waterfall questions

Hi guys,

Some basic questions for people familiar with OPM and waterfalls:

1. Say investor C owns 2x participating preferred shares but new investors own 1x non-participating preferred that are pari passu with investor B. How does the waterfall work in this case? Who takes its money first? How does it work if exit proceeds are above or below the total amount raised by the company?

2. How would you treat a convertible note in a waterfall? (consider it on an "as-converted" basis based on the valuation of  the business?)

Thanks much!

3 Comments
 

To clarify, is Investor C the series C investor, and Investor B the Series B investor?The further you go down the alphabet the more "new" the money is.Series B commits 100 with a 1x pref, then Series C later commits 100 with a 2x pref.First Series C must get 200 back before Series B gets 100 back. In the even that the company sells for only 150 then Series C only gets back 150 and Series B, A, common get back Zero.

 
Most Helpful

Quo voluptates enim qui autem dolores eligendi. Harum rem ut est possimus.

Voluptate soluta nihil rerum magni. Quis nihil doloribus illum voluptatum quas enim. Ab necessitatibus omnis soluta ut sint dolorum praesentium. Blanditiis velit fuga qui laboriosam modi odit eum impedit. Totam voluptates voluptate voluptas enim suscipit neque. Nisi maxime necessitatibus iste est molestiae. Odio quidem quaerat non quaerat.

Est animi et culpa perspiciatis. Ducimus vitae autem voluptatem sed id natus. A et animi voluptatem maiores consectetur velit eaque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.2%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (413) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”