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Bridge Financing Warrant

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17.10 Bridge Financing Warrant

Introduction

The form of warrant set forth in the following Section is for use in a bridge financing in which the bridge investors are making a bridge loan to the company and receiving convertible notes and warrants. The form of warrant below reflects the terms for the warrants set forth in the note and warrant purchase agreement appended to this Chapter.

The warrant provides for several events subsequent to the bridge financing that fix the number of shares and exercise price for the warrant. Those events would be specified in the term sheet negotiated among the parties to the bridge financing, and corresponding provisions in the warrant will need to be selected from the variations included in the form below. The foregoing chapter should be reviewed if further information on these provisions is desired.

Form of Bridge Financing Warrant

"THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT COVERING THE PURCHASE OF THESE SECURITIES AND RESTRICTION ON THEIR TRANSFER MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE (OR INSTRUMENT) TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY."

XYZ, INC.

WARRANT TO PURCHASE SHARES OF [PREFERRED] [COMMON] STOCK

Warrant Number Issue Date:

Expiration Date

1. Number and Price of Shares Subject to Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,

("Investor") is entitled to purchase from XYZ, Inc., a corporation (the "Company"), at any time after the date hereof and on or before the date of termination of this Warrant provided for in Section 2 hereof, that number of shares of fully paid and nonassessable shares of of the Company (the "Warrant Stock") equal to of the Investor's principal amount of the Loan made in connection with the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated (the "Purchase Agreement") divided by the price per share of the securities issued in the Next Equity Financing (as defined below).

If there is a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) [or an IPO] or the Notes [as defined in the Purchase Agreement] are not converted in a Next Equity Financing at any time after the date hereof and on or before the date of termination of this Warrant, [the Warrants shall [terminate] [be exercisable for a number of shares of Common Stock of the company equal to ( ) of the Investor's principal amount of the Loan divided by . The exercise price per share of the Warrant in such event will be equal to the lower of the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors at the time of such event or .].

Upon a Next Equity Financing, the exercise price per share subject to this Warrant is equal to the price of the series and class of Preferred Stock issued in the Next Equity Financing.

This Warrant is one of a series of warrants (collectively, the "Warrants") having substantially similar terms and issued in connection with the issuance of the Notes, which issuance and sale were made pursuant to Purchase Agreement.

2. Termination. This Warrant (and the right to purchase securities upon exercise hereof) shall terminate upon the earliest of

(i) years after issuance; or (ii) the closing of an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of the Company by another entity [for cash.]; [or (iii) the initial public offering of the Company's securities; or (iv) immediately prior to the closing of a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before such transaction would own less than 50% of the voting power of the surviving entity immediately after such transaction.]

The Company shall give the holder of this Warrant written notice of such sale, merger, consolidation or public offering at least twenty (20), but no more than sixty (60), days prior to the closing of any such transaction.

3. No Fractional Shares. This Warrant shall not result in fractional shares. In lieu of any fractional shares which would otherwise be issuable, the Company shall pay cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of one share of Warrant Stock on the date of exercise, as determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors.

4. No Stockholder Rights. This Warrant shall not entitle its holder to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company.

5. Reservation of Stock. The Company covenants that during the period this Warrant is exercisable, the Company will reserve from its authorized and unissued Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of Warrant Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

6. Exercise of Warrant.

(a) Procedure for Exercise. This Warrant may be exercised by the registered holder or its registered assigns, in whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company, accompanied by payment in full of the Warrant Price in cash or by check or by the cancellation of any present or future indebtedness from the Company to the holder hereof, and delivery of an exercise notice in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

(b) Net Exercise Rights. Notwithstanding the payment provisions set forth in this Section 6, the holder may elect to receive shares of Warrant Stock equal to the value (as determined below) of this Warrant by surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company together with notice of such election, in which event the Company shall issue to the holder the number of shares of Common Stock determined by use of the following formula:

X = Y(A - B)
_______
A

Where: X = the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder.

Y = the number of shares of Warrant Stock subject to this Warrant.

A = the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of one (1) share of Warrant Stock.

B = Exercise price per share of Warrant Stock.

For purposes of this Section 6, fair market value of a share as of a particular date shall mean:

(i) If the Company's Stock is registered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and traded on a securities exchange or electronic trading network, then the fair market value of a share shall be the closing price (the last reported sales price, if not so reported, the average of the last reported bid and asked prices) of the Company's stock as of the last business day immediately prior to the exercise of this Warrant.

(ii) If the Company's Common Stock is not so registered, then the fair market value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors upon a review of relevant factors.

