Derivative Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Derivative Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

10. Derivative Instruments

Derivative instruments consist of the following:

	September 30,		December 31,
	2011		2010
	(in thousands)
MHR Convertible Note	$	5,905		11,166
MHR 2006 Warrants		—		646
August 2007 Warrants		132		481
August 2009 Warrants		6,094		7,807
June 2010 MHR Warrants		1,092		1,495
August 2010 Warrants		7,952		10,550
August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants		1,533		1,961
July 2011 Warrants		9,816		—
July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants		1,296		—
	$	33,820	$	34,106

The fair value of the warrants that have exercise price reset features is estimated using an adjusted Black-Scholes model. The Company computes valuations each quarter, using Black-Scholes model calculations for such warrants to account for the various possibilities that could occur due to various circumstances that could arise in connection with the contractual terms of said instruments. The Company weights each Black-Scholes model calculation based on its estimation of the likelihood of the occurrence of each circumstance and adjusts relevant Black-Scholes model input to calculate the value of the derivative at the reporting date.

Embedded Conversion Feature of MHR Convertible Notes. The MHR Convertible Notes contain a provision whereby the conversion price is adjustable upon the occurrence of certain events, including the issuance by Emisphere of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price which is lower than the current conversion price of the MHR Convertible Notes and lower than the current market price. However, the adjustment provision does not become effective until after the Company raises $10 million through the issuance of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price which is lower than the current conversion price of the convertible note and lower than the current market price during any consecutive 24 month period. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 815-40-15-5. Under FASB ASC 815-40-15-5, the embedded conversion feature is not considered indexed to the Company’s own stock and, therefore, does not meet the scope exception in FASB ASC 815-10-15 and thus needs to be accounted for as a derivative liability. The adoption of FASB ASC 815-40-15-5 requires recognition of the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles to the opening balance of our accumulated deficit, additional paid in capital, and liability for derivative financial instruments. This liability had been presented as a non-current liability as of December 31, 2010 and has been presented as a current liability as of September 30, 2011 to correspond with its host contract, the MHR Convertible Notes. The fair value of the embedded conversion feature is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using Black-Scholes models. The assumptions used in computing the fair value as of September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, conversion prices of $3.78 and $1.95, expected volatility of 100.74% over the remaining term of one year and a risk-free rate of 0.13%. The fair value of the embedded conversion feature decreased by $1.0 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The embedded conversion feature will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding. See Note 9 for a further discussion of the MHR Convertible Notes.

MHR 2006 Warrants. In connection with the exercise of the MHR Option in April 2006 discussed in Note 9 above, the Company issued to MHR warrants to purchase 617,211 shares for proceeds of $0.6 million. The MHR 2006 Warrants had an original exercise price of $4.00 and were exercisable through September 26, 2011. The MHR 2006 Warrants had the same terms as the August 2007 Warrants (see below). The anti-dilution feature of the MHR 2006 Warrants was triggered in connection with the August 2007 Financing, resulting in an adjusted exercise price of $3.76. Based on the provisions of FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the MHR 2006 Warrants have been determined to be an embedded derivative instrument which must be separated from the host contract. The MHR 2006 Warrants contained the same potential cash settlement provisions as the August 2007 Financing Warrants and, therefore, they have been accounted for as a separate liability. The fair value of the MHR 2006 Warrants is estimated at the end of each quarterly period that they remain outstanding using Black-Scholes models. The MHR 2006 Warrants expired September 26, 2011. The fair value of the MHR 2006 Warrants decreased by $1 thousand and $0.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statement of operations.

August 2007 Warrants. In connection with an equity financing in August 2007 (the “August 2007 Financing”), Emisphere sold warrants to purchase up to 400,000 shares of common stock (the “August 2007 Warrants”). Of these 400,000 warrants, 91,073 were sold to MHR. Each of the August 2007 Warrants were issued with an exercise price of $3.948 and expire on August 21, 2012. The August 2007 Warrants provide for certain anti-dilution protection as provided therein. Under the terms of the August 2007 Warrants, we have an obligation to make a cash payment to the holders of the August 2007 Warrants for any gain that could have been realized if the holders exercise the August 2007 Warrants and we subsequently fail to deliver a certificate representing the shares to be issued upon such exercise by the third trading day after such August 2007 Warrants have been exercised. Accordingly, the August 2007 Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions used in computing the fair value as of September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, expected volatility of 100.54% over the remaining term of eleven months and a risk-free rate of 0.13%.The fair value of the August 2007 Warrants increased $0.05 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $0.35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The August 2007 Warrants will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding.

