ACA Releases Model Convertible Promissory Note

The Angel Capital Association formed a task force of established early-stage investors and attorneys who routinely represent both founders and investors in early stage financings. Its mandate was to create an enhanced model convertible promissory note that would combine common convertible promissory note provisions with “best practice” provisions often found in side-letters or note purchase agreements. The goal of the task force was to create a form document balancing the rights of founders and investors, and to include common alternative provisions for consideration. While Convertible Promissory Notes offer investors more protection than SAFEs, they still fall well short of the protections and “best practice” governance provisions of priced equity rounds, which also have industry-wide templates available such as that of the National Venture Capital Association. Until they are converted, both SAFEs and Convertible Notes provide their holders with minimal control or fiduciary rights. More sophisticated investors have routinely “bulked up” their protection under Convertible Notes through the use of side letters and note purchase agreements that provided them with additional rights. The Angel Capital Association formed a task force of established early-stage investors and attorneys who routinely represent both founders and investors in early stage financings. Its mandate was to create an enhanced model convertible promissory note that would combine common convertible promissory note provisions with “best practice” provisions often found in side-letters or note purchase agreements. The goal of the task force was to create a form document balancing the rights of founders and investors, and to include common alternative provisions for consideration. Drafts of a model term sheet and definitive documents were shared with several leading angel groups for feedback. To the extent possible, the task force looked to industry data, including from Carta and the Angel Capital Association database, to anaylze the market prevalence of various terms.