15.  Fair Value Measurements

ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, not adjusted for transaction costs.  ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). 



The three levels are described below:



Level 1 Inputs

 

 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible by the Company;

Level 2 Inputs

 

 

Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;

Level 3 Inputs

 

 

Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability including significant assumptions of the Company and other market participants.

The following tables present assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2019



  Total  

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Commercial Paper

$

1,997,400 

$

 -

$

1,997,400 

$

 -

     Corporate Bonds

 

999,820 

 

 -

 

999,820 

 

 -

Total Assets:

$

2,997,220 

$

 -

$

2,997,220 

$

 -



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Warrant Liabilities

$

41,717 

$

-

$

-

$

41,717 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018



  Total  

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Corporate Bonds

$

5,981,520 

$

 -

$

5,981,520 

$

 -



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Warrant Liabilities

$

2,307,586 

$

-

$

-

$

2,307,586 



The fair value of the Company’s Level 2 marketable securities is determined by using quoted prices from independent pricing services that use market data for comparable securities in active or inactive markets.  A variety of data inputs, including benchmark yields, interest rates, known historical trades and broker dealer quotes are used with pricing models to determine the quoted prices.



The fair value methodology for the warrant liabilities is disclosed in Note 12.



The carrying amounts reported in the financial statements for cash and cash equivalents (Level 1), and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these financial instruments.



There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2019 and 2018 and no transfers between Level 1, 2 and 3 during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.



The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 in the fair value of the liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:







 

 

 



 

Warrant Liabilities

Balance at January 1, 2019

 

$

2,307,586 

Unrealized gains, net

 

 

(2,265,869)

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

41,717 

 





 

 

 



 

Warrant Liabilities

Balance at January 1, 2018

 

$

7,853,635 

Unrealized gains, net

 

 

(5,546,049)

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

$

2,307,586 

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2019Feb 21, 2020Showing above
2018Mar 7, 2019
2017Mar 9, 2018
2016Feb 24, 2017
2015Mar 14, 2016

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.