Exit (M&A vs IPO)

Turning equity into cash via acquisition or IPO

What it is

An exit is the event where investors and founders finally turn their equity into cash or liquid stock. The two main routes are an M&A exit (the company is acquired by another company) and an IPO (the company sells shares to the public and lists on a stock exchange). M&A is far more common; IPOs are rarer and reserved for the largest companies.

Why it matters

The exit is the whole point of venture investing; it is when returns (DPI, the carry, founder wealth) actually get realized. The type and size of exit determines who gets paid and how much, governed by the liquidation-preference stack.

Resources

Investopedia, IPO

investopedia.com

PreviousSecondary

NextEnd of section