A Kicker is an additional benefit or incentive offered to investors or lenders on top of the regular return, often in the form of equity, warrants, or profit-sharing.
In finance, a Kicker is used to enhance the attractiveness of an investment or loan. It provides an extra reward beyond the standard interest or return, especially in deals involving high risk or startups.
Kickers are commonly seen in:
Types of kickers include:
Kickers help compensate investors for taking on higher risk by giving them a chance to participate in future upside.
However, for businesses, offering a kicker may mean dilution of ownership or sharing future profits.
"A lender provides a loan to a startup at 10% interest but also receives an option to buy shares at a discounted price. This additional benefit is called a kicker."