Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

5. Financial Instruments

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5. Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Financial Instruments  
Financial Instruments

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, the FASB established a three-level hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of fair value measurements are:

 

●   Level 1—Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

●   Level 2—Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

 

●   Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

The inputs used in measuring the fair value of cash and cash equivalents are considered to be Level 1 in accordance with the three-tier fair value hierarchy. The fair market values are based on period-end statements supplied by the various banks and brokers that held the majority of the Company’s funds. The fair value of short-term financial instruments (primarily accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other current assets and liabilities) approximate their carrying values because of their short-term nature.

 

The carrying value of financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of these items.