Gust

JULY 26, 2012

This is because the lack of an IPO market means that unless they were fortunate enough to be in Facebook, Groupon, LinkedIn, Instagram or a couple of other mega-home-runs, they simply have not had enough large-scale positive exits to get back north of the baseline.

IPO 115

IPO Early Stage Acquisition Web 115

Gust

AUGUST 10, 2014

The only path to any return for equity investments is a liquidity event, like a merger or acquisition (M&A), or IPO. Build a path to 10x return. Thats why investors want to hear about your exit strategy. If you dont have one, or intend to buy out investors with their own money, you probably wont get much interest.

Liquidity Event 176

Liquidity Event Equity Venture Capital Merger 176

Gust

MAY 24, 2012

Dual-class voting structures are receiving a lot of attention these days along with intense publicity related to the Facebook IPO , following in the wake of other recent tech IPOs with a similar structure such as Zynga and LinkedIn. In the case of an acquisition, the shares are tendered for cash and/or stock in the acquiring company.).

IPO 159

IPO Equity Common Stock Stock 159

Gust

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

At this stage, you need investment bankers to negotiate a merger or acquisition (M&A), go private, or help you go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is the final stage of investment in venture opportunities, and is the point where investors expect to see the return and gain from the original investment.

Venture Capital 171

Venture Capital Investment Bankers Angel Investor Initial Public Offering 171

Gust

JULY 18, 2012

Ordinary shareholders do little more than monitor their investments, vote in the annual or other election of directors, and on rare occasions, cast special votes on certain decisions such as accepting or rejecting an acquisition offer. Here is where the concept of fiduciary duty looms large.

Stock Options 188

Stock Options SEC Stock Government 188

Gust

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Never missing an opportunity for a good war story, I’d like to revisit one high-profile transaction, the $650 million acquisition of MySpace by Fox Interactive Media in 2005, on which I spent many sleepless nights along with the rest of the deal team. Read on for a fuller explanation. Intermix and its advisors weren’t fools.

Valuation 98

Valuation Pre-Money Valuation Merger Vesting 98

Gust

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Tamp down the enthusiasm your naive family has about your “impending IPO” (honey, when can we buy shares? And it’s why you probably will quit on day 366 after the acquisition. Tell the press how great you are and hope that they aren’t publishing your obituary 9 months later rendering you a fool. she’s so successful!

Monaco 122

Monaco Cofounder Chicago Mexico 122