and Healthcare segments. Our growth strategy in 2006 also included potential acquisitions, and to that end we completed a public stock offering in November which netted $71.7 million and in January we completed the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford.

        In January 2007, we completed the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford. Throughout the balance of 2007, our strategy was in great part focused on assisting the newly acquired Physician and IT and Engineering segments to continue to perform while integrating with and operating as a part of On Assignment. In doing this we focused on increasing the number of staffing consultants in each segment. We also focused on diversifying our client mix in the Healthcare segment though the expansion of our client base. We were successful in all of our segments in maintaining our pricing while controlling operating costs.

        As part of our initiative to improve our sales capabilities, we completed Phase I of the implementation of Vurv Technology (formerly known as RecruitMax), a new front office system, for our domestic Life Sciences and certain Allied Healthcare service lines in the second quarter of 2006. In 2007, we completed subsequent phases of this software implementation, expanding our usage of the system in Europe. We have also decided to implement the system in our IT and Engineering segment. Additionally, we continue to make progress on implementing PeopleSoft finance and payroll modules for our Nurse Travel line of business and certain foreign operations. We believe these improvements should continue to increase the productivity of our staffing consultants and streamline corporate operations.

        We will continue to review acquisition opportunities that may enable us to leverage our current infrastructure and capabilities, increase our service offerings and expand our geographic reach. We periodically engage in discussions with possible acquisition candidates but have no formal commitments at this time.

Competition

    Life Sciences

        Our Life Sciences segment competes in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, medical device, personal care, chemical, automotive, education and environmental markets. We believe our Life Sciences segment is one of the few nationwide temporary staffing providers specializing exclusively in the placement of life science professionals. Although other nationwide temporary staffing companies compete with us with respect to scientific, clinical laboratory, medical billing and collection personnel, many of these companies focus on office/clerical and light and

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heavy industrial personnel, which account for a significant portion of the overall contract staffing market. These competitors include Manpower, Inc., Kelly Services, Inc., Adecco, SA, Kforce Inc. and the scientific division of the Yoh Company.

    Healthcare

        Our Healthcare segment competes in the healthcare market, serving hospitals, integrated delivery systems, imaging centers, clinics, physician offices, reference laboratories, universities, managed care organizations and third-party administrators. In the Nurse Travel line of business, our competitors include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., Cross Country, Inc. and several privately-held companies. In the Allied Healthcare line of business, our competitors include Cross Country, Inc., AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. and Kforce Inc.

    Physician

        Our Physician segment also competes in the healthcare market, serving hospitals, doctors' practice groups and private healthcare systems and government administrated healthcare agencies. VISTA's competitors include the locum tenens divisions of CHG Healthcare Services, TeamHealth, Inc. and AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., along with several other privately-held companies providing locum tenens.

    IT and Engineering

        Our IT and Engineering segment competes in the information technology, hardware and software, engineering, and telecommunications markets. Oxford's competition includes Robert Half International, Accenture, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and the Yoh Company.

        Many of our competitors are larger and have substantially greater financial and marketing resources than we do. We also compete with privately-owned temporary staffing companies on a regional and local basis. Frequently, the strongest competition in a particular market is a privately-held local company with established relationships. These companies oftentimes are extremely competitive on pricing. While their pricing strategies are not necessarily sustainable, they can be problematic in the short term.

        The principal competitive factors in attracting qualified candidates for temporary employment or engagements are salaries, contract rates and benefits, availability and variety of assignments, quality and duration of assignments and responsiveness to requests for placement. We believe that many people seeking temporary employment or engagements through us are also pursuing employment through other means, including other temporary staffing or locum tenens companies. Therefore, the speed at which we place prospective contract professionals and the availability of appropriate assignments are important factors in our ability to complete assignments of qualified candidates. In addition to having high quality contract professionals to assign in a timely manner, the principal competitive factors in obtaining and retaining clients in the temporary staffing industry are properly assessing the clients' specific job requirements, the appropriateness of the contract professional assigned to the client, the price of services and the monitoring of client satisfaction. Although we believe we compete favorably with respect to these factors, we expect competition to continue to increase.

Seasonality

        Demand for our staffing services historically has been lower during the first and fourth quarters due to fewer business days resulting from client shutdowns and a decline in the number of contract professionals willing to work during the holidays. This may have particular impact in 2008 because of the number of holidays that occur during the normal work week. As is common in the staffing

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industry, we run special incentive programs to keep our contract professionals, particularly nurses, working through the holidays. Demand for our staffing services usually increases in the second and third quarters of the year. In addition, our cost of services typically increases in the first quarter primarily due to the reset of payroll taxes.

Employees

        At December 31, 2007, we employed approximately 1,185 full-time regular employees, including staffing consultants, regional sales directors, account managers, recruiters and corporate office employees. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we employed approximately 18,140 contract professionals and 1,025 traveling physicians.

Government Regulation

        The healthcare industry is subject to extensive and complex federal and state laws and regulations related to professional licensure, conduct of operations, payment for services and payment for referrals. Our operations are subject to applicable state and local regulations, both domestically and internationally, governing the provision of temporary staffing that require temporary staffing companies to be licensed or separately registered. To date, we have not experienced any material difficulties in complying with such regulations.

        Some states require state licensure for businesses that employ and/or assign healthcare personnel to provide healthcare services on-site at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. We are currently licensed in the states that require such licenses. Most of the contract healthcare professionals that we employ are required to be individually licensed or certified under applicable state laws. We take reasonable steps to ensure that our contract professionals possess all necessary licenses and certifications in all material respects. Currently, we provide state mandated workers' compensation and unemployment insurance for our contract professionals and our regular employees. These expenses have a direct effect on our cost of services, margins and likelihood of achieving or maintaining profitability.

        For a further discussion of government regulation associated with our business, see "Risk Factors" within Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report.

Executive Officers of the Company

        The executive officers of On Assignment, Inc. are as follows:

Name

  Age
  Position

Peter T. Dameris   48   Chief Executive Officer and President
James L. Brill   56   Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Emmett B. McGrath   46   President, Life Sciences and Allied Divisions
Mark S. Brouse   54   President, VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc.
Michael J. McGowan   55   President, Oxford Global Resources, Inc.

        Peter T. Dameris joined the Company in November 2003 as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2004. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company in February 2005. From February 2001 through October 2002, Mr. Dameris served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR), a leading provider of specialized contracting services for the electric and gas utility, cable and telecommunications industries. From December 1994 through September 2000, Mr. Dameris served in a number of different positions at Metamor Worldwide, Inc. (formerly, NASDAQ: MMWW), an international, publicly-traded IT consulting/staffing company,

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including Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Senior Vice President and Secretary. In June 2000, Mr. Dameris successfully negotiated the sale of Metamor for $1.9 billion. From November 2002 to January 2006, Mr. Dameris was a member of the Board of Directors of Bindview Corporation (acquired by Symatec Corporation in January 2006). Mr. Dameris holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

        James L. Brill joined the Company in January 2007 as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Brill was Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Diagnostic Products Corporation, a manufacturer of immuno-diagnostic kits, since July 1999, which was acquired by Siemens in July 2006. From August 1998 to June 1999, Mr. Brill served as Chief Financial Officer of Jafra Cosmetics International, a marketing and direct-selling company in the skin care and beauty industry, and as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Vertel Corporation, a provider of middleware for the telecommunications industry, from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Brill also served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Merisel, Inc., an internet commerce service provider, from 1988 to 1996. Mr. Brill has been a member of the Board of Directors of Onvia Inc. since March 2004. He holds a Bachelor's of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and a Master's of Business Administration degree from the University of California Los Angeles.

        Emmett B. McGrath joined the Company in September 2004 as President, Life Sciences U.S., and in August 2005, Mr. McGrath was appointed as President of Life Sciences Europe. Mr. McGrath was appointed as President of Allied Healthcare in November 2007. From February 1985 through August 2004, Mr. McGrath worked at the Yoh Company, a privately-held technology staffing organization. During his tenure at Yoh, Mr. McGrath held various staffing positions, including Technical Recruiter, Account Manager, Branch and District Management, Vice President and Regional President. As Regional President, Mr. McGrath was responsible for core lines of businesses, including Scientific, Information Technology, Engineering, Healthcare, Telecommunications and Vendor on Premise (VOP) programs. In addition, Mr. McGrath served on Yoh's Executive Committee and the Chairman's Board of the Day & Zimmermann Group, Yoh's parent company. Mr. McGrath received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resources, from California State University, Northridge in 1991.

        Mark S. Brouse is president of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., On Assignment's Physician segment. Mr. Brouse joined On Assignment as a result of On Assignment's January 2007 acquisition of VISTA, a company he co-founded in 1990. Mr. Brouse began his career in pharmaceutical sales in 1980, and in 1986 joined CompHealth, a locum tenens staffing company, where he led specialty teams serving psychiatry and internal medicine clients before founding VISTA. Mr. Brouse holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemistry from California State, Dominguez Hills, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake and PEHR Technologies, an electronic medical records company.

        Michael J. McGowan is President of Oxford Global Resources, Inc., On Assignment's IT and Engineering division. He has held this position since 1998. He joined Oxford in May of 1997 as Chief Operating Officer. Formerly, Mr. McGowan was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kelly Services' Middle Markets Division, a provider of staffing solutions. Prior to that time he was Vice President & General Manager for The MEDSTAT Group, a healthcare information firm, and held increasingly responsible positions for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), a provider of human resources, payroll and tax and benefits administration solutions, during a sixteen year tenure. Mr. McGowan holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master's of Business Administration degree from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, also at Michigan State University. Mr. McGowan joined On Assignment as a result of the Company's acquisition of Oxford in January 2007.

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Available Information and Access to Reports

        We electronically file our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You may read and copy any of our reports that are filed with the SEC in the following manner:

    At the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330;

    At the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov;

    At our website, http://www.onassignment.com; or

    By contacting our Investor Relations Department at (818) 878-7900.

        Our reports are available through any of the foregoing means and are available free of charge on our website as soon as practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Also available on our website (http://www.onassignment.com), free of charge, are copies of our Code of Ethics for the Principle Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters for the committees of our Board of Directors. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers on our website within five business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.

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Item 1A.    Risk Factors

        Our business is subject to a number of risks, including the following:

Our results of operations may vary from quarter to quarter as a result of a number of factors, which may make it difficult to evaluate our business and could cause instability in the trading price of our common stock.

        Factors that may cause our quarterly results to fluctuate include:

    the level of demand for our temporary staffing services and the efficiency with which we source and assign our contract professionals and support our staffing consultants in the execution of their duties;

    changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors; and

    our ability to control costs and manage our accounts receivable balances.

        In addition, most temporary staffing companies experience seasonal declines in demand during the first and fourth quarters as a result of fewer business days and the reduced number of contract professionals willing to work during the holidays. Historically, we have experienced variability in the duration and depth of these seasonal declines, which in turn have materially affected our quarterly results of operations and made period-to-period comparisons of our financial and operating performance difficult.

        If our operating results are below the expectations of public market analysts or investors in a given quarter, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

If we are unable to attract and retain qualified contract professionals for our Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering segments, our business could be negatively impacted.

        Our business is substantially dependent upon our ability to attract and retain contract professionals who possess the skills, experience and, as required, licenses to meet the specified requirements of our clients. We compete for such contract professionals with other temporary staffing companies and with our clients and potential clients. Currently, there is a shortage of qualified nurses in most areas of the United States. Competition for nursing personnel is increasing and salaries and benefits have risen. Further, there can be no assurance that qualified healthcare, life science, IT and engineering professionals will be available to us in adequate numbers to staff our operating segments. Moreover, our contract professionals are often hired to become regular employees of our clients. Attracting and retaining contract professionals depends on several factors, including our ability to provide contract professionals with desirable assignments and competitive benefits and wages. The cost of attracting and retaining contract professionals may be higher than we anticipate and, as a result, if we are unable to pass these costs on to our clients, our likelihood of achieving or maintaining profitability could decline. If we are unable to attract and retain a sufficient number of contract professionals to meet client demand, we may be required to forgo staffing and revenue opportunities, which may hurt the growth of our business.

We may not successfully make or integrate acquisitions, which could harm our business and growth.

        As part of our growth strategy, we intend to opportunistically pursue selected acquisitions. We compete with other companies in the professional staffing and consulting industries for acquisition opportunities, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to effect future acquisitions on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In January 2007, we acquired VISTA and Oxford. With

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these two recent acquisitions or to the extent we enter into acquisition transactions in the future, we may experience:

    delays in realizing or a failure to realize the benefits, cost savings and synergies that we anticipate;

    difficulties or higher-than-anticipated costs associated with integrating any acquired companies into our businesses;

    attrition of key personnel from acquired businesses;

    diversion of management's attention from other business concerns;

    inability to maintain the business relationships and reputation of the acquired companies;

    difficulties in integrating the acquired companies into our information systems, controls, policies and procedures;

    additional risks relating to the businesses or industry of the acquired companies that are different from ours;

    unexpected costs or charges; or

    unforeseen operating difficulties that require significant financial and managerial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of our existing operations.

        We incurred debt for our recent acquisitions, which increased our interest expense. To undertake more transactions, we may incur additional debt in the future. We may face unexpected contingent liabilities arising from these or future acquisitions that could harm our business. We may also issue additional equity in connection with these transactions, which would dilute our existing shareholders.

If we cannot attract, develop and retain qualified and skilled staffing consultants, our business growth will suffer.

        A key component of our ability to grow our lines of business is our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified and skilled staffing consultants, particularly persons with industry experience. The available pool of qualified staffing consultant candidates is limited, and further constrained by the industry practice of entering into non-compete agreements with these employees, which may restrict their ability to accept employment with other staffing firms, including us. We cannot assure that we will be able to recruit, develop and retain qualified staffing consultants in sufficient numbers or that our staffing consultants will achieve productivity levels sufficient to enable growth of our business. Failure to attract and retain productive staffing consultants could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Reclassification of our independent contractors by tax authorities could materially and adversely affect our business model and could require us to pay significant retroactive wages, taxes and penalties.

        We consider our locum tenens physicians to be independent contractors rather than employees. As such, we do not withhold or pay income or other employment related taxes or provide workers' compensation insurance for them. Our classification of locum tenens physicians as independent contractors is consistent with general industry standard, but can nonetheless be challenged by the contractors themselves as well as the relevant taxing authorities. If federal or state taxing authorities determine that locums tenens physicians engaged as independent contractors are employees, our business model for that segment would be materially and adversely

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affected. Although we believe we would qualify for safe harbor under the provisions of Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-600 ("Section 530"), and any similar applicable state laws, we could incur significant liability for past wages, taxes, penalties and other employment benefits if we could not so qualify. In addition, many states have laws that prohibit non-physician owned companies from employing physicians. If our independent contractor physicians are classified as employees, we could be found in violation of such state laws, which could subject us to liability in those states and thereby negatively impact on our profitability.

If we lose a major client in our Nurse Travel line of business and are not able to replace the lost business quickly, our business could be negatively impacted.

        Our top ten clients in the Nurse Travel line of business accounted for 28.6 percent of Nurse Travel revenues in 2007. The loss of a major client in Nurse Travel and the failure to replace the lost business with existing or new clients could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In 2007, we earned 2.9 percent of our consolidated revenues from several customers operating under a single contract with Los Angeles County. The revenues from this contract are included in Healthcare segment revenues. No other single customer or contract accounted for 2.9 percent or more of total revenues during 2007.

If our information systems do not function in a cost effective manner, our business will be harmed.

        The operation of our business is dependent on the proper functioning of our information systems. In 2006 and 2007, we continued to upgrade our information technology systems, including PeopleSoft and Vurv Technology, enterprise-wide information systems. Critical information systems used in daily operations identify and match staffing resources and client assignments, track regulatory credentialing, manage scheduling and also perform billing and accounts receivable functions. If the systems fail to perform reliably or otherwise do not meet our expectations, or if we fail to successfully complete the implementation of other modules of the systems, we could experience business interruptions that could result in deferred or lost sales. Our information systems are vulnerable to fire, storm, flood, power loss, telecommunications failures, physical or software break-ins and similar events. Our network infrastructure is currently co-located at a single facility in Burbank, California. As a result, any system failure or service outage at this primary facility could result in a loss of service for the duration of the failure of the outage. Our location in Southern California is susceptible to earthquakes and has, in the past, experienced power shortages and outages, any of which could result in system failures or outages. In 2007, we began the process of relocating our network from Burbank, California to our facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. If we are unable to successfully complete this migration without interruption, it could impact our business. If our information systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, these functions would have to be accomplished manually, which could impact our ability to respond to business opportunities quickly, to pay our staff in a timely fashion and to bill for services efficiently.

If we are not able to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients, our future growth will suffer.

        The contract staffing industry is highly competitive and fragmented with limited barriers to entry. We compete in national, regional and local markets with full-service agencies and in regional and local markets with specialized contract staffing agencies. Some of our competitors in the Nurse Travel line of business include AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. Cross Country, Inc. and several privately-held companies. Some of our competitors in the Life Sciences segment and Allied Healthcare line of business include Kelly Services, Inc., Manpower, Inc., Adecco, SA, Kforce Inc. and Yoh Scientific. Competitors for the Physician segment include the locum tenens divisions of

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CHG Healthcare Services, TeamHealth, Inc. and AMN Healthcare Services, Inc., along with several other privately-held companies specializing in locum tenens. Competitors of our IT and Engineering segment include Robert Half International, Accenture, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and the Yoh Company. Several of these companies have significantly greater marketing and financial resources than we do. Our ability to attract and retain clients is based on the value of the service we deliver, which in turn depends principally on the speed with which we fill assignments and the appropriateness of the match based on clients' requirements and the skills and experience of our contract professionals. Our ability to attract skilled, experienced contract professionals is based on our ability to pay competitive wages or contract rates, to provide competitive benefits and to provide multiple, continuous assignments, thereby increasing the retention rate of these employees or contractors. To the extent that competitors seek to gain or retain market share by reducing prices or increasing marketing expenditures, we could lose revenues and our gross and operating margins could decline, which could seriously harm our operating results and cause the trading price of our stock to decline. As we expand into new geographic markets, our success will depend in part on our ability to gain market share from competitors. We expect competition for clients to increase in the future, and the success and growth of our business depend on our ability to remain competitive.

Our contract staffing agreements may be terminated by clients and contract professionals at will and the termination of a significant number of such agreements would adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.

        Each contract professional's employment with us is terminable at will. A locum tenens physician may generally terminate his or her contract with VISTA for non-emergency reasons upon 60 days notice. The duration of agreements with clients are generally dictated by the contract. Usually, contracts with clients may be terminated with 30 days notice by us or by the clients. We cannot assure that existing clients will continue to use our services at historical levels, if at all. If clients terminate a significant number of our staffing agreements and we are unable to generate new contract staffing orders to replace lost revenues or a significant number of our contract professionals terminate their employment with us and we are unable to find suitable replacements, our revenues and results of operations could be harmed.

We are subject to business risks associated with international operations, which could make our international operations significantly more costly.

        As of December 31, 2007, we had international operations in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. We have limited experience in marketing, selling and, particularly, supporting our services outside of North America.

        Operations in certain markets are subject to risks inherent in international business activities, including:

    fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

    complicated work permit requirements;

    varying economic and political conditions;

    seasonal reductions in business activity during the summer months in Europe and Asia;

    overlapping or differing tax structures;

    difficulties collecting accounts receivable; and

    regulations concerning pay rates, benefits, vacation, union membership, redundancy payments and the termination of employment.

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        Our inability to effectively manage our international operations could result in increased costs and adversely affect our results of operations.

Improper activities of our contract professionals could result in damage to our business reputation, discontinuation of our client relationships and exposure to liability.

        We may be subject to possible claims by our clients related to errors and omissions, misuse of proprietary information, discrimination and harassment, theft and other criminal activity, malpractice and other claims stemming from the improper activities or alleged activities of our contract professionals. We cannot assure that our current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims. Claims raised by clients stemming from the improper actions of our contract professionals, even if without merit, could cause us to incur significant expense associated with the costs or damages related to such claims. Further, such claims by clients could damage our business reputation and result in the discontinuation of client relationships.

