The company Anthropic, a leading player in the emerging artificial intelligence sector, has initiated a secondary sale of shares held by current and former employees. This move allows them to monetize a portion of their equity, with the company valued at around $350 billion, as per sources familiar with the matter.
According to information from Bloomberg, Anthropic has allocated between $5 billion and $6 billion for the sale of shares. However, the final amount will depend on how many eligible employees decide to participate in the sale, as noted by a source who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the details. Specifics are not yet finalized and may change.
It’s noteworthy that Anthropic’s latest funding round, completed earlier this month, valued the company at $380 billion post-money, factoring in investor contributions. The company has opted not to comment on the new share-selling initiative.
External investors, rather than Anthropic itself, will be purchasing shares from current employees. This transaction will be open to employees and former staff members who have worked at the company for at least 12 months, according to a source.
Secondary stock sales have become a popular and increasingly common method for startups to allow their employees to benefit from the company’s value growth without resorting to an acquisition or an initial public offering. This strategy has gained significant traction in the competitive job market of the AI industry, as more large startups choose to remain private for an extended period.