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% per 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 US$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. On December 30, 2024, Telcon undertook a reverse stock split at a rate of 1-for-10. The conversion price as of December 31, 2024 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, 11 and 12.

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% of the principal amount of the convertible bond at any time and from time to time commencing October 16, 2021 and prior to maturity.

The investment in convertible bond is classified as an available for sale security since management does not have intention to trade nor held until maturity, and measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs, with any changes in the fair value recorded in other comprehensive loss. The fair value and any changes in fair value in the convertible bond is 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.

In April 2023, Telcon offset KRW2.9 billion, or approximately US$2.2 million, against the principal amount of the Telcon convertible bond and the Company released of KRW307 million, or approximately $236,000, in cash proceeds to Telcon in satisfaction the target shortfall for the year ended 2022. The offset is reflected as a sale of the convertible bond in the “Investment in convertible bond” table below. As a result, the Company realized a net gain on investment in convertible bond of $106,000, which previously was classified as unrealized loss on debt securities available-for-sale in the other comprehensive loss.

In April 2024, Telcon offset KRW3.5 billion, or approximately $2.5 million, against the principal amount of the Telcon convertible bond and the Company released KRW893 million, or approximately $640,000, in cash proceeds to Telcon in satisfaction of the target shortfall for the year ended 2023. As a result, the Company realized a net loss on investment in convertible bond of $347,000, which previously was classified as unrealized gain on debt securities available-for-sale in the other comprehensive loss.

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' capital shares. JIP owned 60% of EJ Holdings' capital 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 principal (JPY 3,637,335,720) will become due and payable in two equal installments on December 28, 2027 and on September 30, 2028 and bears interest at the rate of 1% payable annually. The parties also contemplated that the Ube facility would eventually supply the Company with the facility’s output of amino acids, that the operation of the facility would be principally for the Company’s benefit and, as such, that major decisions affecting EJ Holdings and the Ube facility would be made by EJ Holdings’ board of directors, a majority of which were representatives of JIP, in consultation with the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2023, the Company made additional loans to EJ Holdings of $2.6 million. The Company suspended further loans to EJ Holdings in September 2023.

EJ Holdings is engaged in seeking to refurbish and phase in the Ube facility with objective of eventually obtaining regulatory clearance for the manufacture of PGLG in accordance with cGMP. EJ Holdings has had no substantial revenues since its inception, has depended on loans from the Company to acquire the Ube facility and fund its operations and will be dependent on loans from other financing unless and until its plant is activated and it can secure customers for its products. There is no assurance that needed funding will be available from other sources. If EJ Holdings fails to obtain needed funding, it may need to suspend activities at the Ube plant.

On December 28, 2023, the Company sold and assigned its EJ Holdings shares at its original cost of JPY3.6 million or US$25,304 to Niihara International, Inc., which was formed by Yutaka Niihara, M.D., Ph. D., former chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a principal stockholder of the Company. In connection with the sale and assignment, the Company derecognized its investment in EJ Holdings, including $1.5 million of currency translation adjustments recorded in other comprehensive loss. The net loan receivable from EJ Holdings was $16.9 million as reflected in net loan receivable from EJ Holdings as contra-equity on the consolidated balance sheets.