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The Capital Stack Cheat Sheet

Payout order when a company fails, top gets paid first. Tap what you own to find your seat.

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The Capital Stack Cheat Sheet
@fmaunlv
Payout order when a company fails, top gets paid first. Tap what you own to find your seat.
PAID 1ST
Senior debt
The bank's secured loan. First money out in a failure.
PAID 2ND
Junior / mezzanine debt
Higher rate, still ahead of every owner.
PAID 3RD
Preferred equity
Early investors with a liquidation preference.
PAID LAST
Common stock (you)
Paid only if everyone above is made whole. Often nothing.
What do you actually own? Tap it:
e.g.Spirit Airlines, live example: lessors first, then bondholders, then creditors. Equity shareholders were wiped out completely.
Quick check. A company goes bankrupt. Who gets paid first?
Don't ask how much you can make.Ask where you sit if it goes wrong.
Risk is not knowing what you own.
Use it live above, or take a copy with you: Download PDFDownload image
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