Claims against us by our contract professionals for damages resulting from the negligence or mistreatment by our clients could result in significant costs and adversely affect our recruitment and retention efforts.

        We may be subject to possible claims by our contract professionals alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, negligence and other similar activities by our clients. Our physicians may also be subject to medical malpractice claims. We cannot assure that our current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims. Claims raised by our contract professionals, even if without merit, could cause us to incur significant expense associated with the costs or damages related to such claims. Further, any associated negative publicity could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain qualified contract professionals in the future.

If we are required to further write down goodwill or identifiable intangible assets, the related charge could materially impact our reported net income or loss for the period in which it occurs.

        In 2004, we recorded a charge of $26.4 million related to impairment of goodwill and an impairment charge of $3.9 million related to our identifiable intangible assets. We did not record any such charges in 2005, 2006 or 2007. However, we continue to have approximately $193.6 million in goodwill on our balance sheet at December 31, 2007, as well as $41.0 million in identifiable intangible assets. As part of the analysis of goodwill impairment, SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS 142), requires the Company's management to estimate the fair value of the reporting units on at least an annual basis. At December 31, 2007, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test and concluded that there was no further impairment of goodwill. In addition, at December 31, 2007, we determined that there were no events or changes in circumstances that indicated that the carrying values of other identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization may not be recoverable. Although a future impairment of the remaining $193.6 million in goodwill and $41.0 million in identifiable intangible assets on our balance sheet at December 31, 2007 would not affect our cash flow, it would negatively impact our operating results.

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If we are subject to material uninsured liabilities under our partially self-insured workers' compensation program and medical malpractice coverage, our financial results could be adversely affected.

        We maintain a partially self-insured workers' compensation program and medical malpractice coverage. In connection with these programs, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred up to certain levels. We are insured for losses greater than certain levels, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. There can be no assurance that our loss reserves and insurance coverage will be adequate in amount to cover all workers' compensation or medical malpractice claims. If we become subject to substantial uninsured workers' compensation or medical malpractice liabilities, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Our costs of providing travel and housing for nurses and other traveling contract professionals may be higher than we anticipate and, as a result, our margins could decline.

        If our travel and housing costs, including the costs of airline tickets, rental cars, apartments and rental furniture for our nurses and other traveling contract professionals exceed the levels we anticipate, and we are unable to pass such increases on to our clients, our margins may decline. To the extent the length of our apartment leases exceed the terms of our staffing contracts, we bear the risk that we will be obligated to pay rent for housing we do not use. If we cannot source a sufficient number of appropriate short-term leases in regional markets, or if, for any reason, we are unable to efficiently utilize the apartments we do lease, we may be required to pay rent for unutilized or underutilized housing. As we continue to expand our Nurse Travel line of business, effective management of travel costs will be necessary to prevent a decrease in gross profit and gross and operating margins.

Demand for our services is significantly impacted by changes in the general level of economic activity and continued periods of reduced economic activity could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

        Demand for the contract staffing services that we provide is significantly impacted by changes in the general level of economic activity, particularly any negative effect on healthcare, research and development and quality control spending. As economic activity slows, many clients or potential clients for our services reduce their usage of and reliance upon contract professionals before laying off their regular, full-time employees. During periods of reduced economic activity, we may also be subject to increased competition for market share and pricing pressure. As a result, continued periods of reduced economic activity could harm our business and results of operations.

We do not have long-term or exclusive agreements with our temporary staffing clients and growth of our business depends upon our ability to continually secure and fill new orders.

        We do not have long-term agreements or exclusive guaranteed order contracts with our temporary staffing clients. Assignments for our Life Sciences segment typically have a term of three to six months. Assignments for our Healthcare segment typically have a term of two to thirteen weeks. Assignments for our Physician segment typically have a term of six weeks. Assignments for our IT and Engineering segment typically have a term of approximately five months. The success of our business depends upon our ability to continually secure new orders from clients and to fill those orders with our contract professionals. Our agreements do not provide for exclusive use of our services, and clients are free to place orders with our competitors. As a result, it is imperative to our business that we maintain positive relationships with our clients. If we fail to maintain positive relationships with these clients, we may be unable to generate new contract staffing orders, and the growth of our business could be adversely affected.

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Fluctuation in patient occupancy rates at client facilities could adversely affect demand for services of our Healthcare and Physician segments and our results of operations.

        Client demand for our Healthcare and Physician segment services is significantly impacted by changes in patient occupancy rates at our hospital and healthcare clients' facilities. Increases in occupancy often result in increased client need for contract professionals before full-time employees can be hired. During periods of decreased occupancy, however, hospitals and other healthcare facilities typically reduce their use of contract professionals before laying off their regular, full-time employees. During periods of decreased occupancy, we may experience increased competition to service clients, including pricing pressure. Occupancy at certain healthcare clients' facilities also fluctuates due to the seasonality of some elective procedures. Periods of decreased occupancy at client healthcare facilities could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

The loss of key members of our senior management team could adversely affect the execution of our business strategy and our financial results.

        We believe that the successful execution of our business strategy and our ability to build upon the significant recent investments in our business and acquisitions of new businesses depends on the continued employment of key members of our senior management team. If any members of our senior management team become unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our financial results and our business could be materially adversely affected.

Future changes in reimbursement trends could hamper our Healthcare and Physician segments clients' ability to pay us, which would harm our financial results.

        Many of our Healthcare and Physician segments' clients are reimbursed under the federal Medicare program and state Medicaid programs for the services they provide. In recent years, federal and state governments have made significant changes in these programs that have reduced reimbursement rates. In addition, insurance companies and managed care organizations seek to control costs by requiring that healthcare providers, such as hospitals, discount their services in exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. Future federal and state legislation or evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce, or change conditions for, our clients' reimbursement. Limitations on reimbursement could reduce our clients' cash flows, thereby hampering their ability to pay us.

If our insurance costs increase significantly, these incremental costs could negatively affect our financial results.

        The costs related to obtaining and maintaining workers' compensation insurance, medical malpractice insurance, professional and general liability insurance and health insurance for our contract professionals have been increasing. If the cost of carrying this insurance continues to increase significantly, this may reduce our gross and operating margins and financial results.

Healthcare reform could negatively impact our business opportunities, revenues and gross and operating margins.

        The U.S. and state governments have undertaken efforts to control increasing healthcare costs through legislation, regulation and voluntary agreements with medical care providers and drug companies. In the recent past, the U.S. Congress has considered several comprehensive healthcare reform proposals. The proposals were generally intended to expand healthcare coverage for the uninsured and reduce the growth of total healthcare expenditures. While the U.S. Congress did not adopt any comprehensive reform proposals, members of Congress may raise similar proposals in the future. If any of these proposals are approved, hospitals and other healthcare facilities may

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react by spending less on healthcare staffing, including nurses and physicians. If this were to occur, we would have fewer business opportunities, which could seriously harm our business.

        Furthermore, third-party payors, such as health maintenance organizations, increasingly challenge the prices charged for medical care. Failure by hospitals and other healthcare facilities to obtain full reimbursement from those third-party payors could reduce the demand or the price paid for our staffing services.

We operate in a regulated industry and changes in regulations or violations of regulations may result in increased costs or sanctions that could reduce our revenues and profitability.

        Our organization is subject to extensive and complex federal and state laws and regulations including but not limited to: professional licensure, payroll tax regulations, conduct of operations, payment for services and payment for referrals. If we fail to comply with the laws and regulations that are directly applicable to our business, we could suffer civil and/or criminal penalties or be subject to injunctions or cease and desist orders.

        Extensive and complex laws that apply to our hospital and healthcare facility clients, including laws related to Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs, could indirectly affect the demand or the prices paid for our services. For example, our hospital and healthcare facility clients could suffer civil and/or criminal penalties and/or be excluded from participating in Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs if they fail to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to their businesses. In addition, our hospital and healthcare facility clients could receive reduced reimbursements or be excluded from coverage because of a change in the rates or conditions set by federal or state governments. In turn, violations of or changes to these laws and regulations that adversely affect our hospital and healthcare facility clients could also adversely affect the prices that these clients are willing or able to pay for our services.

The trading price of our common stock has experienced significant fluctuations, which could make it difficult for us to access the public markets for financing or use our common stock as consideration in a strategic transaction.

        In 2007, the trading price of our common stock experienced significant fluctuations, from a high of $13.78 to a low of $5.81. The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market was $5.72 on March 10, 2008. Our common stock may continue to fluctuate widely as a result of a large number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

    period to period fluctuations in our financial results or those of our competitors;

    failure to meet previously announced guidance or analysts' expectations of our quarterly results;

    announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, significant contracts, commercial relationships or capital commitments;

    commencement of, or involvement in, litigation;

    any major change in our board or management;

    changes in government regulations, including those related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies;

    recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates;

    announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

    the volume of shares of common stock available for public sale;

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    announcements by our competitors of their earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

    sales of stock by us or by our shareholders;

    short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions in shares of our common stock; and

    general economic conditions, slow or negative growth of unrelated markets and other external factors.

        The stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices of many companies involved in the temporary staffing industry. As a result of these fluctuations, we may encounter difficulty should we determine to access the public markets for financing or use our common stock as consideration in a strategic transaction.

Future sales of our common stock and the future exercise of options may cause the market price of our common stock to decline and may result in substantial dilution.

        We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our common stock, or the availability of our common stock for sale will have on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market by management or us, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock at a time and price which you may deem appropriate.

We have adopted anti-takeover measures that could prevent a change in our control.

        In June 2003, we adopted a shareholder rights plan that has certain anti-takeover effects and will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us in a manner or on terms that have not been approved by our board of directors. This plan could delay or impede the removal of incumbent directors and could make more difficult a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us, even if such events could be beneficial, in the short term, to the interests of our shareholders. In addition, such provisions could limit the price that some investors might be wiling to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that limit liability and provide for indemnification of our directors and officers, and provide that our stockholders can take action only at a duly called annual meeting of stockholders. These provisions and others also may have the affect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management.

Provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent a change in control that our stockholders consider favorable.

        Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. These provisions include the following:

    Our board of directors has the right to elect directors to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors.

    Our stockholders may not act by written consent. In addition, a holder or holders controlling a majority of our capital stock would not be able to take certain actions without holding a stockholder's meeting, and only stockholders owning at least 50 percent of our entire voting stock must request in writing in order to call a special meeting of stockholders (which is in

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      addition to the authority held by our board of directors to call a special stockholder meetings).

    Stockholders must provide advance notice to nominate individuals for election to the board of directors or to propose matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders' meeting. These provisions may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer's own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

    Our board of directors may issue, without stockholder approval, up to 1,000,000 shares of undesignated or "blank check" preferred stock. The ability to issue undesignated or "blank check" preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt or make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.

        As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to certain Delaware anti-takeover provisions, including Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under these provisions, a corporation may not engage in a business combination with any large stockholders who hold 15 percent or more of our outstanding voting capital stock in a merger or business combination unless the holder has held the stock for 3 years, the board of directors has expressly approved the merger or business transaction or at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting capital stock not owned by such large stockholder approve the merger or the transaction. These provisions of Delaware law may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control, and may discourage bids for our common stock at a premium over its market price. In addition, our board of directors could rely on these provisions of Delaware law to discourage, prevent or delay an acquisition of us.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

        Not applicable.

Item 2.    Properties

        As of December 31, 2007, we leased approximately 30,500 square feet of office space through March 2011 for our field support and corporate headquarters in Calabasas, California, and 15,900 square feet of office space through March 2008 for our field support offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March 2008, we vacated the leased office space in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to new premises in Blue Ash, Ohio, consisting of 16,500 rentable square feet of office space. Also, as of December 31, 2007, we leased approximately 56,000 square feet of office space through December 2016 at our VISTA headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and 48,000 square feet of office space through December 2009 at our Oxford headquarters in Beverly, Massachusetts.

        In addition, we lease approximately 200,000 square feet of office space in approximately 85 branch office locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. A branch office typically occupies space ranging from approximately 1,000 to 3,000 square feet with lease terms that typically range from six months to six years.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        On September 20, 2005, Oxford commenced suit in Massachusetts Superior Court against two former Oxford employees, their new employer, Black Diamond Networks Inc., ("Black Diamond") and its President. Oxford later amended the complaint at various times to add seven other former employees of Oxford (all collectively "Former Employees") and three other additional defendants. The claims involve breach of the Former Employees' confidentiality, non-solicitation and

24



non-competition agreements, misappropriation of proprietary information, as well as tortious interference with such contracts and advantageous relations and unfair competition. Certain of the defendants have filed counterclaims, which the Company believes to be without legal merit. The court has granted Oxford's six requests for preliminary injunction orders, which have been issued against eight of the Former Employee defendants and Black Diamond. Discovery is ongoing and is extensive. Factual discovery will conclude by March 31, 2008 and trial is scheduled to commence on October 14, 2008. Oxford expects the matter to be tried. Accordingly, legal and expert fees may be significant.

        We are involved in various other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, we do not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on our financial position.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        There were no matters submitted to a stockholder vote during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2007.

25



PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

        Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol ASGN. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market for each quarterly period within the two most recent years. At March 10, 2008, we had approximately 51 holders of record, approximately 3,800 beneficial owners of our common stock and 35,388,148 shares outstanding, net of 3,051,719 shares of treasury stock.

 
  Price Range of
Common Stock

 
  High
  Low
Year Ended December 31, 2006            
  First Quarter   $ 12.56   $ 10.00
  Second Quarter   $ 13.60   $ 9.19
  Third Quarter   $ 10.31   $ 8.36
  Fourth Quarter   $ 12.21   $ 9.49

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 
  First Quarter   $ 13.78   $ 11.35
  Second Quarter   $ 12.72   $ 9.63
  Third Quarter   $ 11.63   $ 9.00
  Fourth Quarter   $ 10.13   $ 5.81

        Since inception, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock, and we currently plan to retain all earnings to support the development and expansion of our business. We have no present intention of paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, the board of directors periodically reviews our dividend policy to determine whether the declaration of dividends is appropriate. In addition, the terms of the debt agreement restrict our ability to pay dividends of more than $2,000,000 per year.

        On June 15, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 2,940,939 shares of On Assignment, Inc.'s common stock. As of December 31, 2006, we had repurchased 2,662,500 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $22,970,000. During the fourth quarter of 2007, we purchased the additional 278,439 remaining authorized shares.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period

  Total number
of shares
purchased

  Average price
paid
per share

  Total number
of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs

  Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
October 1—October 31, 2007     $     278,439
November 1—November 30, 2007           278,439
December 1—December 31, 2007   278,439     7.17   278,439  
   
 
 
 
  Total   278,439   $ 7.17   278,439  
   
 
 
 

26


Stock Performance Graph

        The following graph compares the performance of On Assignment's common stock price during the period from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2007 with the composite prices of companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and of companies included in the SIC Code No. 736—Personnel Supply Services Companies Index. The companies listed in the SIC Code No. 736 include peer companies in the same industry or line of business as On Assignment.

        The graph depicts the results of investing $100 in On Assignment's common stock, the NASDAQ Stock Market composite index and an index of the companies listed in the SIC Code No. 736 on December 31, 2002 and assumes that dividends were reinvested during the period.

        The comparisons shown in the graph below are based upon historical data, and we caution stockholders that the stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, potential future performance.

GRAPHIC

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007
On Assignment, Inc.    $ 100.00   $ 61.15   $ 60.92   $ 128.05   $ 137.91   $ 82.28
SIC Code No. 736 Index—Personnel Supply Services Company Index   $ 100.00   $ 155.84   $ 152.26   $ 157.53   $ 198.25   $ 146.72
NASDAQ Stock Market Index   $ 100.00   $ 150.36   $ 163.00   $ 166.58   $ 183.68   $ 201.91

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        The following table presents selected financial data of On Assignment as of, and for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. This selected financial data should be read

27



in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)

 
Income Statement Data:                                
Revenues   $ 209,554   $ 193,574   $ 237,856   $ 287,566   $ 567,180  
  Cost of services     153,381     143,663     174,627     209,725     387,643  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     56,173     49,911     63,229     77,841     179,537  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses     59,435     66,695     64,135     67,900     151,942  
  Impairment of intangibles         3,907              
  Impairment of goodwill     79,897     26,421              
   
 
 
 
 
 
Operating (loss) income     (83,159 )   (47,112 )   (906 )   9,941     27,595  
  Interest expense     (8 )   (7 )       (54 )   (10,968 )
  Interest income     400     402     681     1,698     1,394  
  Change in fair value of interest rate swap                     (1,206 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes     (82,767 )   (46,717 )   (225 )   11,585     16,815  
  (Benefit) provision for income taxes     (967 )   (4,324 )   (129 )   541     7,493  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income   $ (81,800 ) $ (42,393 ) $ (96 ) $ 11,044   $ 9,322  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Basic (loss) earnings per share   $ (3.22 ) $ (1.68 ) $ (0.00 ) $ 0.41   $ 0.27  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     25,422     25,231     25,464     27,155     35,138  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share   $ (3.22 ) $ (1.68 ) $ (0.00 ) $ 0.39   $ 0.26  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares and dilutive shares outstanding     25,422     25,231     25,464     28,052     35,771  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Data:                                
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and current portion of marketable securities   $ 35,134   $ 22,787   $ 25,365   $ 110,161   $ 37,764  
Working capital     53,258     40,957     47,629     135,501     79,009  
Total assets     131,981     92,382     93,705     186,995     384,680  
Long-term liabilities     1,450     222     70     627     140,803  
Stockholders' equity     115,885     74,471     76,637     165,944     193,034  

        Our working capital at December 31, 2007 was $79,009,000, including $37,764,000 in cash and cash equivalents. On January 3, 2007, we acquired VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA), and on January 31, 2007, we acquired Oxford Global Resources, Inc. (Oxford) The Oxford acquisition was completed by utilizing our existing cash and the proceeds from a new $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility. For further discussion regarding the new credit facility, see Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

        In 2006, there was a reversal of the valuation allowance of $4,928,000 that was recorded against our net deferred income tax assets in 2004 and 2005. Of the $4,928,000 valuation allowance reversal, $4,345,000 resulted in an income tax benefit and $583,000 was recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital resulting from stock option deductions realized in 2006.

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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        This discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends" and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our anticipated financial and operating performance for future periods. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences or prove our forward-looking statements, by hindsight, to be overly optimistic or unachievable include, but are not limited to, the following:

    actual demand for our services;

    our ability to attract, train, and retain qualified staffing consultants;

    our ability to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients;

    the availability of qualified temporary nurses and other qualified contract professionals;

    our ability to manage our growth efficiently and effectively; and

    continued performance of our information systems.

For a discussion of these and other factors that may impact our realization of our forward-looking statements, see "Business—Risk Factors" within Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Other factors may also contribute to the differences between our forward-looking statements and our actual results. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements in this document are based on information available to us as of the date we file this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or the reasons why our actual results may differ.

Overview

        In 2007, our strategy was in large part focused on assisting the newly acquired Physician and IT and Engineering segments to continue to perform while integrating with and operating as a part of On Assignment. We also concentrated on diversifying our client mix in the Healthcare segment though the expansion of our client base. We continued to focus on growing revenues, improving gross profit and rationalizing and leveraging our selling, general and administrative expenses, which enabled us to grow our profits in 2007.

        We made significant progress in further strengthening the sales force through the hiring of seasoned professionals with staffing industry experience and committing more resources to our newer services lines; local nursing, health information management, clinical research and our two new segments: Physician and IT and Engineering.

        Consolidated revenues were up 97.2 percent from $287,566,000 in 2006 to $567,180,000 in 2007. Consolidated gross margin improved 460 basis points from 27.1 percent in 2006 to 31.7 percent in 2007. For the full year, gross profit increased 130.6 percent from $77,841,000 in 2006 to $179,537,000 in 2007.

