NOTE 5 — INVESTMENTS

Investment in convertible bond - On September 28, 2020, the Company entered into a convertible bond purchase agreement pursuant to which it purchased at face value a convertible bond of Telcon in the principal amount of approximately $26.1 million which matures on October 16, 2030 and bears interest at the rate of 2.1% a year, payable quarterly. Beginning October 16, 2021, the Company became entitled on a quarterly basis to call for early redemption of all or any portion of the principal amount of the convertible bond. The convertible bond is convertible at the holder’s option at any time and from time to time into common shares of Telcon at an initial conversion price of KRW9,232, or approximately $8.00, per share. The initial conversion price is subject to downward adjustment on a monthly based on the volume-weighted average market price of Telcon shares as reported on Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“KOSDAQ”) Market and in the event of the issuance of Telcon shares or share equivalents at a price below the market price of Telcon shares and to customary antidilution adjustments upon a merger or similar reorganization of Telcon or a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend or similar event. The conversion price as of December 31, 2021 is set forth in the “investment in convertible bond” table below. The convertible bond and any proceeds therefrom, including proceeds from any exercise of the early redemption right described above or the call option described below, are pledged as collateral to secure the Company’s obligations under the revised API Supply Agreement with Telcon described in Note 6 and Note 11. Refer to Note 14 for a description of subsequent events relating to the pledge of collateral to Telcon.

Concurrent with the purchase of the convertible bond, the Company entered into an agreement dated September 28, 2020 with Telcon pursuant to which Telcon or its designee is entitled to repurchase, at par, up to 50% in principal amount of the convertible bond commencing October 16, 2021 and prior to maturity. If the Company transfers the convertible bond, it will be obliged under the agreement to see to it that the transferee is bound by such option.

The Company has elected fair value option to measure the investment in convertible bond. The investment in convertible bonds is classified available for sale and remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs, with any changes in the fair value option recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). The fair value and any changes in fair value in convertible bonds are determined using a binominal lattice model. The model produces an estimated fair value based on changes in the price of the underlying common stock over successive periods of time.

The following table sets forth the fair value of the investment in convertible bond as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

The fair values as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were based upon following assumptions:

Equity method investment – During 2018, the Company and Japan Industrial Partners, Inc., or JIP, formed EJ Holdings Inc., or EJ Holdings, to acquire, own and operate an amino acids manufacturing facility in Ube, Japan. In connection with the formation, the Company invested approximately $32,000 in exchange for 40% of EJ Holdings voting shares. JIP owns 60% of EJ Holdings voting shares. In October 2018, the Company entered into a loan agreement with EJ Holdings under which the Company made an unsecured loan to EJ Holdings in the amount of $13.6 million. The loan proceeds were used by EJ Holdings to purchase the Ube facility in December 2019 and pay related taxes. The loan matures on September 30, 2028 and bears interest at the rate of 1% payable annually. The parties also contemplated that the Ube facility will eventually supply the Company with the facility’s output of amino acids, that the operation of the facility will be principally for the Company’s benefit and, as such, that major decisions affecting EJ Holdings and the Ube facility will be made by EJ Holdings’ board of directors, a majority of which are representatives of JIP, in consultation with the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made additional loans to EJ Holdings of $6.3 million and $4.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, the loan receivables from EJ Holdings were approximately $22.6 million and $18.6 million, respectively included in Equity method investment on the consolidated balance sheet.

EJ Holdings is engaged in retrofitting the Ube facility in order to seek regulatory approvals for the manufacture of PGLG in accordance with cGMP. EJ Holdings has had no revenues since its inception, has depended on loans from the Company to acquire the Ube facility and fund its operations and will continue to be dependent on loans from the Company or other financing unless and until the Ube facility is activated and EJ Holdings can secure customers for its products.

The Company has determined that EJ Holdings is a variable interest entity, or VIE, based upon the facts that the Company provided the loan financing to acquire the Ube facility and the EJ Holdings activities at the facility are principally for the Company’s benefit. JIP, however, owns 60% of EJ Holdings and is entitled to designate a majority of EJ Holdings’ board of directors and its Chief Executive Officer and outside auditors, and, as such, controls the management, business and operations of EJ Holdings. Accordingly, the Company accounts for its variable interest in EJ Holdings under the equity method.

The Company’s share of the losses reported by EJ Holdings are classified as net losses on equity method investment. The investment is evaluated for impairment if facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, an impairment charge would be recorded.

 The following table sets forth certain financial information of EJ Holdings as for December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands)