Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an 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. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The three-level hierarchy for the inputs to valuation techniques is briefly summarized as follows:

Level 1 – Valuations are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs are certain money market funds, U.S. Treasuries and trading securities with quoted prices on active markets.

Level 2 – Valuations based on inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable, either directly or indirectly, 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 for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs are corporate bonds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and over-the-counter derivatives.

Level 3 – Valuations based on unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

The following table sets forth the fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy:


	December 31, 2017
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	68,651	$	68,651	$	—	$	—
U.S. treasury securities		3,993		3,993		—		—
Corporate bonds		26,827		—		26,827		—
Commercial paper		20,420		—		20,420		—
Asset-backed securities		8,203		—		8,203		—
Total	$	128,094	$	72,644	$	55,450	$	—


	December 31, 2016
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	68,561	$	68,561	$	—	$	—
Corporate bonds		58,410		—		58,410		—
Commercial paper		65,330		—		65,330		—
Asset-backed securities		4,884		—		4,884		—
Total	$	197,185	$	68,561	$	128,624	$	—

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1. The Company classifies money market funds, U.S. treasury securities and U.S. government-sponsored agency bonds as Level 1. When quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then the Company estimates fair value by using benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes and issuer spreads. The Company classifies corporate bonds, commercial paper and asset-backed securities as Level 2. In certain cases, where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to valuation, securities are classified as Level 3. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the periods presented.

The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheets for cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values at both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, due to their short-term nature.

- 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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