        In 2007, our results of operations were affected significantly by our acquisition of VISTA and Oxford.

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        On January 3, 2007, we acquired VSS Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which includes VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA), a privately-owned leading provider of physician staffing, known as locum tenens, and permanent physician search services. VISTA is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and works with more than 1,000 physicians covering approximately thirty medical specialties. On a daily basis, VISTA has over 200 physicians on assignment. VISTA provides its staffing solutions in all fifty states and international markets for organizations ranging from large urban hospitals to small practice groups in rural areas. VISTA's CEO and management team have remained with us after the acquisition. The primary reasons for the VISTA acquisition were to diversify our existing healthcare offerings, to compliment our existing Nurse Travel business line with cross-selling opportunities and to leverage our selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, including housing, travel and credentialing costs.

        The total purchase price of $44,235,000 consisted of (i) an initial price of $41,141,000, paid in cash, (ii) $889,000 in direct acquisition costs and (iii) $2,205,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-out related to the 2007 operating performance of VISTA. Payment of the earn-out is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of both parties to all terms and provisions. The estimated earn-out payments have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses. There is potential for additional consideration of $5,795,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of the physician segment. This earn-out will be recorded as additional purchase price in the future at such time when the targets are met and the consideration is earned.

        We recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, and thus the results of operations from VISTA are included in our consolidated financial statements (Physician segment) from the acquisition date. Pursuant to SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141), the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition. Adjustments to the purchase price, such as the earn-out for 2008, will be reflected in subsequent periods if and when conditions are met. The purchase price was allocated as follows: $1,751,000 to net tangible assets acquired, $3,140,000 to identified intangible assets with definite lives, $6,500,000 to identified intangible assets with indefinite lives and $32,844,000 to goodwill. The weighted average amortization period for the identifiable intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be 1.1 years. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

        On January 31, 2007, we acquired Oxford Global Resources, Inc. (Oxford), a leading provider of high-end information technology and engineering staffing services. The primary reasons for the Oxford acquisition were to enter the markets for information technology and engineering staffing services and to leverage our existing SG&A infrastructure.

        The total purchase price of $207,723,000 consisted of (i) an initial price of $200,072,000, comprised of $190,072,000 paid in cash and 795,292 shares of our common stock valued at $10,000,000, (ii) $1,331,000 in direct acquisition costs and (iii) $6,320,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-out related to the 2007 operating performance of Oxford. Payment of the earn-out is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of both parties to all terms and provisions. These costs have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses. There is potential for additional consideration of $5,680,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of Oxford. This earn-out will be recorded as additional purchase price in the future at such time when the targets are met and the consideration is earned.

        We recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, and thus the results of operations from Oxford are included in our consolidated financial statements (IT and Engineering segment) from the acquisition date. Pursuant to SFAS 141, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition.

30


Adjustments to the purchase price, such as the earn-out for 2008, will be reflected in subsequent periods if and when conditions are met. The purchase price was allocated as follows: $17,089,000 to net tangible assets acquired, $30,300,000 to identified intangible assets with definite lives, $15,700,000 to identified intangible assets with indefinite lives and $144,634,000 to goodwill. The weighted average amortization period for the identifiable intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be 2.1 years. The Company expects to reduce its federal and state income tax liability by approximately $5,000,000 per year over fifteen years as a result of an election to classify the Oxford acquisition as an asset sale for tax purposes under section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        We utilized our existing cash and proceeds from a new $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility to finance the acquisitions. See Liquidity and Capital Resources for discussion of the credit facility.

Seasonality

        Demand for our staffing services historically has been lower during the first and fourth quarters due to fewer business days resulting from client shutdowns and a decline in the number of contract professionals willing to work during the holidays. This may have particular impact in 2008 because of the number of holidays that occur during the normal work week. As is common in the staffing industry, we run special incentive programs to keep our contract professionals, particularly nurses, working through the holidays. Demand for our staffing services usually increases in the second and third quarters of the year. In addition, our cost of services typically increases in the first quarter primarily due to the reset of payroll taxes.

Critical Accounting Policies

        Our accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report. We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We consider the following policies to be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our financial statements and the uncertainties that could impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Billing Adjustments.    We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as well as an allowance for billing adjustments related to trade receivables based on our analysis of historical collection and adjustment experience. We apply actual collection and adjustment percentages to the outstanding accounts receivable balances at the end of the period. If we experience a significant change in collections or billing adjustment experience, our estimates of the recoverability of accounts receivable could change by a material amount.

        Workers' Compensation and Medical Malpractice Loss Reserves.    We are partially self-insured for our workers' compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments as well as our medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with these programs, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred, not to exceed certain stop-loss limits. We are insured for losses above these limits, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not reported. We account for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data.

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Changes in estimates and differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or the payments were made.

        In conjunction with the $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility entered into on January 31, 2007, the restricted cash and cash equivalents of $4,678,000 previously collateralized in association with three letters of credit related to our workers' compensation program were released. The net self-insurance claim liability was approximately $3,551,000 and $8,921,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        Contingencies.    We account for contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." SFAS 5 requires that we record an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information available prior to issuance of our financial statements indicates it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Accounting for contingencies, such as legal settlements, workers' compensation matters and medical malpractice insurance matters, requires us to use our judgment. While we believe that our accruals for these matters are adequate, if the actual loss from a loss contingency is significantly different than the estimated loss, results of operations may be over or understated.

        Income taxes.    As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax exposures in each jurisdiction including the impact, if any, of additional taxes resulting from tax examinations. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities. Such deferred income tax asset and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. If necessary, a valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred income tax assets in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS 109). Tax exposures can involve complex issues and may require an extended period to resolve. The estimated effective tax rate is adjusted for the tax related to significant unusual items. Changes in the geographic mix or estimated level of annual pre-tax income can affect the overall effective tax rate.

        During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, we established a valuation allowance against our net deferred income tax assets. The valuation allowance was calculated pursuant to SFAS 109, which requires an assessment of both positive and negative evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Such evidence includes a company's past and projected future performance, the market environment in which the company operates, the utilization of past tax credits and the length of carryback and carryforward periods of net operating losses. In determining that a valuation allowance was required, we placed added weight on the operating results of the past two years and projected operating losses for 2005. At the end of 2006, we evaluated the need for the valuation allowance in accordance with our valuation allowance reversal methodology and in conjunction with SFAS 109. We concluded that as a result of sustained profitability, which was evidenced by consecutive quarters of net income along with projections of pre-tax income in future years, that the criteria had been met for the full reversal of the valuation allowance.

        Effective January 1, 2007, we began to measure and record tax contingency accruals in accordance with FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" (FIN 48). The expanded disclosure requirements of FIN 48 are presented in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

        FIN 48 prescribes a threshold for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Only tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized or continue to be recognized upon adoption of this Interpretation. FIN 48 also provides guidance on accounting for

32



derecognition, interest and penalties, and classification and disclosure of matters related to uncertainty in income taxes. As in the past, changes in accruals associated with uncertainties arising from pre-acquisition years for acquired businesses are charged or credited to goodwill. Adjustments to other tax accruals are generally recorded in earnings in the period they are determined.

        Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets.    As discussed in Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS 142) requires that we review and test goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment on at least an annual basis, rather than amortize them. We may be required to review and test for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. In testing for a potential impairment of goodwill, SFAS 142 requires us to: (1) allocate goodwill to our various business units to which the acquired goodwill relates; (2) estimate the fair value of those businesses to which goodwill relates; and (3) determine the carrying value of the businesses. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value for a particular business unit, then we are required to estimate the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities of the business unit, in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation for an acquired business unit. This requires the identification of any previously unrecognized intangible assets. When this process is completed, the amount of goodwill impairment is determined. We determine the fair value based upon discounted cash flows prepared for each reporting unit. Cash flows were developed for each reporting unit based on assumptions including revenue growth expectations, gross margins, operating expense projection, working capital and capital expense requirements and tax rates. Rather than computing probabilistic cash flow outcomes to account for risk in the cash flow forecasts, the impact of risk was used in developing the discount factor.

        In addition, SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS 144) requires us to test the recoverability of long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets with definite lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In testing for potential impairment under SFAS 144, if the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the expected undiscounted cash flows, we must then determine the amount by which the fair value of those assets exceeds the carrying value and determine the amount of impairment, if any.

        SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141) requires us to record acquisition transactions in accordance with the purchase method of accounting, and therefore requires us to use judgment and estimates related to the allocation of the purchase price to the intangibles assets of the acquisition and the remaining amount, net of assets and liabilities assumed, to goodwill.

        Stock-Based Compensation.    As discussed in Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, effective January 1, 2006, we account for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS 123R) using the modified-prospective transition method. Under this transition method, compensation expense recognized includes: (a) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123), recognized over the remaining vesting period and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R recognized over the vesting period. In accordance with the modified-prospective transition method, results for prior periods have not been restated.

        Prior to January 1, 2006, we applied APB Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation

33



plans. Since stock options were issued with an exercise price equal to the fair market price on the grant date, no compensation expense was recorded related to stock options.

        Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, we adopted the disclosure only provisions of SFAS 123, which recognizes expense based on the fair value on the date of grant.

Results of Operations

        The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected income statement data expressed as a percentage of revenues:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
Revenues   100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
  Cost of services   73.4   72.9   68.3  
   
 
 
 
Gross profit   26.6   27.1   31.7  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses   27.0   23.6   26.8  
   
 
 
 
Operating (loss) income   (0.4 ) 3.5   4.9  
  Interest expense   0.0   0.0   (1.9 )
  Interest income   0.3   0.5   0.2  
  Change in fair value of interest rate swap   0.0   0.0   (0.2 )
   
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes   (0.1 ) 4.0   3.0  
  Provision (benefit) for income taxes   (0.1 ) 0.2   1.4  
   
 
 
 
Net (loss) income   (0.0 )% 3.8 % 1.6 %
   
 
 
 

Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2007

    Revenues.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
  Change
 
 
  2007
  2006
  $
  %
 
  Revenues by segment:                        
Life Sciences   $ 134,622,000   $ 117,462,000   $ 17,160,000   14.6 %
Healthcare     175,079,000     170,104,000     4,975,000   2.9 %
Physician (from January 3, 2007)     74,599,000         74,599,000   N/A  
IT and Engineering (from January 31, 2007)     182,880,000         182,880,000   N/A  
   
 
 
 
 
  Total Revenues   $ 567,180,000   $ 287,566,000   $ 279,614,000   97.2 %
   
 
 
 
 

34


        Consolidated year-over-year revenue growth is primarily attributable to the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford, completed on January 3, 2007 and January 31, 2007, respectively, and includes revenues from their respective date of acquisition. We also experienced organic growth in our Life Sciences and Healthcare segments. These organic results were due to both demand in our end markets as well as an expanded and more experienced sales and fulfillment team. Our Healthcare segment revenues began to slow in the latter half of the year, driven by slower than expected progress in replacing a large account that closed its acute care facility following its failure to gain government certification, our reduction in placements at another large customer due to pricing, as well as a generally lackluster Nurse Travel end market. We have made management changes and realigned certain geographic markets to facilitate generating a better growth rate in the segment on a go-forward basis. We will continue to focus on the growth of our established product lines as well as our newer product lines, including Health Information Management, Clinical Research, Engineering, Local Nursing, Physician, IT and Engineering, and further development of our direct hire business. We believe the growth of these service offerings will help support further organic growth and diversify our client base.

        Revenues increased $279,614,000, or 97.2 percent, from $287,566,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $567,180,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. This increase was due in great part because of the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford, which accounted for $257,479,000 of the increase. In addition, conversion and direct hire fee revenues increased $4,943,000, or 75.2 percent, from $6,571,000, or 2.3 percent of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $11,514,000, or 2.0 percent of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2007. This was a result of more contract professionals being converted into or hired directly as permanent employees in our legacy businesses, accounting for $1,967,000 of the increase, as well as from conversion and direct hire fee revenues generated in the newly acquired Physician and IT and Engineering segments, which accounted for $2,976,000 of the increase. Continued development of the direct hire business had a favorable impact on our operating results and will remain a focus of management.

        Life Sciences segment revenues increased $17,160,000, or 14.6 percent, from $117,462,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $134,622,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to a 7.6 percent increase in average bill rates, or approximately $8,968,000, as well as a 5.0 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, or approximately $5,897,000. In addition, conversion and direct hire fee revenues increased $1,219,000, or 22.3 percent, from $5,465,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $6,684,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Our newer service line offerings, Clinical Research and Engineering, continued to grow by generating a larger number of higher-level, higher-revenue placements during 2007 than 2006, with a 17.7 percent increase in contract professionals placed in 2007 than in 2006.

        The overall increase in Healthcare segment revenues, which include our Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business, resulted from an increase in revenues generated by the Allied Healthcare line of business while the Nurse Travel line remained relatively flat for the period. Healthcare segment revenues increased $4,975,000, or 2.9 percent, from $170,104,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $175,079,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Allied Healthcare revenues increased $4,743,000, or 9.4 percent, from $50,491,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $55,234,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to a 13.0 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, or approximately $6,537,000, as well as a 67.6 percent increase in conversion and direct hire fee revenues from $1,106,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $1,854,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase was offset by a 6.6 percent decrease in hours worked per contract professional, or approximately $5,037,000. Nurse Travel revenues increased $232,000, or 0.2 percent, from $119,613,000 for the year ended December 31,

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2006 to $119,845,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The slight increase in Nurse Travel revenues was due to a 1.0 percent increase in the average bill rate, offset by a 2.6 percent decrease in average hours worked per nurse and a 0.4 percent decrease in average contract professionals on assignment.

        Physician segment revenues, which consist of the recently acquired VISTA, were $74,599,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Physician segment revenue was 13.2 percent of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Physician segment had fourth quarter 2007 revenues of $19,362,000, an increase of 14.6 percent over the pro-forma fourth quarter revenue of 2006.

        IT and Engineering segment revenues, which consist of the recently acquired Oxford, were $182,880,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. IT and Engineering segment revenue was 32.2 percent of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007. The IT and Engineering segment revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $53,290,000, an increase of 16.1 percent over the pro-forma fourth quarter of 2006.

    Gross Profit and Gross Margins.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2007
  2006
 
 
  Gross Profit
  Gross
Margin

  Gross Profit
  Gross
Margin

 
  Gross Profit by segment:                      
Life Sciences   $ 45,024,000   33.4 % $ 38,143,000   32.5 %
Healthcare     44,269,000   25.3 %   39,698,000   23.3 %
Physician (from January 3, 2007)     21,808,000   29.2 %     N/A  
IT and Engineering (from January 31, 2007)     68,436,000   37.4 %     N/A  
   
     
     
  Total Gross Profit   $ 179,537,000   31.7 % $ 77,841,000   27.1 %
   
     
     

        Gross profit increased $101,696,000 from $77,841,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $179,537,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Gross margins increased 460 basis points from 27.1 percent to 31.7 percent for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. On a consolidated basis, gross profit and gross margins increased significantly due the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford completed on January 3, 2007 and January 31, 2007, respectively, and includes gross profit from their respective date of acquisition. The 460 basis point increase in consolidated gross margin year over year is largely attributable to the 37.4 percent gross margin earned in the IT and Engineering segment, which consists entirely of the Oxford acquisition. Additionally, we experienced margin improvement in both of our historical segments, Life Sciences and Healthcare.

        Life Sciences segment gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2007 over the year ended December 31, 2006 due to an increase in revenues and improved gross margin. Gross margins for the segment increased 90 basis points from 32.5 percent to 33.4 percent for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. The Life Sciences segment gross margin increase was primarily related to lower workers' compensation expense, an increased bill/pay spread and increased direct hire and conversion fee revenues. Direct hire and conversion fee revenues increased $1,219,000, or 22.3 percent, from $5,465,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $6,684,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Increases in direct hire and conversion fee revenues have a positive impact on gross margin as there are no associated costs of services. Gross margins in the first quarter of a year tend to be lower than the fourth quarter of the preceding year due to the reset of certain payroll taxes.

36


        Healthcare segment gross profit increased for the year ended December 31, 2007 over the year ended December 31, 2006 due to an increase in revenues and improved gross margin. This segment includes gross profit from the Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business. Gross margin for the segment increased 200 basis points from 23.3 percent to 25.3 percent for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. The increase was primarily related to an increase in the bill/pay spread, reduced housing and travel costs, lower workers' compensation expense and increased direct hire and conversion fee revenues, partially offset by an increase in temporary employee per diem expense. Direct hire and conversion fee revenues in the Allied Healthcare line of business increased $748,000, or 67.6 percent, from $1,106,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $1,854,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Gross margins in the first quarter of a year tend to be lower than the fourth quarter of the preceding year due to the reset of certain payroll taxes.

        Gross margins in our Physician and IT and Engineering segments were 29.2 percent and 37.4 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2007, and as with our other divisions to the extent we employ contract professionals we may see lower gross margins in the first quarter due to the reset of certain payroll taxes.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses include field operating expenses, such as costs associated with our network of staffing consultants and branch offices for our Life Sciences and Allied Healthcare lines of business, including staffing consultant compensation, rent and other office expenses, as well as marketing and recruiting for our contract professionals. Nurse Travel SG&A expenses include compensation for regional sales directors, account managers and recruiters, as well as rent and other office expenses and marketing for traveling nurses. SG&A expenses from our Physician and IT and Engineering segments include compensation for sales personnel associated with VISTA and Oxford, as well as rent and other office expenses and marketing for these segments. SG&A expenses also include our corporate and branch office support expenses, such as the salaries of corporate operations and support personnel, recruiting and training expenses for field staff, marketing staff expenses, rent, expenses related to being a publicly-traded company and other general and administrative expenses.

        SG&A expenses increased $84,042,000, or 123.8 percent, from $67,900,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $151,942,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The primary reason for the increase was the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford in the first quarter of 2007. SG&A expenses for VISTA and Oxford were $19,411,000 and $57,527,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2007. In addition to expenses related to increased sales headcount and corporate support personnel associated with the acquisitions, the amortization of intangible assets acquired caused an increase in amortization expense from $957,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $15,342,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Amortization expense for 2008 is expected to decrease to approximately $9,509,000. Additionally, stock-based compensation expense was $2,953,000 for year ended December 31, 2006 versus $6,359,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. We do not expect a significant increase in stock-based compensation expense for 2008. Our integration strategy, which is designed to minimize the disruption to the operations of VISTA and Oxford, is going as planned. Going forward, we will continue to maximize our SG&A synergies in areas such as infrastructure, field office support and marketing.

        Total SG&A as a percentage of revenues increased from 23.6 percent in the 2006 period to 26.8 percent in the 2007 period, primarily due to increased amortization expense related to the acquisition of VISTA and Oxford. We do not expect a significant increase to SG&A on a go-forward basis.

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        Interest expense, interest income and other expense.    Interest expense was $54,000 and $10,968,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. The increase in interest expense was due to the new $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility we entered into on January 31, 2007. For further discussion regarding the new credit facility, see Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

        Interest income was $1,698,000 and $1,394,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Interest income in the current period was lower due to a lower average cash balance in 2007 versus 2006. Average interest rates were marginally higher in the 2007 period versus the 2006 period.

        On May 2, 2007, we entered into a transaction with a financial institution that fixes the underlying rate on $73,000,000 of our outstanding bank loan for a period of two years beginning June 30, 2007. This transaction, commonly known as a swap, essentially fixes our base borrowing rate at 4.9425 percent as opposed to a floating rate, which resets at selected periods. The current base rate on the loan balance in excess of $73,000,000, which will be reset on March 31, 2008, is 4.83 percent. The new base rate for this portion of the debt will depend on the conditions we choose at the time. The borrowing rate consists of the base rate plus an incremental rate, currently 2.25 percent, which is dependent on several factors, including the amount we borrowed and the amount of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) we are generating. On December 31, 2007, the value of the swap was marked-to-market, and we recorded a loss of $1,206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The loss is shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in Part II, Item 8 of this report as the change in fair value of interest rate swap, and the related liability of $1,206,000 is shown in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Part II, Item 8 of this report in other long-term liabilities.

