Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments

v3.20.1
Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Equity Method Investments, Warrants and Options, and Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS
Investments
The following table reflects the accounting method, carrying value and underlying equity in net assets of our unconsolidated investments as of March 31, 2020:
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Investment type
 
Investment Carrying Value
 
Underlying Equity in Net Assets
Equity method investments
 
$
711

 
$
1,427

Variable interest entity, equity method
 
875

 

Equity securities
 
8,990

 
 
Equity securities with no readily determinable fair value
 
35

 
 
Warrants and options
 
58

 
 
Total carrying value of investments
 
$
10,669

 
 
Equity method investments
Our equity method investments consist of investments in Pharmsynthez (ownership 9%), Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (“COCP”) (5%), Non-Invasive Monitoring Systems, Inc. (“NIMS”) (1%), Neovasc, Inc. (“Neovasc”) (3%), InCellDx, Inc. (“InCellDx”) (29%), BioCardia, Inc. (“BioCardia”) (3%), and Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (“Xenetic”) (3%). The aggregate total assets, liabilities, and net losses of our equity method investees as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $68.2 million, $38.0 million, and $21.9 million, respectively. We have determined that we and/or our related parties can significantly influence control of our equity method investments through our board representation and/or voting power. Accordingly, we account for our investment in these entities under the equity method and record our proportionate share of their losses in Loss from investments in investees in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The aggregate value of our equity method investments based on the quoted market prices of their respective shares of common stock and the number of shares held by us as of March 31, 2020 was $5.4 million.
Equity Securities
Our equity securities consist of investments in Phio Pharmaceuticals (“Phio”) (ownership 0.03%), VBI Vaccines Inc. (“VBI”) (4%), ChromaDex Corporation (“ChromaDex”) (0.1%), MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (“MabVax”) (1%), and Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Eloxx”) (3%). We have determined that our ownership, along with that of our related parties, does not provide us with significant influence over the operations of these investments. Accordingly, we account for our investment in these entities as equity securities, and we record changes in the fair value of these investments in Other income (expense) each reporting period when they have readily determinable fair value. Equity securities without a readily determinable fair value are adjusted to fair value when there is an observable price change. Net gains and losses on our equity securities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
 
Equity Securities
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2020
Net losses recognized during the period on equity securities
 
$
(9,880
)
Less: Net gains and losses realized during the period on equity securities
 

Unrealized net losses recognized during the period on equity securities still held at the reporting date
 
$
(9,880
)

Sales of investments
Gains (losses) included in earnings from sales of our investments are recorded in Other income (expense), net in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. We did not have significant sales activity during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Warrants and options
In addition to our equity method investments and equity securities, we hold options to purchase 47 thousand additional shares of BioCardia, 33 thousand of which were vested as of March 31, 2020, and 33 thousand, 0.7 million, 40 thousand and 404 warrants to purchase shares of COCP, InCellDx, Inc., Xenetic, and Phio, respectively. We recorded the changes in the fair value of the options and warrants in Fair value changes of derivative instruments, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. We also recorded the fair value of the options and warrants in Investments, net in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. See further discussion of the Company’s options and warrants in Note 8 and Note 9.
Investments in variable interest entities

We have determined that we hold variable interests in Zebra Biologics, Inc. (“Zebra”) based on our assessment that Zebra does not have sufficient resources to carry out its principal activities without additional financial support.
We own 1,260,000 shares of Zebra Series A-2 Preferred Stock and 900,000 shares of Zebra restricted common stock (ownership 29% at March 31, 2020). Zebra is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of biosuperior antibody therapeutics and complex drugs. Dr. Richard Lerner, M.D., a member of our Board of Directors, is a founder of Zebra and, along with Dr. Frost, serves as a member of Zebra’s Board of Directors.
In order to determine the primary beneficiary of Zebra, we evaluated our investment and our related parties’ investment, as well as our investment combined with the related parties’ investment to identify if we had the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Zebra. Based on the capital structure, governing documents and overall business operations of Zebra, we determined that, while a VIE, we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Zebra’s economic performance and have no obligation to fund expected losses. We determined, however, that we can significantly influence control of Zebra through our board representation and voting power. Therefore, we have the ability to exercise significant influence over Zebra’s operations and account for our investment in Zebra under the equity method.