Qualified Purchaser
定義
A qualified purchaser is an investor category under the US Investment Company Act, defined by higher financial thresholds than an accredited investor, such as owning $5 million or more in investments as an individual or managing $25 million or more as an institution.
資金調達における位置づけ
Venture funds that want to raise from more than 100 investors, or want fewer restrictions on fund structure, often limit themselves to qualified purchasers instead of the lower accredited investor bar.
よくある質問
How is a qualified purchaser different from an accredited investor?
Accredited investor status is based on income or net worth and unlocks access to most private securities. Qualified purchaser status requires a much higher investment threshold and specifically affects how many investors a fund can accept and which exemptions it can rely on.
Do founders need to worry about qualified purchaser status?
Rarely. It mainly matters to the funds and vehicles investing in a company, not to the startup itself, unless the company is structuring its own investment fund or SPV.