[gojomo]

If the $17 million previously raised bought half or less of the outstanding equity, then the VCs (depending also on other preferences) might only have a claim on about ((43.4 total - 9.8 retention pool)*50%=) $16.8 million of the deal proceeds. So this might be a largely-sideways exit for the venture investors.

Still, many think location services can only pay off via connections with payments/coupons/promotions so the tie-up does make sense as more than just a favor between investment buddies.

[rksf]

Typically, venture rounds are participating preferred securities (at least). So, the more likely scenario here is: 43.4 MM Sale Less: 9.8 Cash Retention Pool = 33.6 MM Available for Shareholders

Less: 17MM Preferred to VCs (Face Value of VC Investment) = 16.6 MM (split among VCs, founders, employees)

VC Participating Share: ~35% * 16.6 = ~5MM

Available for Founders / Employees = 11MM

Total to VCs = 17+5=22MM

[ajju]

>typically, venture rounds are participating preferred securities (at least)

That is increasingly false for A rounds, at least.

This 2 year old discussion talks about that, but from what I hear these days, any startup that doesn't "desperately" need money will not agree to participating preferred in the valley.

http://www.quora.com/How-common-are-participating-preferred-...

[rksf]

Yes, that is a good point. Some research suggests that today only ~35% of Valley Series A are part preferred(according to recent legal reports), but Crunchbase suggests that Loopt took series A in 2005, Series B in 2008 and Series C in 2010. Total capital raised (according to that post) was $32MM across 3 rounds. Not sure how much was primary or if any of it was taken out by later rounds, of course. Anyhow, I don't know for sure, but I suspect there were some protections around the securities, given the timing of the early rounds and the total amount invested. http://www.crunchbase.com/company/loopt