Aura Biosciences, Inc. Fair Value Disclosure
3. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Description |
|
December 31, |
|
|
Quoted prices |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
Significant |
|
||||
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Money market funds |
|
|
30,845 |
|
|
$ |
30,845 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. Government agencies |
|
|
119,401 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
119,401 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total financial assets |
|
$ |
150,246 |
|
|
$ |
30,845 |
|
|
$ |
119,401 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Description |
|
December 31, |
|
|
Quoted prices |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
Significant |
|
||||
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Money market funds |
|
$ |
40,551 |
|
|
$ |
40,551 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commercial paper |
|
|
9,137 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
9,137 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Corporate bonds |
|
|
6,187 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,187 |
|
|
|
— |
|
U.S. Government agencies |
|
|
166,002 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
166,002 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Yankee bonds |
|
|
2,982 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,982 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Asset-backed securities |
|
|
779 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
779 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total financial assets |
|
$ |
225,638 |
|
|
$ |
40,551 |
|
|
$ |
185,087 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
There have been no transfers between levels for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.