Where Food Comes From, Inc. Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value Measurements
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure, establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value for financial assets and liabilities that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:
| ● | Level 1: Quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
| ● | Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities that are observable for the asset or liability; |
| ● | Level 3: Unobservable pricing inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources, such as discounted cash or valuation models. |
The financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
The Company’s non-recurring fair value measurements include purchase price allocations for the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired through business combinations. Please refer to Note 3 for further discussion of business combinations.
The acquisition of a group of assets in a business combination transaction requires fair value estimates for assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of assets and liabilities acquired through business combinations is calculated using a discounted future cash flows method. The discounted cash flows are developed using the income approach in which a value (based on management’s expectations for the future) is determined by converting anticipated benefits. The fair value measurements are based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represent fair value measurements which are designated as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Key assumptions and considerations include:
| a) | A discount rate range of 19-32 percent; |
| b) | Terminal value based on long-term sustainable growth rates of 3 percent; |
| c) | Financial data of comparable companies for market participant assumptions; and |
| d) | Consideration of the marketability that market participants would consider when measuring the fair value of a non-controlling interest in our acquisition. |
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.