Disclaimer: neither the BVCA nor a member of its committees or working groups take responsibility for the content of the documents or the consequences of their use and that it is essential to obtain legal advice before the use of the documents. These documents serve only as a starting point and should be adapted to your specific legal and business requirements. None of the documents should be construed as legal advice for certain facts or circumstances. The reference and shareholder contract was prepared for signature as a front-line contract, thus avoiding the formalities of execution necessary to carry out the acts. This approach is generally supported by Counsel`s opinion (available here) with the caveat that specific legal advice should always be obtained for each situation. In October 2014, the BVCA published a revised version of its leaflet model, the subscription and shareholder pact as well as the statutes, as well as accounting information on the handling of preferred shares (as a loan or equity in the company`s accounts). In September 2015, the statutes were amended to amend the Companies Act 2006 with respect to the legal requirements for companies to buy back derintendants. Our goal is simple: to promote sectoral legal documentation in the UK, so that investors and entrepreneurs can focus on deal-specific topics. This will inevitably save time and money and follow the precedent in the United States. We encourage all parties to use these documents as a starting point for their investments. Practical law also established project notes regarding model status and the subscription and shareholder contract. These are an excellent and advantageous complement to the suite of documents.

However, when selecting a suite for an initial funding cycle, consideration should be given to the following: Stock classification: accounting standards (including international and UK accounting standards) establish principles for the presentation of financial instruments as liabilities or equity. Companies should review the terms and rights attached to shares (including preferred shares) to determine the classification and presentation of these instruments in an entity`s financial statements. Depending on the facts or circumstances, certain types of shares could be classified as liabilities according to accounting standards. Companies should consult with their auditors before concluding the articles if they want to ensure that preferred shares are treated as equity in the company`s financial statements. The BVCA`s standard documents were established to be used in a Series A funding cycle.