        Benefit/Provision for Income Taxes.    The provision for income taxes increased from $541,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $7,493,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recorded a tax provision based on an annual effective tax rate of approximately 44.6 percent while our effective rate was 4.7 percent for the year ended December 31, 2006. The difference in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 as compared with the corresponding period in 2007 was primarily due to the reversal in 2006 of the valuation allowance of $4,928,000 that was recorded against our net deferred income tax assets in 2004 and 2005. Of the $4,928,000 valuation allowance reversal, $4,345,000 resulted in an income tax benefit and $583,000 was recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital resulting from stock option deductions realized in the 2006 period.

Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2006

    Revenues.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
  Change
 
 
  2006
  2005
  $
  %
 
  Revenues by segment:                        
Life Sciences   $ 117,462,000   $ 98,730,000   $ 18,732,000   19.0 %
Healthcare     170,104,000     139,126,000     30,978,000   22.3 %
   
 
 
     
  Total Revenues   $ 287,566,000   $ 237,856,000   $ 49,710,000   20.9 %
   
 
 
     

        Revenues increased $49,710,000, or 20.9 percent, from $237,856,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $287,566,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. The most significant revenue driver is the number of contract professionals on assignment. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to a 15.8 percent increase in the average number of contract

38



professionals on assignment and an overall 5.0 percent increase in average bill rates. In addition, conversion and direct hire fee revenues increased $2,127,000, or 47.9 percent, from $4,444,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $6,571,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 as a result of more contract professionals being converted into or hired directly as permanent employees.

        Our year-over-year revenue growth is a result of both improved demand in our end markets as well as an expanded and more experienced sales and fulfillment team. Specifically, demand in our Nurse Travel line of business strengthened significantly.

        Life Sciences segment revenues increased $18,732,000, or 19.0 percent, from $98,730,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $117,462,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to an 11.8 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment, as well as a 5.4 percent increase in average bill rates. In addition, conversion and direct hire fee revenues increased $1,704,000, or 45.3 percent, from $3,761,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $5,465,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Our conversion and direct hire fee revenues were higher as more contract professionals were converted into or hired directly as permanent employees.

        Healthcare segment revenues increased $30,978,000, or 22.3 percent, from $139,126,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $170,104,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Nurse Travel revenues increased $20,522,000, or 20.7 percent, from $99,091,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $119,613,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in Nurse Travel revenues was due, in part, to a 23.6 percent increase in the average number of nurses on assignment and an increase in bill rates of 2.2 percent, offset by a 2.7 percent decrease in average hours worked per nurse. The Nurse Travel results include a decrease in revenues derived from hospitals that experienced labor disruptions for the year ended December 31, 2006 of $1,915,000 compared to the year ended December 31, 2005. Allied Healthcare revenues increased $10,456,000, or 26.1 percent, from $40,035,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $50,491,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to a 18.9 percent increase in the average number of contract professionals on assignment and an increase in bill rates of 4.3 percent, as well as a 61.9 percent increase in conversion and direct hire fee revenues from $683,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $1,106,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

    Gross Profit and Gross Margins.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2006
  2005
 
 
  Gross Profit
  Gross Margin
  Gross Profit
  Gross Margin
 
  Gross Profit by segment:                      
Life Sciences   $ 38,143,000   32.5 % $ 31,736,000   32.1 %
Healthcare     39,698,000   23.3 %   31,493,000   22.6 %
   
     
     
  Total Gross Profit   $ 77,841,000   27.1 % $ 63,229,000   26.6 %
   
     
     

        Gross profit increased $14,612,000 from $63,229,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $77,841,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 due to an increase in both revenues and gross margins. Gross margins increased 50 basis points from 26.6 percent to 27.1 percent for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Consolidated gross margins were positively impacted by our decision to focus the sales and fulfillment team on the development of our direct

39



hire business. Direct hire revenues have no associated cost of services. Therefore, growth in our direct hire revenues, as well as conversion fee revenues, had a favorable impact on gross margins.

        Life Sciences segment gross profit increased $6,407,000 from $31,736,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $38,143,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006 due to an increase in both revenues and gross margins. Gross margins for the segment increased 40 basis points from 32.1 percent to 32.5 percent for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Life Sciences gross margins were positively impacted by our decision to focus the sales and fulfillment team on the development of the direct hire business. Conversion and direct hire fee revenues have no associated cost of services. Therefore, growth in our direct hire revenues, as well as conversion fee revenues, had a favorable impact on gross margins. The increases in gross margins were partially offset by increased payroll taxes and a slight increase to workers' compensation expense and holiday pay.

        Healthcare segment gross profit increased $8,205,000 from $31,493,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $39,698,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Gross margins for the segment increased 70 basis points from 22.6 percent to 23.3 percent for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively. This segment includes gross profit from the Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare lines of business. Gross margins for the segment increased due in part to a change in the segment's service mix towards the higher gross margin lines of business. Allied Healthcare revenues increased as a percentage of segment revenues from 28.8 percent to 29.7 percent for the years ended December 31, 2005 to 2006, respectively. Nurse Travel gross margins increased from 20.1 percent for the year ended December 31, 2005 and to 20.5 percent for the year ended December 31, 2006. This slight increase in Nurse Travel gross margin was primarily attributable to the higher bill/pay spreads, offset by increased travel expenses for nurses on assignment. Allied Healthcare gross margins increased from 29.0 percent to 30.0 percent for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Allied Healthcare gross margins increased due to a 9.6 percent increase in bill/pay spreads and additional conversion and direct hire fee revenues, offset by an increase in payroll taxes as well as travel and housing expenses.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses include field operating expenses, for Life Sciences and Allied Healthcare, including staffing consultants' compensation, rent, other office expenses and marketing for contract professionals. Nurse Travel SG&A expenses include compensation for regional sales directors, account managers and recruiters, as well as rent, other office expenses and marketing for traveling nurses. SG&A expenses also include our corporate and branch support expenses, such as the salaries of corporate operations and support personnel, recruiting and training expenses for field staff, marketing staff expenses, rent, expenses related to being a publicly-traded company and other general and administrative expenses.

        SG&A expenses increased $3,765,000, or 5.9 percent, from $64,135,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $67,900,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was due to an increase of $2,729,000 in field operating expenses, and an increase of $1,036,000 in corporate expenses. The increase in field operating expenses was primarily the result of increased staffing consultant salaries, commissions and bonuses in the 2006 period versus the 2005 period due to higher field headcount and increased revenues offset partially by a decrease to marketing and advertising expenses. The increase in corporate expenses is primarily due to an increase of $2,718,000 in stock-based compensation expense. This increase was partly offset by decreases in depreciation and amortization expense, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance expense and loss on the disposal of property and equipment.

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        Total SG&A as a percentage of revenues decreased from 27.0 percent in the 2005 period to 23.6 percent in the 2006 period, primarily due to a larger percentage increase in revenues than SG&A expenses.

        Interest Income.    Interest income, net, increased from $681,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $1,644,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher interest rates resulting from a change in investment strategy from lower yielding tax-exempt investments to other higher return short-term investments, as well as a higher average cash balance carried in 2006. The net proceeds from the November equity offering of $71,678,000 were included in the increased cash balance.

        Benefit/Provision for Income Taxes.    We went from a net loss position in 2005 to a net income position in 2006. Income taxes increased from a benefit of $129,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, to a provision of $541,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Our effective rate was 4.7 percent for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to 57.3 percent for the year ended December 31, 2005. The difference in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared with the corresponding period in 2005, was primarily due to the reversal in 2006 of the valuation allowance of $4,928,000 that was recorded against our net deferred income tax assets in 2004 and 2005. Of the $4,928,000 valuation allowance reversal, $4,345,000 resulted in an income tax benefit and $583,000 was recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital resulting from stock option deductions realized in the current year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Our working capital at December 31, 2007 was $79,009,000, including $37,764,000 in cash and cash equivalents. On January 3, 2007, we acquired VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA), a privately-owned, leading provider of physician staffing and permanent physician search services. On January 31, 2007, we acquired Oxford Global Resources, Inc. (Oxford), a leading provider of high-end information technology and engineering staffing services. The Oxford acquisition was completed by utilizing our existing cash and the proceeds from a new $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility. The new facility includes a 5-year $20,000,000 revolving credit facility, which was un-drawn at closing and as of December 31, 2007, and a 7-year $145,000,000 funded term loan facility. The term loan facility is repayable at the minimum rate of $347,000 per quarter. In addition, we are required to reduce the term loan by up to 50 percent of our excess cash flow, as defined by the agreement for each year end over the next seven years. During 2007, we used $9,087,000 to pay down our bank loan to $135,913,000, including an $8,000,000 payment on December 31, 2007 against the principal balance of the term loan. This payment was sufficient to cover the excess cash flow payment required by the bank as well as all minimum quarterly payments for 2008. As such, no portion of the loan is payable during 2008. Under the credit facility, we are required to maintain certain financial covenants, including a minimum total leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. As of December 31, 2007, we were in compliance with all such covenants. Additionally, the agreement, which is secured by our assets, provides for certain limitations on capital expenditures.

        While capital raised through our stock offering in 2006 and our debt financing in 2007 has enabled us to execute strategic growth objectives, our operating cash flows have been our primary source of liquidity and historically have been sufficient to fund our working capital and capital expenditure needs. Our working capital requirements consist primarily of the financing of accounts receivable, payroll expenses and the required periodic payments of principal and interest on the $135,913,000 term loan as of December 31, 2007. We do not currently pay cash dividends on our outstanding common stock and do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

41


        Cash provided by operations increased $19,356,000 from $14,302,000 in 2006 to $33,658,000 in 2007. Accounts receivable increased in 2007 primarily due to the acquisition of VISTA and Oxford. We made net tax payments during the year of $9,586,000 to reduce income taxes payable for the legacy businesses and Oxford, which was offset by the provision for the current year.

        Cash used for investing activities was $234,024,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $229,391,000 over the 2006 period. Included in the cash used for investing activities was $232,273,000 net cash paid for the acquisition of VISTA and Oxford in the current year. Also, there was $5,899,000 in capital expenditures related to information technology projects, leasehold improvements and various property and equipment purchases in 2007 compared to $4,111,000 in 2006. We expect capital expenditures to be approximately $9,000,000 for 2008. This use of cash was offset by a decrease in restricted cash of $4,678,000 in conjunction with the credit facility we entered into, as the restricted cash previously collateralized in association with three letters of credit related to our workers' compensation program was released.

        Cash provided by financing activities was $132,139,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007, which consisted primarily of the proceeds from our debt financing agreement of $145,000,000 as well as the gross proceeds from our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the exercise of common stock options of $2,598,000, partially offset by $9,725,000 principal payments of long-term debt, $4,153,000 of debt issuance costs and $1,997,000 for the repurchase of common stock.

        Barring unexpected changes in U.S. labor markets and demand for our services, we believe that our working capital as of December 31, 2007, the financing arrangement entered into on January 31, 2007 and positive cash flow from future operating activities will be sufficient to fund future debt obligations, accounts payable and related payroll expenses as well as capital expenditure initiatives for the next twelve months.

        We have accrued $2,205,000 and $6,320,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-outs related to the 2007 operating performance of VISTA and Oxford, respectively. Payment of the earn-outs is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of applicable parties to all terms and provisions related to such payments. There is potential for additional consideration of $5,795,000 contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of VISTA and $5,680,000 contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of Oxford.

        We continue to make progress on enhancements to our front-office and back-office information systems. These enhancements include the consolidation of back-office systems across all corporate functions, as well as enhancements to and broader application of our front-office software across all lines of business. We currently do not expect to undertake the full integration of information systems used by VISTA and Oxford. However, such integration will remain a consideration of management.

        On June 15, 2001, our board of directors authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 2,940,939 shares of On Assignment Inc.'s common stock. As of December 31, 2003, we had repurchased 2,662,500 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $22,970,000. We did not repurchase any shares pursuant to this authorization for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2005 or 2006. In December 2007, we repurchased 278,439 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $1,997,000. As of December 31, 2007, we have no remaining authorization to repurchase shares.

        During 2007, certain stock-based awards issued under our approved stock option plan vested. Under the provisions of this plan, a portion of the vested shares were withheld by us in order to satisfy minimum payroll tax obligations of the employee. The vested shares withheld have been recorded as treasury stock, a reduction to stockholder's equity, at the fair market value on the date that the tax obligation was determined, which was also the vesting date of the awards. As of

42



December 31, 2007, there were 97,999 shares withheld related to stock-based awards and included in treasury stock at a fair-market value of $1,033,000.

Commitments and Contingencies

        We lease space for our corporate and branch offices. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, and 2007 was $4,575,000, $5,109,000 and $8,822,000, respectively.

        The following table sets forth, on an aggregate basis, at December 31, 2007, the amounts of specified contractual cash obligations required to be paid in the periods shown (in thousands):

Contractual Obligations

  2008
  2009
  2010
  2011
  2012
  Thereafter
  Total
Long-term debt   $   $ 1,387   $ 1,387   $ 1,387   $ 1,387   $ 130,365   $ 135,913
Operating lease obligations   $ 6,641   $ 6,003   $ 4,019   $ 2,088   $ 860   $ 2,213   $ 21,824
Accrued earn-out payments   $ 8,525   $   $   $   $   $   $ 8,525
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 15,166   $ 7,390   $ 5,406   $ 3,475   $ 2,247   $ 132,578   $ 166,262

        For additional information about these contractual cash obligations, see Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this report. Interest payments related to our bank debt are not set forth in the table above. We expect interest expense related to the loan to decrease slightly going forward as the principal balance is paid off.

        We have accrued $2,205,000 and $6,320,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-outs related to the 2007 operating performance of VISTA and Oxford, respectively. Payment of the earn-outs is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of all applicable parties to all terms and provisions related to such payments. These costs have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Part II, Item 8 of this report in other accrued expenses. There is potential for additional consideration of $5,795,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of VISTA. There is also potential for additional consideration of $5,680,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of Oxford. These additional potential earn-outs have been excluded from the table above and will be recorded as additional purchase price in the future at such time when the targets are met and the consideration is earned.

        We are partially self-insured for our workers' compensation liability related to the Life Sciences and Healthcare segments as well as its medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with this program, we pay a base premium plus actual losses incurred up to certain levels and are insured for losses greater than certain levels per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not yet reported. We account for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes in estimates and differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or payments were made. The net self-insurance claim liability was approximately $3,551,000 and $8,921,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        As of December 31, 2007, we have an income tax reserve in other long-term liabilities related to our uncertain tax positions of $337,000.

        In September 2005, Oxford commenced suit in Massachusetts Superior Court against two former Oxford employees, their new employer, Black Diamond Networks Inc., ("Black Diamond") and its President. Oxford later amended the complaint at various times to add seven other former employees of Oxford (all collectively "Former Employees") and three other additional defendants. The claims involve breach of the Former Employees' confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, misappropriation of proprietary information, as well as tortious interference with such contracts and advantageous relations and unfair competition. Certain of the defendants have filed counterclaims, which the Company believes to be without legal merit. The

43



court has granted Oxford's six requests for preliminary injunction orders, which have been issued against eight of the Former Employee defendants and Black Diamond. Discovery is ongoing and is extensive. Factual discovery will conclude by March 31, 2008 and trial is scheduled to commence on October 14, 2008. Oxford expects the matter to be tried. Accordingly, legal and expert fees may be significant.

        We are involved in various other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, we do not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on our financial position.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

        As of December 31, 2007, the Company had no significant off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 157 "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for consistently measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 was effective beginning January 1, 2008, and the provisions of SFAS 157 will be applied prospectively as of that date. We are currently evaluating the effect that adoption of this statement will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations when it becomes effective in 2008, but we do not expect it will have a significant impact on the financials at this time.

        In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 159 "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS 159), which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. SFAS 159 was effective beginning January 1, 2008, and the provisions of SFAS 159 will be applied prospectively as of that date. We are currently evaluating the effect that adoption of this statement will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations when it becomes effective in 2008, but we do not expect it will have a significant impact on the financials at this time.

        The disclosure requirements and cumulative effect of adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" are presented in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R expands the definition of a business, thus increasing the number of transactions that will qualify as business combinations. SFAS 141R requires the acquirer to recognize 100 percent of an acquired business' assets and liabilities, including goodwill and certain contingent assets and liabilities, at their fair values at the acquisition date. Contingent consideration will be recognized at fair value on the acquisition date, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings until settled. Likewise, changes in acquired tax contingencies, including those existing at the date of adoption, will be recognized in earnings if outside the maximum allocation period (generally one year). Transaction-related expenses and restructuring costs will be expensed as incurred, and any adjustments to finalize the purchase accounting allocations, even within the allocation period, will be shown as revised in the future financial statements to reflect the adjustments as if they had been recorded on the acquisition date. Finally, a gain could result in the event of a bargain purchase (acquisition of a business below the fair market value of the assets and liabilities), or a gain or loss in the case of a change in the control of an existing investment. SFAS 141R will be applied

44



prospectively to business combinations with acquisition dates on or after January 1, 2009. Adoption is not expected to materially impact our consolidated financial position or results of operations directly when it becomes effective in 2009, as the only impact that the standard will have on recorded amounts at that time is that related to disposition of uncertain tax positions related to prior acquisitions. Following the date of adoption of the standard, the resolution of such items at values that differ from recorded amounts will be adjusted through earnings, rather than through goodwill. Adoption of this statement is, however, expected to have a significant effect on how acquisitions completed on or after January 1, 2009 are reflected in the financial statements.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

        We are exposed to certain market risks arising from transactions in the normal course of business, principally risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and interest rates. We are exposed to foreign currency risk from the translation of foreign operations into U.S. dollars. Based on the relative size and nature of our foreign operations, we do not believe that a ten percent change in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar would have a material impact on our financial statements. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with our debt instruments. On May 2, 2007, we entered into a transaction with a financial institution to fix the underlying rate on $73,000,000 of our outstanding bank loan for a period of two years beginning June 30, 2007. This transaction essentially fixes our base borrowing rate at 4.9425 percent as opposed to a floating rate, which resets at selected periods. Excluding the effect of our interest rate swap agreement, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable rate debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $1,344,000 during year ended December 31, 2007. Had our interest rate swap agreement, effective June 30, 2007, been in effect for the entire period, a 1 percent change in interest rates on variable debt would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $664,000 during the year ended December 31, 2007.

45


Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
On Assignment, Inc.
Calabasas, California

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of On Assignment, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of On Assignment, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

        Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109", as discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

        As discussed in Notes 1 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted, effective January 1, 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment".

