Note 3 - Fair Value Accounting

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

3.  FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING

The Company accounts for fair value measurements in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

ASC 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 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 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 December 31, 2021
($ in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Pension assets	$	1,689	$	—	$	—	$	1,689
Totals	$	1,689	$	—	$	—	$	1,689
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	5,292	$	—	$	—	$	5,292
Totals	$	5,292	$	—	$	—	$	5,292

	Fair Value at December 31, 2020
($ in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Pension assets	$	1,881	$	—	$	—	$	1,881
Totals	$	1,881	$	—	$	—	$	1,881
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	24,128	$	—	$	—	$	24,128
Totals	$	24,128	$	—	$	—	$	24,128

The Company’s German pension plan is funded by insurance contract policies whereby the insurance company guarantees a fixed minimum return. The Company has determined that the pension assets are appropriately classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using actuarial valuation methodologies which approximate cash surrender value that cannot be corroborated with observable market data. All plan assets are managed in a policyholder pool in Germany by outside investment managers. The investment manager is responsible for the investment strategy of the insurance premiums that Company submits and does not hold individual assets per participating employer. The German Federal Financial Supervisory oversees and supervises the insurance contracts.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had embedded features contained in the Series D Preferred host instrument (issued in November 2020) that qualified for derivative liability treatment.  The recorded fair market value of these features was approximately $5,292,000 at December 31, 2021 and are classified as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021. 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 Monte-Carlo simulations and other fair value methodologies in the determination of the fair value of derivative liabilities. Considering the various path dependencies for the Series D Preferred Stock, Monte-Carlo simulations were deemed the most appropriate methodology.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had embedded features contained in the Series D Preferred host instrument (issued in November 2020) that qualified for derivative liability treatment.  The recorded fair market value of these features was approximately $24,128,000 at December 31, 2020 and are classified as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020. 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 Monte-Carlo simulations and other fair value methodologies in the determination of the fair value of derivative liabilities. Considering the various path dependencies for the Series D Preferred Stock, Monte-Carlo simulations were deemed the most appropriate methodology.

Some of the aforementioned fair value methodologies are 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 events. Significant assumptions used in the application of fair value methodologies for the Series D Preferred are a risk-free rate of 0.26% to 0.97%, equity volatility of 98.0% to 118.10%, effective life of 4.0 years, and a preferred stock dividend rate of 4.0%. Additionally, management has made certain estimates regarding the timing of potential change of control events.

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.

The reconciliations of Level 3 pension assets measured at fair value in 2021 and 2020 are presented below:

($ in thousands)	December 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
Pension assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	$	1,881		$	1,713
Return on plan assets		24			92
Company contributions and benefits paid, net		(79	)		(82	)
Effect of rate changes		(137	)		158
Fair value at end of year	$	1,689		$	1,881

The reconciliations of Level 3 derivative liabilities measured at fair value in 2021 and 2020 are presented below:

($ in thousands)	December 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
Derivative liabilities
Fair value at beginning of year	$	24,128		$	369
Derivative liability from issuance of Preferred Series D		558			26,011
Decrease in derivative liability from conversion of Preferred Series D		(585	)		—
Change in fair value included in earnings		(18,809	)		(2,252	)
Fair value at end of year	$	5,292		$	24,128