All totally good points. I can make this even more complicated!
>If the company has raised $100MM, there is very likely at least a $100MM preference. That means that if the company exits for $90MM the common shareholders (that's the employee option holders) will get nothing.
In this case, won't blocking rights prevent that exit in most cases? Investors with liquidation preference might not want an exit that comes in lower than their cost basis...
Maybe. Investors can give up on a company and want to get their money out which would result in this kind of sale. More likely, as you said, the company will be forced to go for bust given the current climate.
It is also possible for investors to block an exit that can be great for founders and employees. For a $1B fund, a $150MM exit on $10MM raised doesn't move the needle, but it could be life changing for the founders and early employees. Good investors will care about this and try to figure something out. Others might just block the transaction.
>If the company has raised $100MM, there is very likely at least a $100MM preference. That means that if the company exits for $90MM the common shareholders (that's the employee option holders) will get nothing.
In this case, won't blocking rights prevent that exit in most cases? Investors with liquidation preference might not want an exit that comes in lower than their cost basis...