        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 17, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Los Angeles, California
March 17, 2008

46



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2006
  2007
 
ASSETS              
Current Assets:              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 105,483,000   $ 37,764,000  
  Restricted cash     4,678,000      
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments of $1,380,000 (2006) and $2,254,000 (2007)     39,107,000     78,840,000  
  Advances and deposits     343,000     323,000  
  Prepaid expenses     2,630,000     4,143,000  
  Prepaid income taxes     19,000     13,000  
  Deferred income tax assets     3,624,000     8,018,000  
  Other current assets     41,000     751,000  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     155,925,000     129,852,000  
   
 
 
Property and Equipment, net     9,116,000     13,898,000  
Goodwill     17,109,000     193,552,000  
Identifiable intangible assets, net     667,000     40,964,000  
Deferred income tax assets, long-term     865,000      
Other assets     3,313,000     6,414,000  
   
 
 
    Total Assets   $ 186,995,000   $ 384,680,000  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              
Current Liabilities:              
  Accounts payable   $ 2,867,000   $ 5,718,000  
  Accrued payroll and contract professional pay     8,426,000     19,108,000  
  Deferred compensation     1,360,000     2,037,000  
  Income taxes payable     876,000     938,000  
  Workers' compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves     3,551,000     8,921,000  
  Accrued earn-out payments         8,525,000  
  Other accrued expenses     3,250,000     4,951,000  
  Other current liabilities     94,000     645,000  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     20,424,000     50,843,000  
   
 
 
  Deferred income tax liabilities—long term         1,664,000  
  Long-term debt         135,913,000  
  Other long-term liabilities     627,000     3,226,000  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities     21,051,000     191,646,000  
   
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)              
Stockholders' Equity:              
  Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding in 2006 and 2007          
  Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 36,769,713 issued and 34,058,147 outstanding in 2006 and 38,216,421 issued and 35,177,483 outstanding in 2007     367,000     382,000  
  Paid-in capital     199,355,000     219,217,000  
  Accumulated deficit     (11,860,000 )   (2,755,000 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     1,562,000     2,190,000  
   
 
 
      189,424,000     219,034,000  
Less: Treasury Stock at cost, 2,711,566 and 3,038,938 shares in 2006 and 2007, respectively     23,480,000     26,000,000  
   
 
 
    Total stockholders' equity     165,944,000     193,034,000  
   
 
 
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $ 186,995,000   $ 384,680,000  
   
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

47



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
Revenues   $ 237,856,000   $ 287,566,000   $ 567,180,000  
  Cost of services     174,627,000     209,725,000     387,643,000  
   
 
 
 
Gross profit     63,229,000     77,841,000     179,537,000  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses     64,135,000     67,900,000     151,942,000  
   
 
 
 
Operating (loss) income     (906,000 )   9,941,000     27,595,000  
  Interest expense         (54,000 )   (10,968,000 )
  Interest income     681,000     1,698,000     1,394,000  
  Change in fair value of interest rate swap             (1,206,000 )
   
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes     (225,000 )   11,585,000     16,815,000  
  (Benefit) provision for income taxes     (129,000 )   541,000     7,493,000  
   
 
 
 
Net (loss) income   $ (96,000 ) $ 11,044,000   $ 9,322,000  
   
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings per share:                    
Basic (loss) earnings per share   $ (0.00 ) $ 0.41   $ 0.27  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     25,464,000     27,155,000     35,138,000  
   
 
 
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share   $ (0.00 ) $ 0.39   $ 0.26  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares and dilutive shares outstanding     25,464,000     28,052,000     35,771,000  
   
 
 
 


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Net (loss) income   $ (96,000 ) $ 11,044,000   $ 9,322,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):                  
  Foreign currency translation adjustment     (1,082,000 )   569,000     628,000
   
 
 
Comprehensive (loss) income   $ (1,178,000 ) $ 11,613,000   $ 9,950,000
   
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

48


ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 
  Preferred Stock
  Common Stock
   
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income

  Treasury Stock
   
 
 
  Paid-in
Capital

  Retained
Earnings

   
 
 
  Shares
  Amount
  Shares
  Amount
  Shares
  Amount
  Total
 
Balance at January 1, 2005     $   27,939,457   $ 280,000   $ 117,894,000   $ (22,808,000 ) $ 2,075,000   (2,662,500 ) $ (22,970,000 ) $ 74,471,000  
Exercise of common stock options         530,513     5,000     2,848,000                   2,853,000  
Employee Stock Purchase Plan         56,593     1,000     255,000                   256,000  
Stock-based compensation expense                 235,000                   235,000  
Restricted stock awards that vested during the year         22,500                            
Translation adjustments                         (1,082,000 )         (1,082,000 )
Net loss                     (96,000 )             (96,000 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2005     $   28,549,063   $ 286,000   $ 121,232,000   $ (22,904,000 ) $ 993,000   (2,662,500 ) $ (22,970,000 ) $ 76,637,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock offering proceeds, net         7,643,141     76,000     71,302,000                   71,378,000  
Exercise of common stock options         338,858     3,000     2,066,000                   2,069,000  
Employee Stock Purchase Plan         78,632     1,000     543,000                   544,000  
Stock issued for acquisition         13,000         154,000                   154,000  
Stock-based compensation expense                 2,953,000                   2,953,000  
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards that vested during the year         147,019     1,000     (1,000 )         (49,066 )   (510,000 )   (510,000 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation                 1,106,000                   1,106,000  
Translation adjustments                         569,000           569,000  
Net income                     11,044,000               11,044,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2006     $   36,769,713   $ 367,000   $ 199,355,000   $ (11,860,000 ) $ 1,562,000   (2,711,566 ) $ (23,480,000 ) $ 165,944,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercise of common stock options         362,394     4,000     2,012,000                   2,016,000  
Employee Stock Purchase Plan         126,484     1,000     1,105,000                   1,106,000  
Stock issued for acquisition         795,292     8,000     9,992,000                   10,000,000  
Stock repurchase                           (278,439 )   (1,997,000 )   (1,997,000 )
Stock-based compensation expense                 6,092,000                   6,092,000  
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards that vested during the year         162,538     2,000               (48,933 )   (523,000 )   (521,000 )
Adjustment for adoption of FIN 48                     (217,000 )             (217,000 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation                 661,000                   661,000  
Translation adjustments                         628,000           628,000  
Net income                     9,322,000               9,322,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2007     $   38,216,421   $ 382,000   $ 219,217,000   $ (2,755,000 ) $ 2,190,000   (3,038,938 ) $ (26,000,000 ) $ 193,034,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

49



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:                    
  Net (loss) income   $ (96,000 ) $ 11,044,000   $ 9,322,000  
  Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:                    
      Depreciation     5,138,000     4,672,000     6,194,000  
      Amortization     1,125,000     957,000     15,342,000  
      Provision for doubtful accounts     401,000     60,000     835,000  
      Deferred income tax benefit         (3,906,000 )   (4,163,000 )
      Stock-based compensation     235,000     2,953,000     6,359,000  
      Amortization of deferred loan costs             542,000  
      Change in fair value of interest rate swap             1,206,000  
      Gain on officers' life insurance policies     (8,000 )   (192,000 )   (166,000 )
      Gross excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation         (1,053,000 )   (860,000 )
      Loss on disposal of property and equipment     396,000     99,000     317,000  
  Increases/decreases in operating assets and liabilities:                    
    Accounts receivable     (8,914,000 )   (3,557,000 )   (7,490,000 )
    Prepaid expenses     (315,000 )   402,000     (70,000 )
    Prepaid income taxes     5,685,000     (101,000 )   358,000  
    Income taxes payable     (50,000 )   1,973,000     1,743,000  
    Accounts payable     (667,000 )   (97,000 )   1,035,000  
    Accrued payroll and contract professional pay     2,189,000     178,000     1,074,000  
    Deferred compensation     38,000     677,000     677,000  
    Workers' compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves     (565,000 )   63,000     774,000  
    Other accrued expenses     (1,337,000 )   130,000     629,000  
   
 
 
 
        Net cash provided by operating activities     3,255,000     14,302,000     33,658,000  
   
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:                    
  Purchase of marketable securities     (6,000,000 )        
  Proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities     8,000,000          
  Acquisition of property and equipment     (3,825,000 )   (4,111,000 )   (5,899,000 )
  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment     3,000     2,000     76,000  
  (Increase) decrease in advances and deposits     (65,000 )   (14,000 )   38,000  
  Decrease (increase) in other assets     1,033,000     (280,000 )   (644,000 )
  Net cash paid for acquisitions and dispositions         (430,000 )   (232,273,000 )
  (Increase) decrease in restricted cash     (4,878,000 )   200,000     4,678,000  
   
 
 
 
        Net cash used for investing activities     (5,732,000 )   (4,633,000 )   (234,024,000 )
   
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:                    
  Capital lease payments             (144,000 )
  Net proceeds from stock transactions     3,109,000     2,205,000     2,598,000  
  Gross excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation         1,053,000     860,000  
  Proceeds from shelf offering, net         71,678,000     (300,000 )
  Debt issuance costs             (4,153,000 )
  Repurchase of common stock             (1,997,000 )
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt             145,000,000  
  Principal payments of long-term debt             (9,725,000 )
   
 
 
 
        Net cash provided by financing activities     3,109,000     74,936,000     132,139,000  
   
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (932,000 )   391,000     508,000  
   
 
 
 
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents     (300,000 )   84,996,000     (67,719,000 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year     20,787,000     20,487,000     105,483,000  
   
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year   $ 20,487,000   $ 105,483,000   $ 37,764,000  
   
 
 
 

(Continued)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

50



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information                  
  Cash (received) paid for:                  
    Income taxes, net   $ (5,187,000 ) $ 2,571,000   $ 9,586,000
   
 
 
    Interest   $   $   $ 10,491,000
   
 
 
  Acquisitions:                  
    Goodwill         513,000     177,478,000
    Intangible assets acquired         68,000     55,640,000
    Net tangible assets acquired         3,000     18,841,000
   
 
 
    Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash received   $   $ 584,000   $ 251,959,000
   
 
 
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Transactions                  
  Issuance of common stock for acquisition   $   $ 154,000   $ 10,000,000
   
 
 
  Shelf offering costs in accounts payable and other accrued expenses   $   $ 300,000   $
   
 
 
  Deferred acquisition costs in accounts payable and other accrued expenses   $   $ 1,546,000   $
   
 
 
  Accrued earn-out payments   $   $   $ 8,525,000
   
 
 
  Acquisition of property and equipment through accounts payable   $ 150,000   $ 254,000   $ 452,000
   
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

51



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

        On Assignment, Inc. (the Company), is a diversified professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in specialty skills including Laboratory/Scientific, Healthcare/Nursing/Physicians, Medical Financial, Information Technology and Engineering. The Company provides clients in these markets with short-term or long-term assignments of contract professionals, contract-to-permanent placement and direct placement of these professionals. The business consists of four operating segments: Life Sciences (formerly known as Lab Support), Healthcare, Physician (VISTA acquisition) and IT and Engineering (Oxford acquisition). Significant accounting policies are as follows:

        Principles of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents.    The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less on the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

        Accounts Receivable.    The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts as well as an allowance for billing adjustments related to trade receivables based on an analysis of historical collection and billing adjustment experience. The Company applies actual collection and adjustment percentages to the outstanding accounts receivable balances at the end of the period. If the Company experiences a significant change in collections or billing adjustment experience, the estimates of the recoverability of accounts receivable could change by a material amount.

        Property and Equipment.    Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, generally three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the related asset or the life of the lease.

        Under the provisions of Statement of Position 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use," (SOP 98-1) the Company capitalizes costs associated with customized internal-use software systems that have reached the application stage and meet recoverability tests. Such capitalized costs include external direct costs utilized in developing or obtaining the applications and payroll and payroll-related expenses for employees who are directly associated with the applications. In addition, the Company capitalizes costs incurred for enhancements or modifications to the software that result in additional functionality to the software's performance. The projects associated with these capitalized costs are described in Note 2.

        Goodwill and Identifiable Intangibles.    Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired. SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," (SFAS 142) requires that the Company review and test goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment on at least an annual basis, rather than amortize them. The Company may be required to review and test for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. In testing for a potential impairment of goodwill, SFAS 142 requires the Company to: (1) allocate goodwill to our various business units to which the acquired goodwill relates; (2) estimate the fair value of those businesses to which goodwill relates; and (3) determine the carrying value of the businesses. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value for a particular business unit, then the Company is required to

52



estimate the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities of the business unit, in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation for an acquired business unit. This requires the identification of any previously unrecognized intangible assets. When this process is completed, the amount of goodwill impairment is determined. The Company determines the fair value based upon discounted cash flows prepared for each reporting unit. Cash flows were developed for each reporting unit based on assumptions including revenue growth expectations, gross margins, operating expense projection, working capital and capital expense requirements and tax rates. Rather than computing probabilistic cash flow outcomes to account for risk in the cash flow forecasts, the impact of risk was used in developing the discount factor. Any impairment losses are recognized when identified. Purchased intangible assets, with finite lives, are amortized on a straight-line or accelerated basis over their estimated lives.

        Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.    The Company evaluates long-lived assets, other than goodwill and identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, in which case a write-down is recorded to reduce the related asset to its estimated fair value.

        Workers' Compensation and Medical Malpractice Loss Reserves.    The Company is partially self-insured for its workers' compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments as well as its medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with these programs, the Company pays a base premium plus actual losses incurred, not to exceed certain stop-loss limits. The Company is insured for losses above these limits, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not reported. The Company accounts for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes in estimates and differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or the payments were made. The Company's net self-insurance claim liability was approximately $3,551,000 and $8,921,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. In conjunction with the $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility entered into by the Company on January 31, 2007, the restricted cash and cash equivalents of $4,678,000 previously collateralized in association with three letters of credit related to the Company's workers' compensation program were released.

        Contingencies.    The Company accounts for contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." SFAS 5 requires that the Company records an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information available prior to issuance of its financial statements indicates it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Accounting for contingencies, such as legal settlements, workers' compensation matters and medical malpractice insurance matters, requires the Company to use judgment. While the Company believes that the accruals for these matters are adequate, if the actual loss from a loss contingency is significantly different than the estimated loss, results of operations may be over or understated.

        Income Taxes.    As part of the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves estimating the Company's current tax exposures in each jurisdiction including the impact, if any, of additional taxes resulting from tax examinations. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities. Such deferred income tax asset and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to

53



reverse. If necessary, a valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred income tax assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS 109). Tax exposures can involve complex issues and may require an extended period to resolve. The estimated effective tax rate is adjusted for the tax related to significant unusual items. Changes in the geographic mix or estimated level of annual pre-tax income can affect the overall effective tax rate.

        During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, the Company established a valuation allowance against its net deferred income tax assets. The valuation allowance was calculated pursuant to SFAS 109, which requires an assessment of both positive and negative evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Such evidence includes a company's past and projected future performance, the market environment in which the company operates, the utilization of past tax credits and the length of carryback and carryforward periods of net operating losses. In determining that a valuation allowance was required, the Company placed added weight on the operating results of the past two years and projected operating losses for 2005. At the end of 2006, the Company evaluated the need for the valuation allowance in accordance with our valuation allowance reversal methodology and in conjunction with SFAS 109. The Company concluded that as a result of sustained profitability, which was evidenced by consecutive quarters of net income along with projections of pre-tax income in future years, that the criteria had been met for the full reversal of the valuation allowance.

        Effective January 1, 2007, the Company began to measure and record tax contingency accruals in accordance with FIN No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109," (FIN 48). FIN 48 prescribes a threshold for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Only tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized or continue to be recognized upon adoption of this Interpretation. FIN 48 also provides guidance on accounting for derecognition, interest and penalties, and classification and disclosure of matters related to uncertainty in income taxes. As in the past, changes in accruals associated with uncertainties arising from pre-acquisition years for acquired businesses are charged or credited to goodwill. Adjustments to other tax accruals are generally recorded in earnings in the period they are determined. The Company makes a comprehensive review of its portfolio of uncertain tax positions regularly. In this regard, an uncertain tax position represents the Company's expected treatment of a tax position taken in a filed tax return, or planned to be taken in a future tax return or claim that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. Until these positions are sustained by the taxing authorities, the company has not recognized the tax benefits resulting from such positions and reports the tax effects as a liability for uncertain tax positions in its consolidated statements of financial position. See Note 8 for the impact of adoption of FIN 48 on the financial statements.

        Stockholders' Equity.    On June 15, 2001, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2,940,939 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2003, the Company had repurchased 2,662,500 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $22,970,000. The Company did not repurchase any shares pursuant to this authorization for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2005 or 2006. In December 2007, the Company repurchased 278,439 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $1,997,000. At December 31, 2007, the Company has no remaining authorization to repurchase shares.

        On June 4, 2003 the Board of Directors adopted a Stockholders' Rights Plan ("Rights Plan"). In connection with the adoption of the Rights Plan, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of common stock, payable to stockholders of record on June 16, 2003. Each right, when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at a price of $40.00,

54



subject to adjustment. Initially, the rights will be attached to all certificates representing shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. The rights will separate from the common stock and a distribution of rights certificates will occur upon the earlier to occur of: (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, or (ii) 10 business days following the commencement of, or the first public announcement of the intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in beneficial ownership by a person of 15 percent or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. The rights will expire on June 4, 2013, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Rights Plan. The rights have certain anti-takeover effects and will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company in a manner or on terms not approved by our Board of Directors.

        During 2006 and 2007, certain stock-based awards issued under the Company's approved stock option plan vested. Under the provisions of this plan, a portion of the vested shares were withheld by the Company in order to satisfy payroll tax obligations of the employee. The vested shares withheld by the Company have been recorded as Treasury Stock, a reduction to stockholder's equity, at the fair market value on the date that the tax obligation was determined, which was also the vesting date of the awards. As of December 31, 2006 and 2007, there were 49,066 and 97,999 shares withheld and included in Treasury Stock at a fair-market value on the date of purchase of $510,000 and $1,033,000, respectively.

        Revenue Recognition.    In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 13, "Revenue Recognition," revenues from contract assignments, net of sales adjustments and discounts, are recognized when earned, based on hours worked by the Company's contract professionals on a weekly basis. Conversion and direct hire fees are recognized when earned, upon conversion or direct hire of a contract professional to a client's regular employee. In addition, the Company records a sales allowance against consolidated revenues, which is an estimate based on historical billing adjustment experience. The sales allowance is recorded as a reduction to revenues and an increase to the allowance for billing adjustments. The billing adjustment reserve includes an allowance for fallouts. Fallouts are direct hire fees that do not complete the contingency period. The contingency period is typically 90 days or less. In accordance with EITF 01-14, "Income Statement Characterization of Reimbursements Received for 'Out-of-Pocket' Expenses Incurred," the Company includes reimbursed expenses, including those related to travel and out-of-pocket expenses, in revenues and the associated amounts of reimbursable expenses in cost of services.

        Cost of Services.    Cost of services include compensation for contract professionals and the related payroll taxes and benefits incurred with respect to such compensation. Cost of services are recognized when incurred based on hours worked by the Company's contract professionals.

        Commissions.    The Company's revenue generating field personnel make placements and earn commissions based on a percentage of revenues or gross profit. Accrued commissions is a component of accrued payroll in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and commissions expense is included in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Foreign Currency Translation.    The functional currency of the Company's foreign operations is their local currency, and as such, their assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during each monthly period. The related translation adjustments are recorded as cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Gains and losses

55



resulting from foreign currency transactions, which are not material, are included in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Earnings per Share.    Basic earnings per share are computed based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding and diluted earnings per share are computed based upon the weighted average number of shares and dilutive share equivalents (consisting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards) outstanding during the periods using the treasury stock method. Due to the Company's net loss in the year ended December 31, 2005, the inclusion of dilutive common share equivalents in the calculation of diluted earnings per share would be anti-dilutive, therefore such common share equivalents have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

        The following is a reconciliation of the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used to compute basic earnings per share   25,464,000   27,155,000   35,138,000
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards     897,000   633,000
   
 
 
Number of shares used to compute diluted earnings per share   25,464,000   28,052,000   35,771,000
   
 
 

        The following table outlines the weighted average share equivalents outstanding during each period that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as a result of the Company's net loss position. Had the Company been in a net income position for the respective periods, the following common share equivalents outstanding would have been dilutive:

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2005
Share equivalents outstanding   620,000
   

        The following table outlines the weighted average share equivalents outstanding during each period that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price for these options was greater than the average market price of the Company's shares of common stock during the respective periods. Also excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share were other share equivalents that became anti-dilutive when applying the treasury stock method.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Anti-dilutive common share equivalents outstanding   819,000   767,000   1,974,000
   
 
 

        Stock-Based Compensation.    Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004) "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS 123R) using the modified-prospective transition method. Under this transition method, compensation expense recognized includes: (a) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123), recognized over the remaining vesting period and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards

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granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R recognized over the vesting period. In accordance with the modified-prospective transition method, results for prior periods have not been restated.

        Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company applied APB Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Since stock options were issued with an exercise price equal to the fair market price on the grant date, no compensation expense was recorded related to stock options.

        Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company adopted the disclosure only provisions of SFAS 123, which recognizes expense based on the fair value on the date of grant. The following table displays the assumptions that have been applied to estimate the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2005
 
Dividend yield    
Risk-free interest rate   4.1 %
Expected volatility   57.7 %
Expected lives   4.0 years  

        The following table illustrates the effect on the net loss and loss per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation:

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2005
 
Net loss—as reported   $ (96,000 )
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense recognized during the year     235,000  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects     (2,126,000 )
   
 
Net loss—pro forma   $ (1,987,000 )
   
 

Loss per share:

 

 

 

 
Basic and Diluted—as reported   $ (0.00 )
Basic and Diluted—pro forma   $ (0.08 )

        In the year of adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company is required to disclose the effect of the change from applying the original provisions of APB 25. As a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R, income before taxes decreased $1,577,000, net income decreased $1,208,000 and basic and diluted earnings per share decreased $0.04. Additionally, cash flows from operating activities decreased $1,053,000 and cash flows from financing activities increased $1,053,000.

        The Company adopted the transition method described in FASB Staff Position No. SFAS 123(R)-3, "Transition Election related to accounting for the Tax Effect of Share- Based Payment Awards," (SFAS 123R-3) in the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 123R-3 did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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        Concentration of Credit Risk.    Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risks consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and trade receivables. The Company places its cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in low risk investments with quality credit institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure with any single institution. For the Life Sciences, Physician and IT and Engineering segments and the Allied Healthcare line of business, concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited because of the large number of geographically dispersed customers, thus spreading the trade credit risk. For the Nurse Travel line of business, our top 10 clients accounted for 47.3 percent of Nurse Travel revenues in 2006 and 28.6 percent in 2007. In 2005 and 2006, the Company earned 13.7 percent and 13.1 percent of consolidated revenues from several customers operating under a single contract with Los Angeles County, respectively, compared with only 2.9 percent in 2007. The revenues from this contract are included in Healthcare segment revenues. No other single customer or contract accounted for 10 percent or more of total revenues during 2005 and 2006 or more than 2.9 percent in 2007. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations to identify risks and maintains an allowance to address these risks.

        Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    The recorded values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value based on their short-term nature. The fair value of the long-term debt approximates the recorded value as the debt has variable interest rates that are based on market conditions. The amount of the interest rate swap reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other long-term liabilities is equivalent to fair value as the Company marks the swap to market at the end of each reporting period.

        Advertising Costs.    Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, were $3,158,000, $2,393,000 and $4,303,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively.

        Exit or Disposal Activities.    For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company incurred expenses in connection with the reduction of personnel and office closures of $60,000 and $98,000 for the Life Sciences and Healthcare segments, respectively. These activities were carried out to execute strategic cost containment objectives by eliminating less productive branch offices and the associated sales and fulfillment personnel as well as streamlining both field and corporate management teams. These costs are included in SG&A expenses, as shown on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. No expenses were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, and there is no liability associated with these activities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2007 as all amounts were paid in 2006.

        Recent Accounting Pronouncements.    In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 157 "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for consistently measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 was effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2008, and the provisions of SFAS 157 will be applied prospectively as of that date. Management is currently evaluating the effect that adoption of this statement will have on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations when it becomes effective in 2008, but does not expect it will have a significant impact on the financials at this time.

        In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 159 "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS 159), which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. SFAS 159 was effective beginning January 1, 2008, and the provisions of SFAS 159 will be applied prospectively as of that date. Management is currently evaluating the effect that adoption of this statement will have on the Company's consolidated

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financial position and results of operations when it becomes effective in 2008, but does not expect it will have a significant impact on the financials at this time.

        The disclosure requirements and cumulative effect of adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" are presented in Note 8.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R expands the definition of a business, thus increasing the number of transactions that will qualify as business combinations. SFAS 141R requires the acquirer to recognize 100 percent of an acquired business' assets and liabilities, including goodwill and certain contingent assets and liabilities, at their fair values at the acquisition date. Contingent consideration will be recognized at fair value on the acquisition date, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings until settled. Likewise, changes in acquired tax contingencies, including those existing at the date of adoption, will be recognized in earnings if outside the maximum allocation period (generally one year). Transaction-related expenses and restructuring costs will be expensed as incurred, and any adjustments to finalize the purchase accounting allocations, even within the allocation period, will be shown as revised in the future financial statements to reflect the adjustments as if they had been recorded on the acquisition date. Finally, a gain could result in the event of a bargain purchase (acquisition of a business below the fair market value of the assets and liabilities), or a gain or loss in the case of a change in the control of an existing investment. SFAS 141R will be applied prospectively to business combinations with acquisition dates on or after January 1, 2009. Adoption is not expected to materially impact the company's consolidated financial position or results of operations directly when it becomes effective in 2009, as the only impact that the standard will have on recorded amounts at that time is that related to disposition of uncertain tax positions related to prior acquisitions. Following the date of adoption of the standard, the resolution of such items at values that differ from recorded amounts will be adjusted through earnings, rather than through goodwill. Adoption of this statement is, however, expected to have a significant effect on how acquisition transactions subsequent to January 1, 2009 are reflected in the financial statements.

2. Property and Equipment.

        Property and equipment at December 31, 2006 and 2007 consisted of the following:

 
  2006
  2007
 
Furniture and fixtures   $ 1,903,000   $ 2,778,000  
Computers and related equipment     2,238,000     3,801,000  
Computer software     16,209,000     17,753,000  
Machinery and equipment     896,000     870,000  
Leasehold improvements     2,075,000     3,667,000  
Work in process     1,532,000     2,684,000  
   
 
 
      24,853,000     31,553,000  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (15,737,000 )   (17,655,000 )
   
 
 
  Total   $ 9,116,000   $ 13,898,000  
   
 
 

        Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was $5,138,000, $4,672,000 and $6,194,000, respectively.

        As discussed in Note 1 under Property and Equipment, the Company capitalizes costs associated with customized internal-use software systems that have reached the application stage and meet recoverability tests under the provisions of SOP 98-1. All software costs capitalized under SOP 98-1 are depreciated over an estimated useful life of three to five years.

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        During 2005, the Company began implementing an enhanced front-office software application, Vurv Technology. Phase I of the new front office enhancement was completed in the second quarter of 2006. Phases II and III of this software implementation were substantially completed in the first quarter of 2007. The new application interfaces with the existing enterprise-wide information system, PeopleSoft, used in the Life Sciences and IT and Engineering segments and Allied Healthcare line of business and provides additional functionality, including applicant tracking and search tools, customer and candidate contact management and sales management tools. Phase IV, which will support the Nurse Travel division, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2008. This project will enable a new integrated front-office and back-office system leveraging the Vurv Technology and PeopleSoft applications.

        The Company has capitalized costs related to its various technology initiatives, including the implementation of PeopleSoft and Vurv Technology, in accordance with SOP 98-1. The net book value of the property and equipment related to software development was $4,080,000 as of December 31, 2007, which includes work in process of $2,231,000, primarily related to the implementation of PeopleSoft finance and payroll modules for our Nurse Travel line of business and certain foreign operations. In addition, the Company has capitalized website development costs in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-02, "Accounting for Web Site Development Costs." The net book value of capitalized website development costs was $397,000 as of December 31, 2007, of which no costs are currently in work in process.

        During the second quarter of 2005, the Company successfully relocated the information system and hosting environment from several third-party vendors to a self-managed hosting center in Burbank, California. Due to the acquisitions of VISTA and Oxford in 2007, the Company decided to consolidate the information system and hosting environments for all domestic entities to Salt Lake City, Utah, where VISTA's hosting environment is currently located. The Company expects to realize improved quality of service in supporting business operations and substantial cost reductions by centralizing its computing environments. In conjunction with these activities, the Company has capitalized $3,028,000 for external direct costs including labor, hardware and software purchases as well as internal development costs, of which $223,000 was included in work in process. The net book value of the fixed assets related to the hosting environment was $1,288,000 and $1,287,000 as of December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

3. Acquisitions.

        In the second quarter of 2006, the Company acquired a small Health Information Management (HIM) business. The acquisition of this specialized team has helped to enhance the sales efforts of the existing HIM line of business. The total purchase price of the acquisition was $584,000, of which $430,000 was paid in cash and the remainder was paid in stock with a fair market value at the time of the acquisition of $154,000. The purchase price was allocated on the basis of estimated fair value, $513,000 to goodwill, which includes the primary asset of an assembled workforce, $68,000 to intangible assets and $3,000 to fixed assets. The weighted-average amortization period for the identifiable intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be one year. Goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes. Pro-forma operating results do not differ materially from those presented in the consolidated financial statements.

        On January 3, 2007, the Company acquired VSS Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which includes VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc. (VISTA), a privately-owned leading provider of physician staffing, known as locum tenens, and permanent physician search services. VISTA is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and works with more than 1,000 physicians covering approximately thirty medical specialties. On a daily basis, VISTA has over 200 physicians on assignment. VISTA provides its staffing solutions in all fifty states and international markets for organizations ranging from large urban hospitals to small practice groups in rural areas. VISTA's CEO and management

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team have remained with the Company after the acquisition. The primary reasons for the VISTA acquisition were to diversify the Company's existing healthcare offerings, to compliment its existing Nurse Travel business line with cross-selling opportunities and to leverage its SG&A expenses, including housing, travel and credentialing costs.

        The total purchase price of $44,236,000 consisted of (i) an initial price of $41,141,000, paid in cash, (ii) $890,000 in direct acquisition costs and (iii) $2,205,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-out related to the 2007 operating performance of VISTA. Payment of the 2007 earn-out is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of all parties to all terms and provisions. The estimated earn-out payments have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses. The initial price includes a $4,100,000 holdback for potential claims indemnifiable by the VISTA shareholders, which is held in escrow and has been included as part of the purchase price allocation. There is potential for additional earn-out consideration of $5,795,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of VISTA. This earn-out will be recorded as additional purchase price in the future when and to the extent that the targets are met and the consideration is earned. The holdback, net of the amount of certain claims that may be made against the selling shareholders, will be released from escrow to the selling shareholders on January 3, 2009.

        The Company recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, and thus the results of operations from VISTA are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements (Physician segment) from the acquisition date. Pursuant to SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141), the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition. Adjustments to the purchase price, such as the earn-outs for 2007 and 2008, will be reflected in subsequent periods, if and when conditions are met. The purchase price was allocated as follows: $1,752,000 to net tangible assets acquired, $3,140,000 to identified intangible assets with definite lives, $6,500,000 (trademarks) to identified intangible assets with indefinite lives and $32,844,000 to goodwill. The weighted average amortization period for the identifiable intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be 1.1 years. Intangible assets with definite lives include contractor relations of $1,700,000 (1.7 year weighted average amortization period), customer relations of $1,400,000 (3 month weighted average amortization period) and non-compete agreements of $40,000 (3.0 year weighted average amortization period). Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

        On January 31, 2007, the Company acquired Oxford Global Resources, Inc. (Oxford), a leading provider of high-end information technology and engineering staffing services. The primary reasons for the Oxford acquisition were to enter the markets for information technology and engineering staffing services and to leverage the Company's existing SG&A infrastructure.

        The total purchase price of $207,723,000 consisted of (i) an initial price of $200,072,000, comprised of $190,072,000 paid in cash and 795,292 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $10,000,000, (ii) $1,331,000 in direct acquisition costs and (iii) $6,320,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-out related to the 2007 operating performance of Oxford. Payment of the 2007 earn-out is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of all parties to all terms and provisions. These costs have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses. The initial price includes a $20,000,000 holdback for potential claims indemnifiable by the Oxford shareholders, which is held in escrow and has been included as part of the purchase price allocation. There is potential for additional earn-out consideration of $5,680,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of Oxford. This earn-out will be recorded as additional purchase price in the future when and to the extent that the targets are met and the consideration is earned. The holdback, net of the amount of certain claims that may be made against the selling shareholders, will be released from escrow to the selling shareholders by August 3, 2008.

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        The Company recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, and thus the results of operations from Oxford are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements (IT and Engineering segment) from the acquisition date. Pursuant to SFAS 141, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition. Adjustments to the purchase price, such as the earn-outs for 2007 and 2008, will be reflected in subsequent periods, if and when conditions are met. The purchase price was allocated as follows: $17,089,000 to net tangible assets acquired, $30,300,000 to identified intangible assets with definite lives, $15,700,000 to identified intangible assets with indefinite lives (trademarks) and $144,634,000 to goodwill. The weighted average amortization period for the identifiable intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be 2.1 years. Intangible assets with definite lives include contractor relations of $20,800,000 (1.7 year weighted average amortization period), customer relations of $8,700,000 (3.0 year weighted average amortization period), in-use software of $500,000 (2.0 year weighted average amortization period) and non-compete agreements of $300,000 (3.0 year weighted average amortization period). The Company expects to reduce its federal and state income tax liability by approximately $5,000,000 per year over fifteen years as a result of an election to classify the Oxford acquisition as an asset sale for tax purposes under section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        The Company utilized its existing cash and proceeds from a new $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility to finance the acquisitions. See Note 4 for a discussion of the credit facility.

        The summary below presents the amounts assigned to each major asset and liability caption of VISTA and Oxford as of the acquisition dates and presents pro-forma consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 as if the acquisition of VISTA and Oxford described above had occurred at the beginning of each period. The unaudited pro-forma financial information presented below gives effect to certain adjustments, the amortization of intangible assets and interest expense on acquisition related debt, other non-recurring expenses related to VISTA and Oxford's former owners and the shares issued as a result of the shelf offering as if they had been issued at the beginning of 2006. The Pro-Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2006 included compensation expense of $1,575,000 related to a combined variable award granted to a VISTA officer. The award was settled prior to the completion of the acquisition and is considered to be a non-recurring charge by management. The pro-forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been consummated as of the date indicated, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating results.

 
  Purchase Price Allocation
 
  VISTA
January 3, 2007

  Oxford
January 31, 2007

Current assets   $ 12,840,000   $ 24,938,000
Property and equipment     2,221,000     3,433,000
Goodwill     32,844,000     144,634,000
Identifiable intangible assets     9,640,000     46,000,000
Long-term deposits and other long-term assets     58,000     644,000
   
 
Total assets acquired   $ 57,603,000   $ 219,649,000
   
 
Current liabilities   $ 9,128,000   $ 11,073,000
Long-term liabilities     4,239,000     853,000
   
 
Total liabilities assumed     13,367,000     11,926,000
   
 
Total purchase price   $ 44,236,000   $ 207,723,000
   
 

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  Unaudited
Pro-Forma Consolidated
Statements of Operations

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2006
  2007
Revenues   $ 527,039,000   $ 582,712,000
Cost of service     365,704,000     397,528,000
   
 
Gross profit     161,335,000     185,184,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses     151,216,000     157,098,000
   
 
Operating income   $ 10,119,000   $ 28,086,000
   
 
Net income   $ 3,907,000   $ 8,951,000
   
 
Basic earnings per share   $ 0.11   $ 0.25
   
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     34,504,000     35,209,000
   
 
Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.11   $ 0.25
   
 
Weighted average number of shares and dilutive shares outstanding     35,401,000     35,842,000
   
 

4. Long-Term Debt.

        On January 31, 2007, the Company entered into a $165,000,000 senior secured credit facility. The new facility includes a 5-year $20,000,000 revolving credit facility, which was un-drawn as of December 31, 2007, and a 7-year $145,000,000 funded term loan facility. The term loan facility is repayable at the rate of $347,000 per quarter beginning in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, within ninety days of each of the Company's year ends, the Company is required to reduce the term loan by up to 50 percent of its excess cash flow, as defined under the agreement governing the credit facility for each year end over the next seven years. During 2007, the Company used $9,087,000 to pay down its bank loan to $135,913,000, including an $8,000,000 payment on December 31, 2007 against the principal balance of the term loan. This payment was sufficient to cover the excess cash flow payment required by the bank as well as all minimum quarterly payments for 2008. As such, no portion of the loan is payable until the first quarter of 2009 and therefore no portion is classified as current in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007. See note 7 for the Company's debt payment schedule related to the outstanding principal balance. Under the terms of the credit facility, the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants, including a minimum total leverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a limitation on capital expenditures. In addition, the terms of the debt restrict the Company's ability to pay dividends of more than $2,000,000 per year. As of December 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants. The facility is secured by the assets of the Company.

        On May 2, 2007, the Company entered into a transaction with a financial institution to fix the underlying rate on $73,000,000 of its outstanding bank loan for a period of two years beginning June 30, 2007. This transaction, commonly known as a swap, essentially fixes the Company's base borrowing rate at 4.9425 percent as opposed to a floating rate, which resets at selected periods. The current base rate on the loan balance in excess of $73,000,000, which will be reset on March 31, 2008, is 4.83 percent. The new base rate for this portion of the debt will depend on the conditions the Company chooses at the time. The borrowing rate consists of the base rate plus an incremental rate, currently 2.25 percent, which is dependent on several factors, including the amount the Company borrowed and the amount of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as defined, it is generating. On December 31, 2007, the value of the swap was marked-to-market, and the Company recorded a loss of $1,206,000 for the year ended

63



December 31, 2007. The loss is shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as the change in fair value of interest rate swap, and the related liability of $1,206,000 is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other long-term liabilities.

5. Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets.

        Pursuant to SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," (SFAS 142) goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually and more frequently if an event occurs that indicates the assets may be impaired. The test for impairment is performed at one level below the operating segment level, which is defined in SFAS 142 as the reporting unit.

        Pursuant to SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Asset," and SFAS 142, the Company determined there were no events or changes in circumstances that indicated that carrying values of goodwill or other intangible assets subject to amortization may not be recoverable as of December 31, 2007.

        The Company acquired a small HIM business in the second quarter of 2006 and two companies, VISTA and Oxford, in the first quarter of 2007. See Note 3 for discussion regarding these acquisitions and the allocation of the purchase price. In December 2007, a small portion of the Oxford business was sold for $1,035,000, reducing the acquired goodwill balance allocated to that respective portion of the business.

        Goodwill was $17,109,000 at December 31, 2006 and $193,552,000 at December 31, 2007. The balance at December 31, 2007 was allocated $1,197,000, $15,912,000, $32,844,000 and $143,599,000 to the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering segments, respectively. At December 31, 2006, the goodwill balance was allocated $1,197,000 and $15,912,000 to the Life Sciences and Healthcare segments, respectively.

        The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 are as follows:

 
  Life Sciences
  Healthcare
  Physician
  IT and Engineering
 
Balance as of January 1, 2006   $ 1,197,000   $ 15,399,000   $   $  
  Goodwill related to HIM business acquisition         513,000          
   
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2006     1,197,000     15,912,000          
  Goodwill related to VISTA acquisition             32,844,000      
  Goodwill related to Oxford acquisition                 144,634,000  
  Sale of RMS business                 (1,035,000 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2007   $ 1,197,000   $ 15,912,000   $ 32,844,000   $ 143,599,000  
   
 
 
 
 

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        As of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, the Company had the following acquired identifiable intangible assets:

 
   
  December 31, 2006
  December 31, 2007
 
  Estimated
Useful Life

  Gross Carrying Amount
  Accumulated Amortization
  Net Carrying Amount
  Gross Carrying Amount
  Accumulated Amortization
  Net Carrying Amount
Intangible assets subject to amortization:                                        
Customer relations   3 months - 7 years   $ 7,515,000   $ 7,082,000   $ 433,000   $ 17,615,000   $ 11,315,000   $ 6,300,000
Contractor relations   3 - 7 years     3,596,000     3,397,000     199,000     26,096,000     14,148,000     11,948,000
Non-compete agreements   2 - 3 years     50,000     15,000     35,000     390,000     145,000     245,000
In-use software   2 years                 500,000     229,000     271,000
       
 
 
 
 
 
Subtotal       $ 11,161,000   $ 10,494,000   $ 667,000   $ 44,601,000   $ 25,837,000   $ 18,764,000
       
 
 
 
 
 
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:                                        
Trademarks                     22,200,000         22,200,000
Goodwill         17,109,000         17,109,000     193,552,000         193,552,000
       
 
 
 
 
 
Total       $ 28,270,000   $ 10,494,000   $ 17,776,000   $ 260,353,000   $ 25,837,000   $ 234,516,000
       
 
 
 
 
 

        Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization was $1,125,000, $957,000 and $15,342,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Estimated amortization for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2013 is $9,509,000, $6,088,000, $1,715,000, $730,000, $363,000 and $359,000, respectively.

6. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Deferred Compensation Plan and Change in Control Severance Plan.

        Under its 401(k) Retirement Savings Plans, eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their salary deferred and contributed to the plans. The amount of salary deferred is not subject to federal and state income tax at the time of deferral, but will be subject to taxation upon distribution, along with any earnings on such amounts. The plans cover all eligible employees and provide for matching or discretionary contributions at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company made matching or discretionary contributions to the plans of $486,000, $591,000 and $1,140,000 during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. These amounts are included in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        Effective January 1, 1998, the Company implemented the On Assignment, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan. The plan permits a select group of management or highly compensated employees or directors that contribute materially to the continued growth, development and future business success of the Company to annually elect to defer up to 100 percent of their base salary, annual bonus, stock option gain or fees on a pre-tax basis and earn tax-deferred returns on these amounts. The plan is intended to be a plan that is not qualified within the meaning of IRS Code Section 401(a) and that is "unfunded and maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees" within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1). Distributions from the plan are commenced within 60 days after the participant's retirement, death or termination of employment, in a lump sum, or over five, ten or fifteen years, provided however that payments made upon

65



termination shall be paid in a lump sum if the participant's account balance at the time of termination is less than $25,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is in administrative compliance with certain requirements of IRS Code Section 409A ("Section 409A") which states that plan distributions, upon the termination of service of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three most highly compensated officers, may not be made earlier than six months after the date of separation from service. Furthermore, if the Company determines in good faith prior to a change in control that there is a reasonable likelihood that any compensation paid to a participant for a taxable year of the Company would not be deductible by the Company solely by reason of the limitation under IRS Code Section 162(m), ("Section 162(m)") then the Company may defer all or any portion of a distribution and the plan at the earliest possible date, as determined by the Company in good faith, on which the deductibility of compensation paid or payable to the participant for the taxable year of the Company during which the distribution is made will not be limited by Section 162(m), or if earlier, the effective date of a change in control. At December 31, 2006 and 2007, the liability under the plan was approximately $1,360,000 and $2,037,000, respectively. Life insurance policies are maintained related to the plan, whereby the Company is the sole owner and beneficiary of such insurance. The cash surrender value of these life insurance policies, which is reflected in other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, was approximately $1,290,000 and $2,037,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        The Company adopted the On Assignment, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan (the CIC Plan) to provide severance benefits for officers and other named employees who are terminated following an acquisition of the Company. This CIC Plan was adopted on February 12, 1998 and amended on August 8, 2004 and January 23, 2007. Under the CIC Plan, if an eligible employee is involuntarily terminated within eighteen months of a change in control, as defined in the CIC Plan, then the employee will be entitled to salary plus target bonus payable in a lump sum and continuation of health and welfare benefits for periods of time ranging from nine months to eighteen months, for named employees with titles of vice president or higher. The amounts payable would range from one month to eighteen months of salary and target bonus, depending on the employee's length of service and position with the Company. The Company entered into separate Executive Change of Control Agreements with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer on December 31, 2004 and January 1, 2007, respectively, that supersede the CIC Plan in the event of an involuntary termination occurring within six months and ten days following the change in control (as defined in the Executive Change of Control Agreement). These Executive Change in Control Plans provide for certain other benefits as outlined in the agreements, including, but not limited to, lump sum payments of three times the Chief Executive Officer's salary plus target bonus and 2.5 times the Chief Financial Officer's salary plus target bonus, eighteen months continuation of the executive's then current health and welfare benefits and car allowance, eighteen months continuation of any Company funded contributions to the executive's retirement plans, and payment of up to $15,000 of the cost of outplacement services selected by the executive. Additionally, under the Executive Change in Control Plans, immediately prior to a change in control, all stock options, unit options, restricted stock and restricted units grants made to the executive by the Company which are outstanding at the time of such event shall be accelerated and become fully vested.

7. Commitments and Contingencies.

        The Company leases its facilities and certain office equipment under operating leases, which expire at various dates through 2016. Certain leases contain rent escalations and/or renewal options. Rent expense for all significant leases is recognized on a straight-line basis. At December 31, 2006 and 2007, the balance of deferred rent liability was $721,000 and $746,000,

66



respectively, and is reflected in other current and long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        The following is a summary of specified contractual cash obligation payments by as of December 31, 2007:

 
  Long-Term Debt
  Operating Leases
  Accrued Earn-Out Payments
  Total
2008   $   $ 6,641,000   $ 8,525,000   $ 15,166,000
2009     1,387,000     6,003,000         7,390,000
2010     1,387,000     4,019,000         5,406,000
2011     1,387,000     2,088,000         3,475,000
2012     1,387,000     860,000         2,247,000
Thereafter     130,365,000     2,213,000         132,578,000
   
 
 
 
  Total   $ 135,913,000   $ 21,824,000   $ 8,525,000   $ 166,262,000
   
 
 
 

        Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, and 2007 was $4,575,000, $5,109,000, and $8,822,000, respectively. These amounts are included in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        As discussed in Note 3 above, the Company has accrued $2,205,000 and $6,320,000 for the estimated payment of the earn-outs related to the 2007 operating performance of VISTA and Oxford, respectively. Payment of the earn-outs is tentatively scheduled for April 2008, pending the agreement of all applicable parties to all terms and provisions. These costs have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses. There is potential for additional earn-out consideration of $5,795,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of VISTA. There is also potential for additional earn-out consideration of $5,680,000 that is contingent upon the 2008 financial performance of Oxford. These additional potential earn-outs have been excluded from the table above and will be recorded as additional purchase price when and to the extent the targets are met and the consideration is earned.

        Interest payments related to the Company's bank debt are not set forth in the table above. The Company expects interest expense related to the loan to decrease slightly going forward as the principal balance is paid off.

        The Company is partially self-insured for workers' compensation liability related to the Life Sciences, Healthcare and IT and Engineering segments as well as its medical malpractice liability in relation to the Physician segment. In connection with these programs, the Company pays a base premium plus actual losses incurred up to certain stop-loss limits and the Company is insured for losses above these limits, both per occurrence and in the aggregate. The self-insurance claim liability is determined based on claims filed and claims incurred but not yet reported. The Company accounts for claims incurred but not yet reported based on estimates derived from historical claims experience and current trends of industry data. Changes in estimates and differences in estimates and actual payments for claims are recognized in the period that the estimates changed or payments were made. The net self-insurance claim liability was approximately $3,551,000 and $8,921,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        As of December 31, 2007, the Company has an income tax reserve in other long-term liabilities related to our uncertain tax positions of $337,000.

        In September 2005, Oxford commenced suit in Massachusetts Superior Court against two former Oxford employees, their new employer, Black Diamond Networks Inc., ("Black Diamond") and its President. Oxford later amended the complaint at various times to add seven other former

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employees of Oxford (all collectively "Former Employees") and three other additional defendants. The claims involve breach of the Former Employees' confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, misappropriation of proprietary information, as well as tortious interference with such contracts and advantageous relations and unfair competition. Certain of the defendants have filed counterclaims, which the Company believes to be without legal merit. The court has granted Oxford's six requests for preliminary injunction orders, which have been issued against eight of the Former Employee defendants and Black Diamond. Discovery is ongoing and is extensive. Factual discovery will conclude by March 31, 2008 and trial is scheduled to commence on October 14, 2008. Oxford expects the matter to be tried. Accordingly, legal and expert fees may be significant.

        The Company is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, based on the facts currently available, the Company does not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on its financial position.

8. Income Taxes.

        Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
United States   $ (1,467,000 ) $ 9,858,000   $ 14,435,000
Foreign     1,242,000     1,727,000     2,380,000
   
 
 
    $ (225,000 ) $ 11,585,000   $ 16,815,000
   
 
 

        The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
Current:                    
  Federal   $ (653,000 ) $ 3,763,000   $ 9,804,000  
  State     150,000     216,000     1,125,000  
  Foreign     374,000     468,000     727,000  
   
 
 
 
      (129,000 )   4,447,000     11,656,000  
   
 
 
 
Deferred:                    
  Federal     (326,000 )   82,000     (4,536,000 )
  State     (479,000 )   367,000     365,000  
  Foreign     82,000     (10,000 )   8,000  
   
 
 
 
      (723,000 )   439,000     (4,163,000 )
   
 
 
 
Change in valuation Allowance     723,000     (4,345,000 )    
   
 
 
 
Total   $ (129,000 ) $ 541,000   $ 7,493,000  
   
 
 
 

        As of December 31, 2007, the Company had no federal net operating losses and total combined state net operating losses of $15,723,000. The state net operating losses can be carried forward for up to 20 years and begin expiring in 2013.

        During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, the Company established a valuation allowance against its net domestic deferred income tax assets. The valuation allowance was calculated pursuant to SFAS 109, which requires an assessment of both positive and negative

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evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Such evidence includes a company's past and projected future performance, the market environment in which the company operates, the utilization of past tax credits and the length of carryback and carryforward periods of net operating losses. At the end of 2006, the Company evaluated the need for the valuation allowance in accordance with the Company's valuation allowance reversal methodology and in conjunction with SFAS 109. The Company concluded that as a result of sustained profitability, which was evidenced by consecutive quarters of net income along with projections of pre-tax income in future years, that the criteria had been met for the full reversal of the valuation allowance. Of the $4,928,000 valuation allowance reversal, $4,345,000 resulted in an income tax benefit and $583,000 was recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital resulting from stock option deductions taken in 2006.

        The Company had gross deferred tax assets of $5,946,000 and $9,348,000 and gross deferred tax liabilities of $1,457,000 and $2,994,000 at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Foreign deferred tax assets and liabilities were not material as of December 31, 2006 and 2007 and are included in the Federal balances in the table below.

        The components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:

 
  December 31, 2006
  December 31, 2007
 
 
  Federal
  State
  Federal
  State
 
Deferred income tax assets (liabilities):                          
  Current:                          
    Allowance for doubtful accounts   $ 453,000   $ 70,000   $ 770,000   $ 101,000  
    Employee related accruals     614,000     73,000     1,639,000     188,000  
    State taxes     46,000         386,000      
    Workers' compensation loss reserve     1,252,000     193,000     1,191,000     177,000  
    Medical malpractice loss reserve             2,072,000     76,000  
    Net operating loss carry-forwards         614,000         725,000  
    Other     280,000     29,000     599,000     94,000  
   
 
 
 
 
Total current deferred income tax assets     2,645,000     979,000     6,657,000     1,361,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    Net operating loss carry-forwards         846,000          
    Stock-based compensation     211,000     20,000     1,040,000     110,000  
    Purchased intangibles, net     975,000     151,000     (1,256,000 )   59,000  
    Depreciation and amortization expense     (1,297,000 )   (160,000 )   (1,454,000 )   (109,000 )
    Other     109,000     10,000     111,000     (165,000 )
   
 
 
 
 
Total non-current deferred income tax (liabilities) assets     (2,000 )   867,000     (1,559,000 )   (105,000 )
   
 
 
 
 
Total deferred income tax assets   $ 2,643,000   $ 1,846,000   $ 5,098,000   $ 1,256,000  
   
 
 
 
 

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        The reconciliation between the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35 percent to income before income taxes and the actual income taxes is as follows:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
 
Income tax (benefit) provision at the statutory rate   $ (77,000 ) $ 3,939,000   $ 5,885,000  
State income taxes, net of federal income tax     139,000     560,000     892,000  
Other             18,000  
Valuation Allowance     355,000     (4,345,000 )    
2004 Income tax refund received in excess of estimates     (873,000 )        
Income tax contingency     216,000     350,000     (53,000 )
Foreign tax rate     (19,000 )   (109,000 )   (105,000 )
Permanent differences     130,000     146,000     856,000  
   
 
 
 
Total   $ (129,000 ) $ 541,000   $ 7,493,000  
   
 
 
 

        The Company receives a tax deduction for stock-based awards upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option or as the result of disqualifying dispositions made by directors, officers and employees. A disqualifying disposition occurs when stock acquired through the exercise of incentive stock options or the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is disposed of prior to the required holding period. In addition, the Company receives a tax deduction upon the vesting of restricted stock units or restricted stock awards. No benefit from stock-based awards was realized at December 31, 2005. The Company recorded tax benefits of $523,000 and $802,000 from stock-based awards in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" (FIN 48) on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company made a comprehensive review of its portfolio of uncertain tax positions in accordance with recognition standards established by FIN 48. In this regard, an uncertain tax position represents the Company's expected tax treatment of a tax position taken in a filed tax return, or planned to be taken in a future return, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. As a result of this review, the Company adjusted the estimated value of its uncertain tax positions by recognizing additional liabilities totaling $217,000, including an accrual for interest and penalties of $21,000, through a charge to retained earnings. Upon the adoption of FIN 48, the estimated value of the Company's uncertain tax positions is a liability of $567,000, which includes penalties and interest, of which $196,000 was carried in other long-term liabilities and $370,000 was carried as a reduction to non-current deferred tax assets in the consolidated condensed statement of financial position as of March 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the estimated value of the Company's uncertain tax positions is a liability of $515,000, which includes penalties and interest, of which $337,000 was carried in other long-term liabilities and $178,000 was carried as a reduction to non- current deferred tax assets. If the Company's positions are sustained by the taxing authority in favor of the Company, the entire $515,000 would reduce the Company's effective tax rate. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

        At December 31, 2007, the Company had accumulated net foreign earnings of $6,000,000. The Company intends to reinvest the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries and, therefore, no U.S. income tax has been provided on the foreign earnings.

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        The following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year:

Unrecognized Tax Benefit January 1, 2007   $ 840,755  
Gross Decreases—tax positions in prior year     (121,878 )
Gross Decreases—tax positions in current year     (46,298 )
Gross Increases—tax positions in current year     159,023  
   
 
Unrecognized Tax Benefit December 31, 2007   $ 831,602  
   
 

        If recognized, the entire balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007 would affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, the Company accrued penalties of $6,000 and gross interest of $10,000 during 2007 and in total, as of December 31, 2007, had recognized a liability for penalties of $18,000 and gross interest of $23,000.

        The Company believes that there will be no significant increases or decreases to unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

        The Company is subject to taxation in the US and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has examined and substantially concluded all tax matters for years through 2004. The IRS commenced an examination of the Company's U.S. income tax returns for the 2005 and 2006 tax years. In addition, open tax years related to state and foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination but are not considered material.

9. Stock Option Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

        As of December 31, 2007, the Company maintains a Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan (as amended and restated through April 17, 2007) and approved by shareholders on June 1, 2007 (the Plan). The Company issues stock options, restricted stock units (RSU's) and restricted stock awards (RSA's) in accordance with the Plan and records compensation expense in accordance with SFAS 123R. Compensation expense charged against income related to stock-based compensation was $2,953,000 and $6,359,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, and is included the Consolidated Statements of Operations in SG&A. In 2005, the Company applied APB 25 and the disclosure only provisions of SFAS 123 and SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recorded $235,000 in stock-based compensation expense in accordance with APB 25 related to RSU's and RSA's. The Company has recognized an income tax benefit of $820,000 and $2,046,000 in the income statement for stock-based compensation arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. No income tax benefit was recorded related to stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2005 due to the valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets.

        The Plan, which is shareholder-approved, permits the grant of awards, including cash, stock options, RSU's, RSA's, stock appreciation rights, unrestricted stock units and dividend equivalent rights to its employees, officers, members of its Board of Directors, consultants and advisors for up to 13,900,000 shares of common stock, subject to per-recipient, annual and other periodic caps. The Company believes that stock-based compensation better aligns the interests of its employees and directors with those of its shareholders versus exclusively providing cash-based compensation. Stock options, RSU's and RSA's are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the Company's stock at the date of grant. Stock option awards generally vest over four years of continuous service with the Company and generally have 10-year contractual terms while RSU's and RSA's generally vest over a three year continuous service period, though

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individual award vesting terms vary within these parameters. Certain stock option awards and RSU's and RSA's provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a change in control.

        The preceding paragraph describes the general terms of most stock-based incentives awarded by the Company. However, in January 2007, the Company issued a discrete set of stock-based awards to its Chief Executive Officer that differ from those generally stated terms. The terms were as follows: On January 2, 2007, the Chief Executive Officer was granted (1) 42,553 RSU's valued at $500,000, which vest on the third anniversary of the date of the grant, (2) 42,553 shares of RSA's valued at $500,000, which vest December 31, 2009 contingent upon meeting certain performance objectives approved by the Compensation Committee (based on adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA) and (3) 42,553 RSU's valued at $500,000, which vest December 31, 2009 contingent upon the Company meeting certain stock price performance objectives relative to its peers over three years from the date of grant. All awards are subject to the executive's continued employment through such vesting dates. The grant-date fair-value of these awards, which was determined by applying certain provisions of SFAS 123R relative to performance-based and market-based awards, is generally being expensed over the three-year vesting term. The impact of these awards is reflected in the Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards section below.

        On September 6, 2007, the Company issued RSU's to certain officers. These awards generally vest over three years and are forty percent contingent upon the Company meeting certain performance objectives approved by the Compensation Committee and are subject to the respective officer's continued employment through such vesting dates. The remaining sixty percent are subject solely to the respective officer's continued employment through such vesting dates.

        The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that incorporates assumptions disclosed in the following table. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of the underlying stock for a period consistent with the expected lives of the stock options because the Company believes this is a reasonable representation of future volatility. Additionally, the stock option valuation model selected by the Company uses historical data and management judgment to estimate stock option exercise behavior and employee turnover rates to estimate the number of stock option awards that will eventually vest. The Company evaluated the impact of grouping employees with similar historical exercise behavior and determined that there were no notable differences in exercise behavior across various employee groups and, as a result, all employees are included in a single group for valuation purposes. The expected life, or term, of options granted is derived from historical exercise behavior and represents the period of time that stock option awards are expected to be outstanding. The Company has selected a risk-free rate based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury Securities with a maturity equivalent to the options' expected term. For RSU's and RSA's, the Company records compensation expense based on the fair market value of the awards on the grant date.

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    Stock Options

        The following table displays the assumptions that have been applied to estimate the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2006
  2007
 
Dividend yield      
Risk-free interest rate   4.7 % 4.6 %
Expected volatility   51.7 % 47.1 %
Expected lives   4.0 years   3.4 years  

        The following summarizes pricing and term information for options outstanding as of December 31, 2007:

 
   
   
  Options Outstanding
  Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices

  Number Outstanding at December 31, 2007
  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
  Weighted Average Exercise Price
  Number Exercisable at December 31, 2007
  Weighted Average Exercise Price
$  3.97     $ 5.11   713,034   6.5 years   $ 4.89   609,247   $ 4.89
    5.14       9.60   629,044   6.6 years     6.13   515,194     5.93
    9.62       11.39   749,149   8.9 years     11.15   226,613     11.18
  11.45       13.13   553,500   8.1 years     12.10   173,898     12.15
  13.31       13.31   714,974   9.2 years     13.31   19,562     13.31
  13.69       33.00   352,786   2.9 years     18.98   352,683     18.98

     
 
 
 
 
 
$  3.97     $ 33.00   3,712,487   7.4 years   $ 10.40   1,897,197   $ 9.30

        The following table is a summary of stock option activity under the Plan as of December 31, 2007 and changes for the year then ended:

 
  Incentive Stock Options
  Non-Qualified Stock Options
  Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
  Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2007   1,102,251   1,486,748   $ 8.66          
  Granted     1,801,074   $ 12.27          
  Exercised   (114,009 ) (248,385 ) $ 5.56          
  Canceled   (136,481 ) (178,711 ) $ 12.36          
   
 
               
Outstanding at December 31, 2007   851,761   2,860,726   $ 10.40   7.4   $ 2,174,000
   
 
               
Vested or Expected to Vest at December 31, 2007   805,944   2,018,022   $ 9.92   6.9   $ 2,120,000
   
 
               
Exercisable at December 31, 2007   662,853   1,234,344   $ 9.30   6.0   $ 1,898,000
   
 
               

        The table above includes 273,000 and 195,000 of non-employee director stock options outstanding as of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

        The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was $3.68, $5.05 and $4.05 per option, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was $1,601,000 $1,416,000 and $2,355,000, respectively.

