Showing posts with label Investment Term Sheet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Investment Term Sheet. Show all posts

All about Investment Term Sheet for Startups


A non binding agreement consisting terms & conditions for the investment is known as Investment Term Sheet. An Investment Term Sheet is a non binding document except clauses related to confidentiality and governing law. It is a type of principle agreement which consist valuation. It mainly consist discussions on which parties have agreed informally. After preparation of terms sheet, a due diligence process shall be carried out. Eventually parties will sign the agreement. No contractual obligation has been created by the term sheet on investor to make investment and on the company as well as to issue shares to the investor. Under this, details of the investors are given, valuation of the company, and the amount of investment.
Every type of investment requires proper negotiations for which such type of document is required.  Investment Term Sheet is a non binding document under which terms & conditions are defined which are mutually agreed between the parties in relation to investment. Terms sheet is a non binding document thus do not have legal value and it cannot be enforced. It is drafted in a manner that no misunderstanding will occur in future. It will be treated as a reference document for drafting of legally binding contract.
Now let’s understand some of the features of term sheet.
1.      Ample time is there for parties for better negotiations.
2.      It helps in eliminating the possibility of misunderstanding among the parties involved.
3.      It gives the clear description of the major aspects of the deal.
4.      It helps in removing the possibility of unnecessary disputes between the parties.
5.      A term sheet helps in ensuring that the expenses of legal charges which are involved under the drafting of legally binding contract have not incurred in the initial stage.
6.      It enables the parties to focus on business issues involved in transaction at the initial stage.
7.      In long run of the company it is always beneficial to invest time and resource in drafting term sheet for the company.
Elements of Term Sheet
1.      Details of the investor and the entity under which the investment is being made shall be mentioned under term sheet.
2.      Details of the mode of investment and the time period as decided.
3.      Details of Voting Right of parties
4.      Maintain proportionate ownership
5.      Draft Share purchase agreement, if required.
6.      Warranties & Representations,
7.      Terms related to Non-Competition & Non-Disclosure,
8.      Other Provisions
Above mentioned terms may be included in terms sheet as per requirement of transaction as well as on the basis of requirement of the parties.
Things to be considered by the parties in term sheet
An investment term sheet gives a base to future formation of legally binding agreements. At the time of making term sheet each & every clause and required provisions must be carefully analyzed, and proper discussion and negotiation should take place while preparing this. Every aspect and future impact should be considered while making.
While making investment terms sheet and during negotiations, professionals may be hired or consulted for experience outlook and also for unbiased approach. By this, an unambiguous and exhaustive document can be made.   You can contact us for the preparation of Investment term sheet as we have a team of professionals and we can assist you accordingly.

Investment Term Sheet


The first and most important step before making investment into the company is to decide: What terms should be covered in my Term Sheet?
There is always a dilemma in the preparation of the term sheet as to whether to draft a negotiated, detailed, précised term sheet, or to draft a term sheet where significant terms will be negotiated at the time of due diligence.
What is term sheet?
A term sheet is a document which sets out the broad parameters of an investment made by an angel investor or venture capital investor to the startups
The term sheet compiles up the discussions and defines the terms on which the startup owner and investors have agreed to informally.
Binding Provisions of Term Sheet
Nothing in the term sheet is legally binding on the parties except for the covenant of ‘Confidentiality and No-Shop Provisions.
Confidentiality:
This is the most important clause of the term sheet where all the financial data related to investment is disclosed to the investors. Therefore, insertion of this clause protect the company’s sensitive information from being revealed by the potential investor to third parties.
“No-Shop” Provisions :
A “No-Shop” provision prohibits the company from exploring alternate financing with any third party for a short span of time.
Further, company must make sure that this provision should not be are too restrictive or extend for too long a period of time, especially when the company is in need of funds.
Basic Provision of Term Sheet

Term Sheet reflects the following:
1)     Type of Security:
One of the initial terms that must be included in the term sheet is the type of security whether investment is made in common stock or preferred stock etc,
2)     Price of security:
The price per share will be based on the capitalization and valuation of the company.
3)     Valuation : This clause referred in the investment term sheet includes:
                 i.             Pre-money valuation: the investor’s estimate of what the company is worth before his or her investment of funds. 
               ii.             Post-money valuation: the expected value of the company after investment of the proposed funds. 

4)     Capitalization:
Investors analyze their investment in a company based on the capitalization of the company. Whereas the capitalization is based on the total number of shares which are outstanding plus all of the shares that are expected to be outstanding if options and warrants were exercised and convertible securities were converted.

