Convertible instruments held steady in Q1 2025, but the terms are shifting in favor of investors. Interest rates on convertible notes rose by 200 to 300 basis points, and discount rates climbed as high as 10.5 percentage...more
For many early-stage startups, choosing between a convertible note and a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is one of the first critical legal and strategic financing decisions. While both instruments allow companies...more
Our early-stage start-up clients often ask us about the difference between convertible notes and Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs). Each provides a way for companies to raise capital without the need to determine...more
This article is Part B of the fifth alert in our series of alerts focussed on the alternative protein industry. While Part A provided an overview of financing options in the industry, this Part B considers a variety of key...more
The British Business Bank has opened the application process for the Future Fund, a new fund that provides financing to UK start-ups and scale-ups in the form of a convertible loan which is invested directly by the UK...more
The scheme opens on 20 May 2020 and is available on a “first come, first served” basis. On 18 May 2020, the UK government released a draft of its convertible loan note agreement and details of the application process for...more
The UK government is pledging at least £250 million in convertible loan notes to UK-registered businesses. On 20 April 2020, the UK government issued a press release announcing a new Future Fund scheme for the financing of...more
We live in unprecedented times with global lockdowns and the world economy coming to a standstill in a number of sectors and government interventions to protect income, jobs and businesses. A number of start-ups and high...more
In the past few years promissory notes and SAFEs have become an increasingly popular way to fund early-stage companies. Fenwick completes hundreds of these types of financings for its clients each year and we recently...more
Latham & Watkins has collaborated with ConsenSys to launch the Automated Convertible Note to help startups raise capital using a traditional financing instrument with an eye toward a future distribution of tokens. In...more
Some interesting links we found across the web this week: How Pro Rata Works in Venture Capital Deals - VC’s suffer from FOMO just like the rest of us. ...more
As the startup community continues to expand around the country, there is an ever-growing need to understand different ways that a company can structure early stage financing so that it can be equipped to discuss with its...more