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        As of December 31, 2007, there was unrecognized compensation expense of $3,915,000 related to unvested stock options based on options that are expected to vest. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years.

    Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards

        A summary of the status of the Company's unvested RSU's and RSA's as of December 31, 2007 and changes during the year then ended are presented below:

 
  Restricted Stock Units/Awards
  Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Unit/Award
Unvested RSU's and RSA's outstanding at December 31, 2006   380,662   $ 9.40
  Granted   288,392     12.01
  Vested   (143,727 )   9.78
  Forfeited   (53,435 )   9.07
   
     
Unvested and expected to vest RSU's and RSA's outstanding at December 31, 2007   471,892   $ 10.92
   
     

        The table above excludes 5,337 RSA's that were awarded to non-employee directors. On August 8, 2007, 14,232 RSA's were awarded to non-employee directors, of which 50 percent, or 7,116 shares, vested immediately upon issuance and 1,779 were forfeited due to the resignation of a non-employee director. The remaining shares will vest on August 8, 2008. The weighted average grant-date fair value of these awards was $11.24. In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company records compensation expense based on the fair market value of the awards on the grant date. There was unrecognized compensation of $36,000 as of December 31, 2007 related to these RSA's that will be recorded over the remaining term of approximately seven months.

        The Company has approved certain awards in which a variable number of shares are to be granted to the employees based on a fixed monetary amount. As such, the provisions of SFAS 123R and SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity" (SFAS 150) require the Company to classify and account for these awards as liability awards until the number of shares is determined. The expense related to these awards for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $267,000, and the associated liability is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other accrued expenses.

        The weighted-average grant-date fair value of RSU's and RSA's granted during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was $5.42, $11.06 and $11.98 per award, respectively. The total intrinsic value of RSU's and RSA's released during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 was $1,507,000 and $1,700,000, respectively. No RSU's or RSA's were released in 2005.

        As of December 31, 2007, there was unrecognized compensation expense of $6,068,000 related to unvested RSU's and RSA's based on awards that are expected to vest. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

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        The Company approved stock-based awards for its Chief Executive Officer with terms as follows: On January 2, 2008 and 2009, the Chief Executive Officer, pending continued employment through such grant dates, will be granted (1) RSA's valued at $500,000, which vest December 31, 2010 and 2011, contingent upon meeting certain performance objectives, which will be set and approved annually by the Compensation Committee in the first quarter of 2008 and 2009 (based on adjusted EBITDA) and (2) RSU's valued at $500,000, which vest December 31, 2010 and 2011, contingent upon the Company meeting certain stock price performance objectives relative to its peers over three years from the date of grant, which will be set within 90 days of the first trading day of the day they are granted. All awards are subject to the executive's continued employment through such vesting dates. These awards are not included in the disclosures above and there is no related expense in the current period as the conditions for these awards have not been set.

    Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) allows eligible employees to purchase common stock of the Company, through payroll deductions, at eighty-five percent of the lower of the market price on the first day or the last day of semi-annual purchase periods. It is the Company's intention that the ESPP qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under IRS Code Section 423. Eligible employees may contribute multiples of one percent of their eligible earnings toward the purchase of the stock (subject to certain IRS limitations). Under this plan, 56,593, 78,632 and 126,484 shares of common stock were issued to employees for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively.

        In accordance with the ESPP, shares of common stock are transferred to participating employees at the conclusion of each six month enrollment period, which end on the last business day of the month in February and August each year. The weighted average fair value of stock purchased under the Company's ESPP was $1.67, $2.58 and $3.02 per share for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Compensation expense of shares purchased under the ESPP is measured based on a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The model accounts for the discount from market value and applies an expected life in line with each six month purchase period. The amounts recognized as stock-based compensation expense related to the ESPP were $203,000 and $477,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. The pro forma compensation expense included in Note 1 under Stock-Based Compensation was $159,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005.

10. Business Segments.

        The Company has four reportable segments: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Physician and IT and Engineering. The Life Sciences (formerly Lab Support) segment provides contract, contract-to-permanent and direct placement services of laboratory and scientific professionals to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, medical device, personal care, chemical and environmental industries. These contract staffing specialties include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants and other skilled scientific professionals.

        The Healthcare segment includes the combined results of the Nurse Travel and Allied Healthcare (formerly Medical Financial and Allied, or MF&A) lines of business. The lines of business have been aggregated into the Healthcare segment based on similar economic characteristics, end-market customers and management personnel. The Healthcare segment provides contract, contract-to-permanent and direct placement of professionals from more than ten healthcare, medical financial and allied occupations. These contract staffing specialties include nurses,

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specialty nurses, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, x-ray technicians, medical technologists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors and collections staff.

        The Physician segment, comprised of VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., provides contract and direct placement physicians to healthcare organizations. The Physician segment works with nearly all medical specialties, placing them in hospitals, community-based practices, and federal, state and local facilities.

        The IT and Engineering segment, comprised of Oxford Global Resources, Inc., provides high-end contract placement services of information technology and engineering professionals with expertise in specialized information technology; software and hardware engineering; and mechanical, electrical, validation and telecommunications engineering fields.

        The Company's management evaluates the performance of each segment primarily based on revenues, gross profit and operating income. The information in the following table is derived directly from the segments' internal financial reporting used for corporate management purposes.

        All revenues, gross profit and operating income disclosed in the tables below include activity for the Physician and IT and Engineering segments from January 3, 2007 and January 31, 2007, respectively.

        The following table represents revenues, gross profit and operating income (loss) by reportable segment:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Revenues:                  
  Life Sciences   $ 98,730,000   $ 117,462,000   $ 134,622,000
  Healthcare     139,126,000     170,104,000     175,079,000
  Physician             74,599,000
  IT and Engineering             182,880,000
   
 
 
    Total Revenues   $ 237,856,000   $ 287,566,000   $ 567,180,000
   
 
 
Gross Profit:                  
  Life Sciences   $ 31,736,000   $ 38,143,000   $ 45,024,000
  Healthcare     31,493,000     39,698,000     44,269,000
  Physician             21,808,000
  IT and Engineering             68,436,000
   
 
 
    Total Gross Profit   $ 63,229,000   $ 77,841,000   $ 179,537,000
   
 
 
Operating Income (Loss):                  
  Life Sciences   $ 1,610,000   $ 5,206,000   $ 14,731,000
  Healthcare     (2,516,000 )   4,735,000     3,099,000
  Physician             1,447,000
  IT and Engineering             8,318,000
   
 
 
    Total Operating Income (Loss)   $ (906,000 ) $ 9,941,000   $ 27,595,000
   
 
 

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        The Company does not report Life Sciences and Healthcare segments' total assets separately as the operations are largely centralized. The following table represents total assets as allocated by reportable segment:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Total Assets:                  
  Life Sciences and Healthcare   $ 93,705,000   $ 186,995,000   $ 107,253,000
  Physician             59,204,000
  IT and Engineering             218,223,000
   
 
 
    Total Assets   $ 93,705,000   $ 186,995,000   $ 384,680,000
   
 
 

        The Company does not report all assets by segment for all reportable segments. The following table represents certain identifiable assets by reportable segment:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
.                  
Gross Accounts Receivable:                  
  Life Sciences   $ 13,780,000   $ 17,576,000   $ 18,380,000
  Healthcare     23,126,000     22,911,000     22,440,000
  Physician             12,427,000
  IT and Engineering             27,847,000
   
 
 
    Total Gross Accounts Receivable   $ 36,906,000   $ 40,487,000   $ 81,094,000
   
 
 

        The Company operates internationally, with operations in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The following table represents revenues by geographic location:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Revenues:                  
  Domestic   $ 223,161,000   $ 269,602,000   $ 539,776,000
  Foreign     14,695,000     17,964,000     27,404,000
   
 
 
    Total Revenues   $ 237,856,000   $ 287,566,000   $ 567,180,000
   
 
 

        The following table represents long-lived assets by geographic location:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
Long-Lived Assets:                  
  Domestic   $ 10,513,000   $ 11,964,000   $ 19,479,000
  Foreign     413,000     465,000     833,000
   
 
 
    Total Long-Lived Assets   $ 10,926,000   $ 12,429,000   $ 20,312,000
   
 
 

        For further information regarding certain risks associated with our foreign operations, see "Risk Factors" within Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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11. Unaudited Quarterly Results.

        The following table presents unaudited quarterly financial information for each of the four quarters ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007. In the opinion of Management, the quarterly information contains all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation thereof. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.

 
  (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Quarter Ended

 
 
  Mar. 31,
2006

  June 30,
2006

  Sept. 30,
2006

  Dec. 31,
2006

  Mar. 31,
2007

  June 30,
2007

  Sept. 30,
2007

  Dec. 31,
2007

 
Revenues   $ 66,723   $ 68,636   $ 75,678   $ 76,529   $ 122,629   $ 143,854   $ 148,657   $ 152,040  
  Cost of services     49,739     49,368     54,898     55,720     85,169     97,613     101,130     103,731  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     16,984     19,268     20,780     20,809     37,460     46,241     47,527     48,309  
  Selling, general andadministrative expenses     16,786     16,644     17,266     17,204     34,261     38,992     38,326     40,363  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income     198     2,624     3,514     3,605     3,199     7,249     9,201     7,946  
  Interest expense     (3 )       (51 )       (2,136 )   (2,988 )   (2,940 )   (2,904 )
  Interest income     237     256     376     829     418     220     344     412  
  Change in fair value of interest rate swap                         431     (915 )   (722 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes     432     2,880     3,839     4,434     1,481     4,912     5,690     4,732  
  Provision (benefit) for income taxes     130     966     1,140     (1,695 )   570     1,974     2,435     2,514  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income   $ 302   $ 1,914   $ 2,699   $ 6,129   $ 911   $ 2,938   $ 3,255   $ 2,218  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share   $ 0.01   $ 0.07   $ 0.10   $ 0.20   $ 0.03   $ 0.08   $ 0.09   $ 0.06  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     25,986     26,149     26,257     30,192     34,667     35,176     35,313     35,387  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.01   $ 0.07   $ 0.10   $ 0.20   $ 0.03   $ 0.08   $ 0.09   $ 0.06  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of dilutive shares outstanding     26,827     26,974     26,869     31,066     35,629     35,813     35,886     35,759  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        On January 3, 2007, the Company acquired VISTA, a privately-owned, leading provider of physician staffing and permanent physician search services. On January 31, 2007, the Company acquired Oxford, a leading provider of high-end information technology and engineering staffing services. Further discussion related to the acquisitions can be found in Note 3 above.

        In 2006, there was a reversal of the valuation allowance of $4,928,000 that was recorded against the Company's net deferred income tax assets in 2004 and 2005. Of the $4,928,000 valuation allowance reversal, $4,345,000 resulted in an income tax benefit and $583,000 was recorded as an increase to additional paid in capital resulting from stock option deductions realized in 2006.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

        Not applicable.

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Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

        The term "disclosure controls and procedures" means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within required time periods. We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

        As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and affected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

    pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company's assets and transactions;

    provide reasonable assurance that the transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Company's receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with management and director authorizations; and

    provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention of timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        Management, under the supervision and participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment and those criteria, management believes that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has included an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included below.

79


        For purposes of conducting its 2007 evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, management has excluded the acquisitions of VISTA, completed on January 3, 2007, and Oxford, completed on January 31, 2007, whose financial statements constitute 22.6 percent and 15.4 percent and 33.1 percent and 56.7 percent of net and total assets, respectively, 13.2 percent and 32.2 percent of revenues, respectively, and 8.7 percent and -14.0 percent of net income, respectively, of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007. Refer to Note 3 in Part II, Item 8 of this report for further discussion of the acquisitions and their impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Changes in Internal Controls

        There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company's fourth quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

80



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
On Assignment, Inc.
Calabasas, California

        We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of On Assignment, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at VISTA, which was acquired on January 3, 2007 and Oxford, which was acquired on January 31, 2007, whose financial statements constitute 22.6 percent and 15.4 percent and 33.1 percent and 56.7 percent of net and total assets, respectively, 13.2 percent and 32.2 percent of revenues, respectively, and 8.7 percent and -14.0 percent of net income, respectively, of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at VISTA and Oxford. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

81


        In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007 of the Company and our report dated March 17, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company's adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, effective January 1, 2007.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Los Angeles, California
March 17, 2008

Item 9B.    Other Information

        None.

82



PART III

Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

        Information responsive to this item will be set forth under the captions "Proposal OneElection of Directors," "Continuing Directors," "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance," "Ethics" and "Board Committee Meetings" in the Company's proxy statement for use in connection with its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "2008 Proxy Statement") and is incorporated herein by reference. The 2008 Proxy Statement will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year. The information under the heading "Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K is also incorporated by reference in this section.

Item 11.    Executive Compensation

        Information responsive to this item will be set forth under the captions "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," "Summary of Executive Compensation," "Summary of Grants of Plan Based Awards," "Employment Contracts and Change in Control Arrangements" "Summary of Outstanding Equity Awards," "Summary of Option Exercises and Stock Vested," "Deferred Compensation" and "Board Committees and Meetings" in the 2008 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

        Information responsive to this item will be set forth under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in the 2008 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

        Information responsive to this Item will be set forth under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" and "Independent Directors" in the 2008 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services

        Information responsive to this Item will be set forth under the caption "Report of the Audit Committee" and "Principal Accountant Fees and Services" in the 2008 Proxy Statement, to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year and is incorporated herein by reference.


PART IV

Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule

    (a)
    List of documents filed as part of this report

    1.
    Financial Statements:

        Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2006 and 2007

83


        Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007

        Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007

        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007

        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

      2.
      Financial Statement Schedule:

        Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

        Schedules other than those referred to above have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required under the instructions contained in Regulation S-X or because the information is included elsewhere in the financial statements or notes thereto.

    (b)
    Exhibits

        See Index to Exhibits.

84



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this to report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 17th day of March 2008.

  ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

 

SIGNATURE
 
Peter T. Dameris
Chief Executive Officer and President

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
SIGNATURE
Peter T. Dameris
  Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
  March 17, 2008


SIGNATURE
James L. Brill

 

Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

March 17, 2008

*

William E. Brock

 

Director

 

March 17, 2008

*

Jonathan S. Holman

 

Director

 

March 17, 2008

*

Edward L. Pierce

 

Director

 

March 17, 2008

*

Jeremy M. Jones

 

Director

 

March 17, 2008

*
By signature below, the undersigned, pursuant to duly authorized power of attorney filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, has signed this report on behalf of the persons indicated.

SIGNATURE    

Peter T. Dameris
   

85



ON ASSIGNMENT, INC.

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007

Description

  Balance at
beginning of
year

  Acquired balances
  Provisions
  Deductions
from reserves

  Balance at
end of year

Year ended December 31, 2005                        
  Allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments   $ 1,465,000     401,000   (285,000 ) $ 1,581,000
  Workers' compensation loss reserves   $ 4,053,000     1,519,000   (2,084,000 ) $ 3,488,000
  Income tax valuation allowance   $ 4,205,000     723,000     $ 4,928,000

Year ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments   $ 1,581,000     60,000   (261,000 ) $ 1,380,000
  Workers' compensation loss reserves   $ 3,488,000     2,224,000   (2,161,000 ) $ 3,551,000
  Income tax valuation allowance   $ 4,928,000       (4,928,000 ) $

Year ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts and billing adjustments   $ 1,380,000   805,000   680,000   (611,000 ) $ 2,254,000
  Workers' compensation and medical malpractice loss reserves   $ 3,551,000   4,596,000   4,095,000   (3,321,000 ) $ 8,921,000

86



INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Number

  Footnote
  Description
2.1   (17)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 3, 2007, by and among On Assignment, Inc., On Assignment 2007 Acquisition Corp. and Oxford Global Resources, Inc. and Thomas F. Ryan, as Indemnification Representative.
2.2   (21)   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2006, by and among On Assignment, Inc., VSS Holding, Inc., the stockholders of VSS Holding, Inc. and the optionholders of VSS Holding,  Inc.
3.1 (1)   Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of On Assignment, Inc.
3.2   (2)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of On Assignment, Inc., as amended.
3.3   (3)   Amended and Restated Bylaws of On Assignment, Inc.
4.1   (4)   Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
4.2   (9)   Rights Agreement, dated June 4, 2003, between On Assignment, Inc. and U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation as Rights Agent, which includes the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit C.
10.1   (16)   Form of Indemnification Agreements. †
10.2   (14)   Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated April 7, 2006. †
10.3   (16)   First Amendment to Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan, dated January 23, 2007. †
10.4   (14)   Second Amendment to the Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan, dated April 17, 2007. †
10.5   (14)   Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated June 18, 2002. †
10.6   (14)   First Amendment to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, dated January 23, 2007. †
10.7   (5)   Office Lease, dated December 7, 1993, by and between On Assignment, Inc. and Malibu Canyon Office Partners, LP.
10.8   (6)   Seventh Amendment to Office Lease, dated August 20, 2002.
10.9   (11)   Change in Control Severance Plan and Summary Plan Description, as amended and restated August 8, 2004. †
10.10   (8)   Deferred Compensation Plan. †
10.11   (8)   Master Trust Agreement for Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.12   (10)   Senior Executive Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and Peter Dameris, dated October 27, 2003. †
10.13   (16)   First Amendment to Dameris Senior Executive Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and Peter Dameris, dated December 14, 2006. †
10.14   (16)   Employment Agreement between Oxford Global Resources, Inc., On Assignment, Inc. and Michael J. McGowan dated January 3, 2007. †
10.15   (16)   Employment Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and James Brill, dated January 1, 2007. †

87


10.16   (16)   Employment Agreement between VISTA Staffing Solutions, Inc., On Assignment, Inc. and Mark S. Brouse, dated December 20, 2006. †
10.17   (7)   Senior Executive Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and Emmett McGrath, dated July 23, 2004. †
10.18   (20)   Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and Emmett McGrath, dated November 28, 2007. †
10.19   (7)   Executive Change in Control Agreement between On Assignment and Peter T. Dameris, dated December 31, 2004. †
10.20   (15)   Executive Change in Control Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and James L. Brill, dated January 1, 2007. †
10.21   (16)   Separation Agreement between On Assignment, Inc. and Michael J. Holtzman, dated December 8, 2006. †
10.22   (7)   Form of Option Agreements.
10.23   (12)   Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. †
10.24   (13)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreements.
10.25   (16)   Credit Agreement among On Assignment, Inc., UBS Securities, LLC, UBS AG, Stamford Branch, UBS Loan Finance, LLC and other parties thereto, dated January 31, 2007.
21.1 *     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1 *     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1 *     Power of Attorney.
31.1 *     Certification of Peter T. Dameris, Chief Executive Officer and President pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
31.2 *     Certification of James L. Brill, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
32.1 *     Certification of Peter T. Dameris, Chief Executive Officer and President, and James L. Brill, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

*
Filed herewith.

These exhibits relate to management contracts or compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements in which directors and/or executive officers of the Registrant may participate.

(1)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2000.

(2)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1993.

(3)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2002.

(4)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-50646) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 1992.

88


(5)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 1994.

(6)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2002.

(7)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2005.

(8)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 1998.

(9)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2003.

(10)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2003.

(11)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2004.

(12)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2005.

(13)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2005.

(14)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-143907) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2007.

(15)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2007.

(16)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2007.

(17)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2007.

(18)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2007.

(19)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2007.

(20)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2007.

(21)
Incorporated by reference from an exhibit filed with our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 0-20540) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2006.

89




QuickLinks

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PART I
PART II
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PART III
PART IV
SIGNATURES
ON ASSIGNMENT, INC. SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007
INDEX TO EXHIBITS