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INSIGHT: Important Matters to Consider When Facing a Possible Down Round Financing
The financial press has been reporting that investors are concerned that the United States economy may be heading toward a recession. In light of this and other factors creating uncertainty in the financial markets, investors are questioning the valuations that companies achieved during the heady times of 2020 and 2021, and are indicating that if a company needs to raise funds, they may need to consider a “down round” financing. A down round financing is when a company’s valuation is lower and its shares are sold at a lower price per share than the company’s most recent financing round.
Determining Entity Status Before the United States and Patent Trademark Office: Large, Small, or Micro?
When filing any patent application with the United States and Patent Trademark Office (USPTO), patent applicants must designate their entity status. Selecting the correct entity status can significantly reduce costs, so it is important to determine the correct entity status and update the status as needed throughout a patent’s and patent application’s life. Below is a discussion on how a patent applicant or patentee can determine their entity status and change their entity status after an initial designation, if appropriate.
Six Common Contract Traps: A Field Guide
Here, I present a basic field guide to help you spot and navigate six of the most common and most impactful traps you may encounter out there in the wild, in no particular order.
Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Advance Waiver of Statutory Appraisal Rights
Delaware Supreme Court Decision Affirms Key Component of “Drag Along” Critical for M&A Exits for Venture-Backed Companies
NEW RULE 148 TO EXEMPT “DEMO DAYS” FROM GENERAL SOLICITATION
Effective as of March 15, 2021, the SEC adopted the new Rule 148 which permits entrepreneurs to speak more openly about opportunities for investment in their new enterprises at “Demo Days.” Outlined here are the essential elements of the new Rule 148.
Crowdfunding Considerations for Early Stage Companies
The SEC expanded its capital raising rules for Regulation Crowdfunding. Since, there has been significantly more interest from start-ups to make use of the expanded investment opportunities. This article highlights key considerations for start-ups raising capital by crowdfunding.
California Legislature Passes New Key Privacy Laws, Expected to Be Signed Next Week
California lawmakers wrapped up this year’s legislative session, passing roughly 900 bills this year. Among those were only a few privacy initiatives, which we outline in this article.
Waivers of Obligations and Deadlines under the Investors’ Rights Agreement
Founders should understand and appreciate each of the new requirements to which they are subject by virtue of their company’s IRA. This article reviews two provisions of the IRA where a company’s management team might find itself stymied if it fails to appreciate the relevant deadlines and deliverables, many of which may not have applied to the company before it took on new investments.
FTC Personal Health Records Breach Rule Applies to Health App and Connected Device Developers
On September 15, 2021, the FTC issued a Policy Statement offering guidance on the scope of the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule. The Breach Rule applies to a wide range of health apps where identifiable health information is involved.
Another Court Orders Production of Cybersecurity Firm’s Forensic Report in a Data Breach Case
Another district court just ordered the defendant in a data breach class action to turn over the forensic report it believed was entirely protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine. The court granted the motion to compel Rutter’s to produce its investigative report (the “Kroll Report”), which was created after the defendant was notified of a potential breach.
And Now There are Three…. The Colorado Privacy Act
Colorado has now joined California and Virginia to become the third US state to pass a comprehensive data privacy legislation when Governor Jared Polis signed the Colorado Privacy Act (the “CPA”) into law on July 8, 2021.
New York City Offers Up to $20 million to Projects Selected from Life Sciences Innovation Infrastructure RFP
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (the “NYCEDC”) is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations and not-for-profit/for-profit joint ventures to support New York City’s life sciences community.
Managing Multiple Bidders in the Sale of a Company
When selling a company through a competitive auction process, a seller may have multiple bidders seeking to purchase the target company. Having multiple bidders compete to purchase the target company can be advantageous to the seller for several reasons.
Restricted Stock Units Unpacked
By Jacob Neumark
For many startup companies, compensating directors, officers, and employees can pose quite the challenge. While startup companies want to lure top talent, and incentivize workplace continuity and employee buy-in, they are often stressed for capital, and need to keep overhead costs low. One common approach to balancing these interests is for companies to offer restricted stock units (“RSUs,”) to their directors, officers, and employees as a form of compensation.
Public Benefit Corporations are Going Public
By Ben Stone
As society increasingly expects corporations, large and small, to generate positive social impact alongside profits, many entrepreneurs and executives are incorporating their companies as, or converting to, Public Benefit Corporations (“PBCs”).
"Gig" Workers May Become Eligible to Receive Equity Compensation
By Dan DeWolf and Sanjana Ramkumar
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) recently voted to propose temporary rules to permit companies to provide equity compensation to certain workers known as “gig” or “platform” workers.
Fact-Specific Inquiry: Deciding Between Trade Secret and Patent Protection
By Adam P. Samansky and Nicholas W. Armington
Innovations that are eligible for patent protection are often vital to a company’s revenue stream and profitability, but in some cases, opting for trade secret protection is a better strategic choice.
Statutory – not Shareholder – Activism: Governor Newsom Signs California’s Diversity Mandate into Law
By Jen Rubin
California has enacted the nation’s first diversity mandate for public company boards. As we previously reported, the new law (AB 979) builds upon California’s first-in-the-nation statutory gender mandate for public company boards.
SEC Proposes Relief from Broker-Dealer Registration for Certain Finders
By Steve Ganis
The SEC recently published in the Federal Register a proposed notice of an exemptive order (the “Proposal”) that would, subject to limitations and conditions discussed below, exempt certain individuals seeking to find investors for private companies and unregistered funds (“Finders”) from federal broker-dealer regulation requirements. Among other things the Proposal would allow Finders to earn commissions or other transaction-based compensation.
From New York to Delaware: The Process of Redomesticating a New York Corporation
By Ashna Pai
It is a common story we have heard from many emerging company clients: a young New York-based entrepreneur wants to start a company. The entrepreneur decides to incorporate his or her company in New York, believing New York to be the most obvious and best logistical choice because New York is where they are based, where the operations of the company, including its employees, offices etc. are to be based, and, not to mention, because of the many opportunities, diverse talent and creativity that has always attracted start-up companies to New York. Fast forward a couple of years, the company is starting to take off and has caught the eye of several institutional investors who are willing to invest in the company’s growth, however, before investing they are requiring the company to be incorporated in Delaware. Why? As many entrepreneurs will soon learn, Delaware is considered to be the “gold standard” among many for a corporation’s domicile. It is known to be business and management friendly, there is an extensive body of corporate cases for companies to refer to, it follows the “business judgement rule” regarding decisions of directors, and generally, the laws tend to be flexible and favorable for founders and their investors.
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