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Fair Value Measurements
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12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Fair Value Measurements [Text Block] |
Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the authoritative guidance establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires companies to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, including its derivative liabilities.
At December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a liability related to the variable maturity feature and the future issuance of warrants / shares in connection with its Bridge Notes (See Note 5), and the common stock and warrants issued in the current year (See Notes 4 and 6) at the aggregate fair market value of $1,573,859 utilizing unobservable inputs. The change in fair market value of these liabilities is included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. The assumptions used in the Monte-Carlo simulation used to value the derivative liabilities involve expected volatility in the Company’s common stock, estimated probabilities related to the occurrence of a future financing, and interest rates. As all the assumptions employed to measure this liability are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, this fair value determination is classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
See note 5 for a table that provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2011:
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