I only started drafting term sheets 1 year into private equity and even then, the first 3 term sheets were drafted multiple times to be vetted by the deal leads (either VP or Principal level).

The reality is that re-creating the term sheet is a grunt job because the full-time analysts have "better" things to spend their time on. Unfortunately this is what you have to do as an intern. Like others said, use this opportunity to learn the intricacies of a term sheet because structuring one takes a shit ton of brain cells if you're doing it for the first time.

 
Best Response

Nice. It will take a while but don't get too worried. You can get through this. Firstly, 20 pages seems really long. I don't think I've ever seen one over 10, and my fund did some VC rounds valued over $1B. Maybe the reason it's so long is because the startup has pre-drafted all the Reps & Warranties that will eventually be the Stock Purchase Agreement... IDK

Regardless, take a look at the NVCA's term sheet template: http://www.nvca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108&It…

Key things that you need to make sure you have right are: Purchase Price / Price per share -- This needs tie to your fully diluted cap table

Pre-money valuation (which + all money invested in this round should = Fully diluted post financing valuation on the Cap Table)

Dividends: Make sure you know what your firm wants these to be. Often they are 8% and simple interest but that is a fund by fund number and interest method

Liquidation preference: (Extremely Important) -- Are you -Non-Participating Preferred (sometimes called convertible preferred) which means you either get the value of your liquidation preference (=amt invested + accrued dividend assuming 1.0x liq pref) or the amount if you converted all preferred shares into common stock. -or Participating Preferred which means you get your liquidation preference + full participation when converted into common stock

Voting Rights: Check with your senior guys. How do you want to do this? Your firm may prefer a specific voting policy for board members. Or they may prefer a certain majority % of shareholders must vote to pass something.

Protective Provisions: The NVCA one is pretty comprehensive and most startup lawyers will try to strip out some of these. Essentially this is trying to say without the new investors authorization, you cant do these things. Generally the most important are: ii) amend, alter, or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws [in a manner adverse to the Series A Preferred];
(iii) create or authorize the creation of or issue any other security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security, having rights, preferences or privileges senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred, or increase the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred; (iv) purchase or redeem or pay any dividend on any capital stock prior to the Series A Preferred, [other than stock repurchased from former employees or consultants in connection with the cessation of their employment/services, at the lower of fair market value or cost;] [other than as approved by the Board, including the approval of [_____] Series A Director(s)]; vii) increase or decrease the size of the Board of Directors]

These provisions keeps your fund from getting diluted without your say. As well, they limit board numbers keeping your ability to control the board decisions constant

Anti-Dilution: You need to find out what your senior guys want to do here. This clause basically means if the next round of investment is at a lower valuation than this one, how will existing shares be treated so they don't get over-diluted. The math behind doing this on a cap table is messy but the most common way is to do the weighted average (exactly whats on the NVCA template)

Those are, in my opinion, the big ones. Regarding Reps and Warranties, that's a much bigger thing and I don't have a template to send your way. Let me know if that sections been heavily populated or not.

Hopefully that helps... Good Luck

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

That's because term sheet refers to the general terms set out in a deal; you have to look for a specific one. For example: Term Loan B Term Seet, Revolving Credit Facility Term Sheet; Acquisition of Equity Terms, etc.

http://www.archadvisors.com/webdocs/Term-Sheet-Private-Equity-Cross-Bor…

http://www.archadvisors.com/webdocs/Term-Sheet-Mezzanine-Debt.pdf

Look here and you'll see the vast amounts of "term sheets" there are. I'd go ahead and search for some through this website.

http://www.realdealdocs.com/DocumentCategories.aspx

 

That's an odd request given you are seeking an internship. Is there a chance they asked for a resume and cover letter?

A term sheet is typically used by lenders/investors to summarize the key terms of a proposed deal. For example, a lender term sheet would include things such as the borrower, amount, maturity, rate, use of proceeds, covenants, etc.

If they're literally asking you for a term sheet, they may want you to submit something that would described what you are asking of them. Job description, internship timing, expected compensation. But, like I said, that would be a very unusual ask.

 

Yeah, I think they want your transcript.

But generally in the AM industry, a term sheet refers to the "terms" of a deal. For example, you would find a term sheet in any hedge fund or private equity offering memorandum (OM). The term sheet would state "terms" such a minimum investment amount, closing dates, fees, expected size of the fund, expected IRR, etc.

 

Quia velit unde tempore voluptatem nesciunt in. Tempore rerum corrupti qui culpa laudantium occaecati sunt. Suscipit aut autem quo distinctio delectus debitis. Dolores sapiente inventore velit at itaque consequatur.

Pariatur non omnis aliquam blanditiis eos. Cumque veritatis odio inventore. Asperiores sint ipsa illum sapiente a. Deleniti vitae quia ducimus numquam quis.

Provident voluptate voluptate asperiores est amet labore. Qui molestias aut ullam sapiente. Dolores aut et autem voluptatem eaque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (205) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”