Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported are defined as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market at the measurement date (exit price). The Company is required to classify fair value measurements in one of the following categories:

Level 1 inputs are defined as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs are defined as inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 inputs are defined as unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities. 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 classifies the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities as Level 3 inputs. These inputs require material subjectivity because value is derived through the use of a lattice model that values the derivatives based on probability weighted discounted cash flows. In May 2014, the warrants expired and the value of the warrant derivative liabilities were written off and recorded in other expenses in our consolidated statement of operations.

The Company classifies the fair value of contingent consideration obligations as Level 3 inputs. The Company has recognized contingent consideration obligations related to the following:

•

In October 2011, in connection with the Amorcyte Acquisition, contingent consideration obligations were recognized relating to earn out payments equal to 10% of the net sales of the lead product candidate NBS10 (in the event of and following the date of first commercial sale of NBS10), provided that in the event NeoStem sublicenses NBS10, the applicable earn out payment will be equal to 30% of any sublicensing fees, and provided further that NeoStem will be entitled to recover direct out-of-pocket clinical development costs not previously paid or reimbursed and any costs, expenses, liabilities and settlement amounts arising out of claims of patent infringement or otherwise challenging Amorcyte’s right to use intellectual property, by reducing any earn out payments due by 50% until such costs have been recouped in full (the “Earn Out Payments”). The contingent consideration fair value increased from $5.5 million as of December 31, 2014 to $5.6 million as of March 31, 2015. The change in estimated fair value is based on the impact of the time progression through the PreSERVE AMI Phase 2 clinical trial from December 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015, and has been recorded in other expenses in our consolidated statement of operations.

•

In May 2014, in connection with the CSC Acquisition, contingent consideration obligations were recognized relating to milestone payments of up to $90.0 million, based on the achievement of certain milestones associated with the future development of the acquired programs. The contingent consideration fair value increased from $12.8 million as of December 31, 2014 to $13.2 million as of March 31, 2015. The change in estimated fair value is based on the impact of the time progression to reach those milestones as of March 31, 2015, and has been recorded in other expenses in our consolidated statement of operations.

The fair value of contingent consideration obligations is based on discounted cash flow models using a probability-weighted income approach. The measurements are based upon unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity based on our own assumptions and experience. The Company bases the timing to complete the development and approval programs on the current development stage of the product and the inherent difficulties and uncertainties in developing a product candidate, such as obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory approvals. In determining the probability of regulatory approval and commercial success, we utilize data regarding similar milestone events from several sources, including industry studies and our own experience. These fair value measurements represent Level 3 measurements as they are based on significant inputs not observable in the market. Significant judgment is employed in determining the appropriateness of these assumptions as of the acquisition date and for each subsequent period. Accordingly, changes in assumptions could have a material impact on the amount of contingent consideration expense we record in any given period.

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):



	March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Marketable securities - available for sale	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	7,080.0	$	—	$	7,080.0
	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	7,080.0	$	—	$	7,080.0

Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	$	—	$	—	$	18,810.0	$	18,810.0	$	—	$	—	$	18,260.0	$	18,260.0
	$	—	$	—	$	18,810.0	$	18,810.0	$	—	$	—	$	18,260.0	$	18,260.0

There were no transfers of financial instruments to or from Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the periods presented. For those financial instruments with significant Level 3 inputs, the following table summarizes the activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015 by type of instrument (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015
	Contingent Consideration		Total
Beginning liability balance	$	18,260.0	$	18,260.0
Change in fair value recorded in operations	550.0		550.0
Ending liability balance	$	18,810.0	$	18,810.0

Some of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Our long-term debt and notes payable are carried at cost and approximate fair value due to their variable or fixed interest rates, which are consistent with the interest rates in the market.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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