Here in the U.S., corporate charters are public documents and stockholders have certain legally-mandated information rights. The liquidation preferences and ot

Here in the U.S., corporate charters are public documents and stockholders have certain legally-mandated information rights. The liquidation preferences and other downside protections available for each class of stock must be set forth in the company's charter. These are public documents and copies can be obtained from the secretary of state's office in the state where the company is incorporated (typically Delaware). Stockholders (but not necessarily option holders that haven't exercised options) may also access the company's books and records for the purpose of valuing their shares. For example, Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives stockholders an explicit right to access certain records and allows a stockholder to obtain a court order granting access to the records if the corporation refuses to provide them. http://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc07/#220 http://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc07/#220 Ideally, a company would make this information available long before it is compelled to do!