August 2009 Warrants. In connection with an equity financing in August 2009 (the “August 2009 Financing”), Emisphere sold warrants to purchase 6.4 million shares of common stock to MHR (3.7 million) and other unrelated investors (2.7 million) (the “August 2009 Warrants”). The August 2009 Warrants were issued with an exercise price of $0.70 and expire on August 21, 2014. Under the terms of the August 2009 Warrants, we have an obligation to make a cash payment to the holders of the August 2009 Warrants for any gain that could have been realized if the holders exercise the August 2009 Warrants and we subsequently fail to deliver a certificate representing the shares to be issued upon such exercise by the third trading day after such August 2009 Warrants have been exercised. Accordingly, the August 2009 Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the August 2009 Warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions used in computing the fair value as of September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, expected volatility of 124.35% over the remaining term of two years and eleven months and a risk-free rate of 0.42%. The fair value of the August 2009 Warrants increased $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The warrants will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the unrelated investors exercised their warrants to purchase up to 2,685,714 million shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.70, using the “cashless exercise” provision. The Company issued an aggregate of 1,966,937 shares to such holders in accordance with the terms of the cashless exercise provision. The Company calculated the fair value of the 2,685,714 exercised warrants on their respective exercise dates using the Black-Scholes model. The weighted average assumptions used in computing the fair values were a closing stock price of $1.91, expected volatility of 101.99% over the remaining contractual life of four years, three months and a risk-free rate of 1.46%. The fair value of the 2,685,714 exercised warrants increased by $2.2 million from January 1, 2010 through the date of exercise, and this increase has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The fair value of the derivative liabilities at the exercise dates of $4.3 million was reclassified to additional paid-in-capital. After these cashless exercises, warrants to purchase up to 3,729,323 shares of common stock, in the aggregate, remain outstanding.

June 2010 MHR Warrants. As consideration for its consent and limitation of rights in connection with the Novartis Agreement, the Company granted MHR warrants to purchase 865,000 shares of its common stock under the MHR Letter Agreement. The June 2010 MHR Warrants are exercisable at $2.90 per share and will expire on August 21, 2014. The June 2010 MHR Warrants provide for certain anti-dilution protection as provided therein. We have an obligation to make a cash payment to the holders of the warrants for any gain that could have been realized if the holders exercise the June 2010 MHR Warrants and we subsequently fail to deliver a certificate representing the shares to be issued upon such exercise by the third trading day after such June 2010 MHR Warrants have been exercised. Accordingly, the June 2010 MHR Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. Their fair value is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using the Black-Scholes model. The Company estimated the fair value of the June 2010 MHR Warrants on the date of grant using Black-Scholes models to be $1.9 million, which triggered the recognition of extinguishment and restructuring accounting for the MHR Convertible Notes. The assumptions used in computing the fair value of the June 2010 MHR Warrants at September 30, 2011 are closing stock prices of $1.95, $0.44, and $2.89, exercise prices of $1.95, $0.44, $2.89, and $2.90, expected volatility of 124.35% over the remaining two years and eleven months, and a risk-free rate of 0.42%. The fair value of the June 2010 MHR Warrants increased by $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The June 2010 MHR Warrants will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding.

August 2010 Warrants. On August 25, 2010, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 3,497,528 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 2,623,146 additional shares of its common stock for total gross proceeds of $3,532,503 (together with the transactions contemplated by the MHR August 2010 Securities Purchase Agreement, as defined below, the “August 2010 Financing”). Each unit, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock, was sold at a purchase price of $1.01. The warrants to purchase additional shares are exercisable at a price of $1.26 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the investors, the Company filed a registration statement on September 15, 2010, which was declared effective October 12, 2010. On August 25, 2010, the Company also announced that it had entered into a separate securities purchase agreement with MHR as part of the August 2010 Financing (the “MHR August 2010 Securities Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 3,497,528 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 2,623,146 additional shares of its common stock for total gross proceeds of $3,532,503. Each unit, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock, was sold at a purchase price of $1.01. The warrants to purchase additional shares are exercisable at a price of $1.26 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. In connection with the August 2010 Financing, Emisphere sold warrants to purchase 5.2 million shares of common stock to MHR (2.6 million) and other unrelated investors (2.6 million) (the “August 2010 Warrants”). The August 2010 Warrants were issued with an exercise price of $1.26 and expire on August 26, 2015. Under the terms of the August 2010 Warrants, we have an obligation to make a cash payment to the holders of the August 2010 Warrants for any gain that could have been realized if the holders exercise the August 2010 Warrants and we subsequently fail to deliver a certificate representing the shares to be issued upon such exercise by the third trading day after such August 2010 Warrants have been exercised. Accordingly, the August 2010 Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using the Black-Scholes model. On January 12, 2011, one of the unrelated investors notified the Company of its intention to exercise 0.2 million warrants. The Company received proceeds of $0.2 million from the exercise of these warrants. The Company calculated the fair value of the 0.2 million exercised warrants on January 12, 2011 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The assumptions used in computing the fair value as of January 12, 2011 are a closing stock price of $2.25, expected volatility of 107.30% over the remaining contractual life of four years and seven months and a risk-free rate of 1.99%. The fair value of the 0.2 million exercised warrants decreased by approximately $28,000 for the period from January 1, 2011 through January 12, 2011, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The assumptions used in computing the fair value of the remaining August 2010 Warrants as of September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, exercise price of $1.26, expected volatility of 117.41% over the remaining term of three years and eleven months, and a risk-free rate of 0.42%. The fair value of the August 2010 Warrants increased by $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The August 2010 Warrants will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding.