7. Adjustment of Warrant Price and Number of Shares. The number and kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, and the Company agrees to provide notice upon the happening of certain events as follows:

(a) Adjustment for Dividends in Stock. In case at any time or from time to time during the term of this Warrant the holders of the Common Stock of the Company (or any shares of stock or other securities at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall have received, or, on or after the record date fixed for the determination of eligible stockholders, shall have become entitled to receive, without payment therefor, other or additional securities or other property of the Company by way of dividend or distribution, then and in each case, the holder of this Warrant shall, upon the exercise hereof, be entitled to receive, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereupon, and without payment of any additional consideration therefor, the amount of such other or additional securities or other property of the Company which such holder would hold on the date of such exercise had it been the holder of record of such Common Stock on the date hereof and had thereafter, during the period from the date hereof to and including the date of such exercise, retained such shares and/or all other additional securities or other property receivable by it as aforesaid during such period, giving effect to all adjustments called for during such period by this Section 7.

(b) Adjustment for Reclassification. In case of any reclassification of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company during the term of this Warrant (other than a transaction terminating this Warrant under Section 2), then the holder of this Warrant, upon the exercise hereof at any time after the consummation of such reclassification, change or reorganization, shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the stock or other securities and property receivable upon the exercise hereof prior to such consummation, the stock or other securities or property to which such holder would have been entitled upon such consummation if such holder had exercised this Warrant immediately prior thereto. The terms of this Section 7 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications.

(c) Stock Splits and Reverse Stock Splits. If at any time during the term of this Warrant the Company shall subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall thereby be proportionately reduced and the number of shares receivable upon exercise of the Warrant shall thereby be proportionately increased. Conversely, if at any time on or after the date hereof the outstanding number of shares of Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of shares, the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall thereby be proportionately increased and the number of shares receivable upon exercise of this Warrant shall thereby be proportionately decreased.

8. Transfer of Warrant. This Warrant or the Warrant Stock may not be transferred or assigned, in whole or in part, by the holder hereof (except to any affiliate hereof) without compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. The rights and obligations of the Company and the holders of this Warrant shall be binding upon and benefit the successors, assignors, heirs, administrators and transferees of the parties. Any transferee hereof agrees to be bound by the restrictions set forth herein and in the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement. For any transfer, the holder hereof must deliver this Warrant to the Company and a notice of transfer signed by the holder in the form of Exhibit B below.

9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the internal laws of the State of . [Any and all disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be adjudicated exclusively in the state or federal courts located in ]

10. Waiver and Amendment. Amendment or Waiver of any term of this Warrant shall be conducted pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

11. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto.

12. Notices. All notices and other communications shall be made and delivered as prescribed in the Purchase Agreement.

ISSUED this th day of , .

XYZ, INC.

By:

Title:

EXHIBIT A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

TO:

Attention: President

1. The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant.

2. Method of Exercise (Please initial the applicable Section):

___ The undersigned elects to exercise the attached Warrant by means of a cash payment, and tenders herewith payment in full for the purchase price of the shares being purchased, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

___ The undersigned elects to exercise the attached Warrant by means of the net exercise provisions of Section 6 of the Warrant.

3. Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

4. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the aforesaid Shares are being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or for resale, in connection with, the distribution thereof, and that the undersigned has no present intention of distributing or reselling such shares.

Signature:

Name:

Date:

Title:

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF TRANSFER

(To be signed only upon transfer of Warrant)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto the right represented by the attached Warrant to purchase shares of of to which the attached Warrant relates, and appoints attorney to transfer such right on the books of , with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature:

Address:

Signed in the presence of:

Enter text✕

What a Bridge Financing Warrant Is and when it appears

A Bridge Financing Warrant is a contractual instrument issued to a lender or investor as part of short-term bridge financing that grants the holder the right to purchase equity in the issuer at a predetermined price and within a specified period. Warrants commonly accompany bridge loans or convertible notes to provide additional lender compensation or investor upside. Terms typically specify the exercise price, number of shares, vesting or exercise windows, transfer restrictions, anti-dilution provisions, and conditions on conversion or cash settlement. Properly drafted warrants clarify dilution mechanics and investor rights during a financing bridge.

Why a clear Bridge Financing Warrant matters

A well-drafted warrant aligns expectations between issuer and lender, documents conversion mechanics, and reduces later disputes over dilution, exercise timing, and valuation adjustments.

Why a clear Bridge Financing Warrant matters

Who typically prepares and signs a Bridge Financing Warrant

Final signatures normally come from authorized company officers and the investor or lender representative; counsel typically reviews before execution.

  • Startup founders and CFOs who negotiate bridge terms and approve share allocations.
  • Convertible note or bridge lenders who receive warrants as part of financing compensation.
  • Corporate counsel and securities counsel who draft terms and ensure compliance with securities laws.

Common signers and approvers

Founder / CEO

Typically signs on behalf of the issuer and confirms corporate authority, capitalization table impact, and compliance with charter or shareholder approval requirements.

