INSIGHTS | Legal Affairs Venture debt Determining when it’s the right path for your business INTERVIEWED BY SUE OSTROWSKI or startup companies lacking the Michael E. Fink cash flow or liquid assets to obtain a Attorney traditional bank loan, venture debt Babst Calland Fcould be the answer to help elevate them 412.394.6477 FOLLOW UP: To learn about venture debt or other to the next level.
[email protected] financing alternatives, contact attorneys in our “Startups often lack many of the Emerging Technologies Group. characteristics that would give traditional lenders comfort that a regular INSIGHTS Legal Affairs is brought to you by Babst Calland commercial loan would be a good deal for them,” says Michael Fink, attorney the lender may receive a warrant to HOW CAN A BUSINESS DETERMINE at Babst Calland. “Venture debt can be purchase either common equity or the IF VENTURE DEBT IS THE RIGHT an alternative to help bridge the gap to a preferred equity to be issued in the next PATH? company’s next valuation.” fundraising round, typically at a discount. Just because you can go out and get Smart Business spoke with Michael money doesn’t mean you should. There about how taking on venture debt can WHEN SHOULD A COMPANY should be a solid reason for taking on keep a business moving forward without CONSIDER PURSUING VENTURE venture debt or any other investment. decreasing its valuation. DEBT? It’s really dependent on the Venture debt typically isn’t available circumstances of the business. As with WHAT IS VENTURE DEBT, AND HOW until a company has had a priced equity any financing deal, venture debt can IS IT STRUCTURED? fundraising round that includes a get complicated very quickly, and an At its core, venture debt looks similar to valuation for the lender to work from.