Below are the List of the Key Terms of A Term Sheet

1.   Consideration for the money invested:  

The investors often prefer to invest in convertible preferred stock. It gives them a preference over common shareholders in respect of dividends and upon a sale of the company gives them the option of converting into common stock if the company is successful. 

2. Type of stock given:  The stock allotted to the investor must be defined clearly in the term sheet. The investors are more preferable to invest in preferred shares that entitles them to vote and will receive preference in the payment for their stock in the event of the company’s liquidation which is why the investors found it as an attractive investment.

3. Non-solicitation: Most of the venture capital investors insist on inserting a lock-up period clause where the company would be prohibited from accepting an investment or acquisition proposal from any other party during the preparation process of term sheet.
4. Involvement of Board of Directors: The investors insist on the right to appoint at least one member to the company’s board who are responsible for setting company policies, approving financing etc, in return for its capital investment. So, it is necessary to include the details of involvement of investors in board of the company.
5. Prevention of Equity Dilution:  The venture capital firms will require an anti-dilution clause insertion to the term sheet to protect them from future sales of shares at a lower value. 
6. Tranches:  In cases where the investors’ invest in tranches to the startup then the period of tranches must be specified in the term sheet as it reduces both the founders and investor's risk.
7. Right to buy shares back:   Venture capital investors always want to protect their financial interests in a company. Therefore Venture capital investors normally insist to include right of first refusal (ROFR) clauses in their term sheets. This clause allows existing owners to reclaim shares that are about to be sold to a new investor and prevent ownership division in company.

Key Components of a Term Sheet

Two of the most common questions that startups and small business founders before investment are boggled by:
  • What should be in my Investor Pitch Deck?
  • What should and how should be the Term Sheet?
To help with that, the below article elucidate about the “term sheet” and how the term sheet needs to be prepared.
What is Term Sheet?
A term sheet is a document which sets out the broad parameters of an investment made by an angel investor or venture capital investor to the startups
The term sheet compiles up the discussions and defines the terms on which the startup owner and investors have agreed to informally.
Nothing in the term sheet is legally binding on the parties except for the covenant of ‘Confidentiality’

The terms and conditions included in a Term Sheet is confidential information and cannot be disclosed by the parties to any third party without investor's prior approval. 
What does term sheet contain?

Term Sheet reflects the following:
1)     Valuation -This clause referred in the investment term sheet includes:
                 i.             Pre-money valuation: the investor’s estimate of what the company is worth before his or her investment of funds. 
               ii.             Post-money valuation: the expected value of the company after investment of the proposed funds. 
             iii.             Capitalization table: indicates the ownership of both founder and investor, equity dilution and equity value in each round of financing. 
              iv.             Price per share: the per share value of the company stock. 
2)     Amount of the investment
3)     Ownership claims the investor receives in exchange for the investment- The investors prefer to have the claims in return of the investment for their security which is why they invest in convertible preferred stock. It gives them a preference over other shareholders in terms of dividends and profit sharing at time of liquidation of Company.
4)      Rights and responsibilities of each party

Below are the List of the Key Terms of A Term Sheet

1.   Consideration for the money invested:  

The investors often prefer to invest in convertible preferred stock. It gives them a preference over common shareholders in respect of dividends and upon a sale of the company gives them the option of converting into common stock if the company is successful. 
2. Type of stock given:  The stock allotted to the investor must be defined clearly in the term sheet. The investors are more preferable to invest in preferred shares which entitles them to vote and will receive preference in the payment for their stock in the event of the company’s liquidation.
3. Non-solicitation: Most of the venture capital investors insist on inserting a lock-up period clause where the company would be prohibited from accepting an investment or acquisition proposal from any other party during the preparation process of term sheet.
4. Involvement of Board of Directors: The investors insist on the right to appoint at least one member to the company’s board who are responsible for setting company policies, approving financing etc, in return for its capital investment. So, it is necessary to include the details of involvement of investors in board of the company.
5. Prevention of Equity Dilution:  The venture capital firms will require an anti-dilution clause insertion to the term sheet to protect them from future sales of shares at a lower value. 
6. Tranches:  In cases where the investors’ invest in tranches to the startup then the period of tranches must be specified in the term sheet as it reduces both the founders and investor's risk.
7. Right to buy shares back:   Venture capital investors always want to protect their financial interests in a company. Therefore Venture capital investors normally insist to include right of first refusal (ROFR) clauses in their term sheets. This clause allows existing owners to reclaim shares that are about to be sold to a new investor and prevent ownership division in company.
Source url - http://enterslice.over-blog.com/2018/06/key-components-of-a-term-sheet.html