Bridge Lender

The investor or lender signs to accept warrant terms and exercise mechanics; may require representations, restrictions, and notice provisions to protect conversion rights.

Essential components to include in a professional warrant

A complete Bridge Financing Warrant states the security details, exercise mechanics, transfer rules, tax treatment, governing law, and signatures so all parties understand rights and obligations.

Grant Clause

Identifies the number of shares or percentage, class of stock, and the beneficiary of the warrant.

Exercise Price

Specifies the per-share price or formula used when the holder exercises the warrant to purchase stock.

Exercise Period

Defines the time window for exercising the warrant, including any early exercise or cashless exercise provisions.

Adjustments

Anti-dilution and recapitalization adjustments to protect value if the company issues additional equity.

Transfer Restrictions

Limits on assignment, legend requirements, and rights of first refusal or co-sale provisions.

Representations & Signatures

Issuer and holder representations, governing law, and authorized signature blocks to create an enforceable agreement.

Required information fields on the form

Parties: Full legal names
Grant Amount: Shares or percentage
Exercise Price: Per-share price
Exercise Period: Start and end dates
Governing Law: State selected
Execution Date: Signature date

Step-by-step: completing and executing a warrant

Follow a consistent sequence to draft, review, sign, and distribute the warrant to maintain enforceability and clear records.

  • 01
    Draft Terms: Document grant, price, period, and adjustments in clear language.
  • 02
    Legal Review: Have securities counsel confirm compliance and required approvals.
  • 03
    Signatures: Collect authorized signatures and dates from issuer and holder.
  • 04
    Record & Deliver: Update cap table and provide executed copies to all parties.

How to configure an online signing workflow

Set up a digital workflow that enforces signer order, authentication, and preserves a full audit trail for compliance and recordkeeping.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Sequential signing by issuer then holder
Authentication Email plus SMS code for signer verification
Required Fields Make signature, date, and name mandatory
Audit Trail Enable IP, timestamp, and event log capture

Where to send and how copies are handled

After execution, distribute executed copies to stakeholders, update internal records, and retain provenance metadata for audits.

  • Issuer Copy: Store original in corporate records
  • Holder Copy: Provide executed PDF to investor
  • Cap Table: Update capitalization ledger promptly
  • Securities Filings: Prepare any required notice or Form D

Digital signing and format requirements

Ensure the chosen platform preserves signed-document integrity and stores metadata required for legal and tax records.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Security: TLS and AES-256 encryption

Comparing eSignature providers for executing warrants

Select an eSignature vendor that supports audit trails, secure storage, and any compliance needs; pricing and feature availability vary by plan and provider.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA required) Vendor options Vendor options Vendor options Vendor options
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/yr Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Legal and financial risks of an incorrect warrant

Invalid Grant: May be voidable
Securities Violation: Risk SEC notice or enforcement
Tax Consequences: Unintended taxable events
Cap Table Errors: Incorrect dilution math
Transfer Disputes: Unclear assignment rights
Enforceability: Missing authorization may invalidate

Common mistakes when preparing a warrant

  • Using informal or abbreviated party names that do not match corporate records and that later impede transfer or verification.
  • Failing to specify exercise mechanics clearly, including cashless exercise, causing disputes at conversion or equity issuance.
  • Not confirming corporate authority or required shareholder approvals, which can render the warrant unenforceable.
  • Neglecting to update the cap table and corporate ledger immediately after exercise or issuance, causing investor and payroll errors.

Key dates and timing to monitor for a warrant

Track issuance, exercise windows, funding milestones, and any securities filing deadlines to maintain compliance and protect rights.

Issuance Date:

Date the warrant becomes effective; begin retention clock

Exercise Deadline:

Final date the holder may exercise rights

Funding Milestone:

Date related bridge funding must occur

Notice Periods:

Any required notice prior to exercise or transfer

Securities Filing:

File Form D if applicable within required timeframe

Real-world examples of warrant workflows

These examples show how organizations use eSignature and digital workflows to execute warrants while preserving records.

Optica Ventures — Brian Fitzgibbons

Optica used digital execution for bridge warrants to speed closings and reduce paperwork

  • The team placed signature and date fields and routed sequentially
  • The interface was easy for internal teams and external investors, improving turnaround and preserving a clear audit trail for cap table updates.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

A small issuer executed multiple lender warrants during a rapid funding round

  • They standardized a template and used online signing links
  • Executed copies were stored centrally, enabling quick verification during follow-on financings and maintaining compliance with corporate recordkeeping practices.

Frequently asked questions about Bridge Financing Warrants

Answers cover enforceability, signatures, notarization, amendments, revocation, and recordkeeping for warrants and related documents.


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