Anthropic is asking shareholders to approve a new voting structure ahead of its upcoming IPO. The proposal would grant CEO Dario Amodei and his six co-founders special shares representing a combined 50.1% of the voting power on most corporate decisions. This arrangement remains valid as long as at least three of the founders maintain a minimum stake in the company.
The seven co-founders currently hold approximately 2% of the company each. They have previously committed to donating 80% of their wealth. The new super-voting shares provide no additional economic value but are designed to ensure the group retains control after the company goes public. The founders' representation on the board will also increase from two to three seats.
The company's governance structure includes other mechanisms, such as the Long-Term Benefit Trust, which will continue to select the majority of the board members. Employees will also receive specific stock to help resolve potential ties on certain corporate issues. These changes aim to balance founder control with broader governance oversight.
Founded five years ago, Anthropic reached a valuation of $965 billion in May. More recently, the company was valued at $1.5 trillion on the secondary market. The upcoming IPO is expected to reflect this updated valuation, marking a significant milestone for the AI developer as it prepares for public trading.