August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants. In connection with the August 2010 Financing, the Company entered into a waiver agreement with MHR, pursuant to which MHR waived certain anti-dilution adjustment rights under the MHR Convertible Notes and certain warrants issued by the Company to MHR that would otherwise have been triggered by the August 2010 Financing. As consideration for such waiver, the Company issued to MHR warrants to purchase 975,000 shares of its common stock (the “August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants”). The August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants are in the same form of warrant as the August 2010 Warrants issued to MHR as part of the August 2010 Financing described above. Accordingly, the August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using Black-Scholes models. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants on the date of grant using Black-Scholes models to be $0.8 million. The assumptions used in computing the fair value of the August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants at September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, exercise price of $1.26, expected volatility of 117.41% over the term of three years and eleven months, and a risk free rate of 0.42%. The fair value of the August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants increased by $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and the decrease has been recognized in the accompanying statements of operations. The August 2010 MHR Waiver Warrants will be adjusted to estimated fair value for each future period they remain outstanding.

July 2011 Warrants. On July 6, 2011, as part of the July 2011 Financing, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 4,300,438 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 3,010,306 additional shares of its common stock for total gross proceeds of $3,749,982. Each unit, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.7 shares of common stock, was sold at a purchase price of $0.872. The warrants to purchase additional shares are exercisable at a price of $1.09 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the investors, the Company filed a registration statement on July 26, 2011, which was declared effective October 12, 2011. On July 6, 2011, the Company also announced that it had entered into a separate securities purchase agreement with MHR as part of the July 2011 Financing, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 4,300,438 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 3,010,306 additional shares of its common stock for total gross proceeds of $3,749,982. Each unit, consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.7 shares of common stock, was sold at a purchase price of $0.872. The warrants to purchase additional shares are exercisable at a price of $1.09 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. In connection with the July 2011 Financing, Emisphere sold warrants to purchase 6.02 million shares of common stock to MHR (3.01 million) and other unrelated investors (3.01 million) (the “July 2011 Warrants”). The July 2011 Warrants were issued with an exercise price of $1.09 and expire on July 6, 2016. Under the terms of the July 2011 Warrants, we have an obligation to make a cash payment to the holders of the July 2011 Warrants for any gain that could have been realized if the holders exercise the July 2011 Warrants and we subsequently fail to deliver a certificate representing the shares to be issued upon such exercise by the third trading day after such July 2011 Warrants have been exercised. Accordingly, the July 2011 Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using the Black-Scholes model. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants as of the date of grant using Black-Scholes models to be $4.5 million. The assumptions used in computing the fair value of the July 2011 Warrants as of September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, exercise price of $1.09, expected volatility of 110.35% over the remaining term of four years and ten months, and a risk-free rate of 0.96%. The fair value of the July 2011 Warrants increased by $5.3 million from the date of issue until the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and the fluctuation has been recorded in the statements of operations.

July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants. In connection with the July 2011 Financing, the Company entered into a waiver agreement with MHR, pursuant to which MHR waived certain anti-dilution adjustment rights under the MHR Convertible Notes and certain warrants issued by the Company to MHR that would otherwise have been triggered by the July 2011 Financing. As consideration for such waiver, the Company issued to MHR warrants to purchase 795,000 shares of its common stock (the “July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants”). The July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants are in the same form of warrant as the July 2011 Warrants issued to MHR described above. Accordingly, the July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants have been accounted for as a liability. The fair value of the July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants is estimated, at the end of each quarterly reporting period, using Black-Scholes models. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants on the date of grant using Black-Scholes models to be $0.6 million. The assumptions used in computing the fair value of the July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants at September 30, 2011 are a closing stock price of $1.95, exercise price of $1.09, expected volatility of 110.35% over the term of four years and ten months, and a risk free rate of 0.96%. The fair value of the July 2011 MHR Waiver Warrants increased by $0.7 million from the date of issue until the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and the fluctuation has been recorded in the statements of operations.