FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 8 - FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING

The Company accounts for fair value measurements in accordance with ASC Topic No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC Topic 820 are described below:

Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2	Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
Level 3	Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy. As required by ASC Topic 820, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

	Fair Value at September 30, 2012
($ in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Pension assets	$	1,525	$	1,525	$	—	$	—
Totals	$	1,525	$	1,525	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	4,005	$	—	$	—	$	4,005
Totals	$	4,005	$	—	$	—	$	4,005

	Fair Value at December 31, 2011
($ in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Pension assets	$	1,455	$	1,455	$	—	$	—
Totals	$	1,455	$	1,455	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	11,824	$	—	$	—	$	11,824
Totals	$	11,824	$	—	$	—	$	11,824

The Company’s pension assets are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using market prices.  The pension assets are primarily comprised of the cash surrender value of insurance contracts. All plan assets are managed in a policyholder pool in Germany by outside investment managers.  The investment objectives for the plan are the preservation of capital, current income and long-term growth of capital.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 5,211,229 outstanding warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock that qualified for derivative liability treatment.  The recorded fair market value of those warrants at September 30, 2012 was approximately $4,005,000 which is reflected as a non-current liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2012. The fair value of the Company’s derivative liabilities are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using pricing models that incorporate management assumptions that cannot be corroborated with observable market data.  The Company uses Black Scholes or Monte-Carlo simulation methodologies in the determination of the fair value of the derivative liabilities.  

The Monte-Carlo simulation methodology is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding the expected stock price volatility over the term of the derivative liabilities in addition to the probability of future financings. The Black Scholes valuation model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding the expected stock price volatility over the term of the derivative liabilities in addition to expected dividend yield and risk free interest rates appropriate for the expected term. 

The Company monitors the activity within each level and any changes with the underlying valuation techniques or inputs utilized to recognize if any transfers between levels are necessary.  That determination is made, in part, by working with outside valuation experts for Level 3 instruments and monitoring market related data and other valuation inputs for Level 1 and Level 2 instruments.

    A reconciliation of the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows:

($ in thousands)	Derivative Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	11,824
Total unrealized gains		—
Included in earnings		6,473
Settlements		(14,292	)
Issuances		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	4,005

All unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in value of any Level 3 instruments are reflected as a separate line in the condensed consolidated statement of operations in arriving at net income (loss).  The Company is not a party to any hedge arrangements, commodity swap agreement or any other derivative financial instruments.

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. Included in this category is goodwill written down to fair value when determined to be impaired. The valuation methods for goodwill involve assumptions based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, and which are classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.