Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments


FASB ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820-10 also establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities according to a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The hierarchy 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 are derived from assumptions based on management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available under the circumstances.


The hierarchy is broken down into the following three levels, based on the reliability of inputs:


Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.


Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.


Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities that are derived from assumptions based on management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.


Fair value is determined on a recurring basis based on appraisals by qualified licensed appraisers and is adjusted for management’s estimates of costs to sell and holding period discounts.


The following table presents information as of December 31, 2018 about significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) used in the valuation of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


Financial Instrument  Fair Value   Valuation technique  Significant Unobservable inputs
Convertible notes receivable  $837,317   Monte Carlo Simulation  Probability of conversion and interest rates on comparable financial instruments
            
Investment in warrants  $67,000   Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model  Common Stock volatility and discount

The fair value of the convertible notes receivable (and related discount) at the date of issuance was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation, probability of conversion and comparable interest rates.


The assumptions used to measure the fair value of the convertible notes receivable as of original issuance date and, as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:


   Issuance date   December 31, 2018 
Risk-free interest rate   2.41% - 2.47%   2.41%
Probability of conversion into equity   50% - 90%   90%
Expected volatility   91.95%   91.95%
Term   .09 - .59 years    .09 year 

The Company has recorded a warrant asset in relation to the contingent call option upon the occurrence of a “fundamental transaction”, as defined in the SEA. The fair value of the warrant asset (and related discount) at the date of issuance was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which was deemed not to be materially different than the fair value as would have been determined using an open simulation model such as the Monte Carlo. The Black-Scholes model uses a combination of observable inputs (Level 2) and unobservable inputs (Level 3) in calculating fair value.


The assumptions used to measure the fair value of the warrants as of original issuance date and as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:


   Issuance dates   December 31,
2018
 
Risk-free interest rate   2.47%   2.41%
Expected dividend yield   0%   0%
Expected volatility   91.95%   91.95%
Term   5 years    5 years 
Fair value of common stock  $0.3275   $0.16 

The balances and levels of the assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2018 are presented in the following table:


   Quoted prices in
active markets
for identical
assets
(Level 1)
   Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Financial assets:            
             
Convertible notes receivable  $         -   $         -   $837,317 
                
Investment in warrants  $-   $-   $67,000 
                
Total  $-   $-   $904,317 

In relation to the acquisition, the Company no longer held these investments at December 31, 2019. A gain was recorded for $427,282 related to an increase in fair value and is included in other income.


A summary of the changes in the Company’s convertible notes receivable at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 is as follows:


   Year ended
December 31,
2019
 
Convertible notes receivable, December 31, 2018  $837,317 
Notes issued (face value $215,000), at fair value   196,000 
Increase in fair value   372,282 
Conversion of notes into common stock   (1,405,599)
Investment in notes receivable, December 31, 2019  $- 

A summary of the changes in the Company’s investment in warrants measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 is as follows:


   Year ended
December 31,
2019
 
Investment in warrants, December 31, 2018  $67,000 
Warrants issued to the Company   19,000 
Increase in fair value   55,000 
Conversion of warrants into common stock   (141,000)
Investment in warrants, December 31, 2019  $- 

The values of the investment in warrants at issuance and as of December 31, 2019 were $152,000 and $0, respectively, with a gain from the change in fair value of $55,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and is a component of other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.


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.