Illinois Clauses Relating to Transfers of Venture Interests — Including Rights of First Refusal In Illinois, when it comes to transfers of venture interests, several clauses related to such transactions offer protection and outline specific rights and obligations. One essential aspect is the inclusion of Rights of First Refusal (ROAR), which provide existing venture interest holders with the chance to purchase shares or interests before they're offered to external parties. Let's explore the different types of clauses commonly found in Illinois related to transfers of venture interests, including Rights of First Refusal. 1. General Transfer Restrictions: Illinois agreements may include general transfer restrictions that outline the conditions under which a transfer of venture interests can take place. These restrictions help maintain control and stability within a venture by ensuring that transfers are subject to certain limitations, such as obtaining prior consent from other venture interest holders or complying with specific approval processes. 2. Right of First Offer (ROFL): The Right of First Offer is a clause commonly seen in Illinois venture agreements. Under this provision, if a venture interest holder intends to sell their shares, they must first offer them to existing interest holders before seeking external buyers. Existing interest holders have the opportunity to purchase the shares at the offered price or negotiate a different agreement. This clause gives current venture interest holders the first opportunity to maintain or increase their ownership percentage. 3. Right of First Refusal (ROAR): The Right of First Refusal is closely related to the ROFL clause but operates slightly differently. In Illinois venture agreements, when an interest holder receives a bona fide offer from a third party to purchase their shares, they must provide notice to the other interest holders. These other interest holders then have the right to either accept the offered terms or match them and acquire the shares themselves. The ROAR clause allows existing interest holders to maintain a level of control by having the final say on whether to accept the third party's offer. 4. Drag-Along Rights Provision: The Drag-Along Rights Provision is another important clause found in Illinois venture agreements. This provision states that if a majority of the venture interest holders decide to sell their shares to a third party, they can "drag along" the remaining interest holders to join the transaction. The minority interest holders are thereby compelled to sell their shares on the same terms as the majority, ensuring that potential buyers can acquire 100% ownership of the venture. 5. Tag-Along Rights Provision: Contrary to the drag-along provision, the Tag-Along Rights provision protects minority interest holders in Illinois. In situations where a majority interest holder intends to sell their shares to a third party, this clause grants minority interest holders the right to "tag along" and sell their interests on the same terms and conditions as the majority holder. This provision allows minority interest holders to have the option to participate in a sale and ensures they are not left behind. In summary, Illinois Clauses Relating to Transfers of Venture Interests include various provisions aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of venture members. These clauses may comprise general transfer restrictions, rights of first offer (ROFL), rights of first refusal (ROAR), drag-along rights provisions, and tag-along rights provisions. By including these clauses in venture agreements, Illinois aims to strike a balance between facilitating transfers while providing existing interest holders with opportunities to maintain their ownership stakes or exit under favorable terms.