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Our Standards

The standards of behaviour and conduct described below are those that are expected of the members of the Angel Association New Zealand and the investors they represent.

It is our desire that the wider industry will also adhere to these standards given that the reputation and growth of angel investment is a vital element of New Zealand’s economic development. Shared expectations which all industry actors can depend on are critical if angel investors are to continue to provide a primary source of funds for high growth, early stage ventures.

Code of Conduct

The standards of behaviour and conduct described below are those that are expected of the members of the Angel Association New Zealand and the investors they represent.

It is our desire that the wider industry will also adhere to these standards given that the reputation and growth of angel investment is a vital element of New Zealand’s economic development. Shared expectations which all industry actors can depend on are critical if angel investors are to continue to provide a primary source of funds for high growth, early stage ventures.

The primary objectives of the Angel Association are to:

These principles serve as the foundation of our dealings with each other, being generally understood as the way those participating in New Zealand angel investment should equip themselves and as a reminder of the standards expected.

Those engaged in business dealings with the New Zealand angel industry, including incubators and professional service providers, are similarly informed that these are standards they are entitled to expect in their interaction with us.

Conduct

When assessing deals for a first round of angel investment, industry participants will look for a credible entrepreneur with aspirations to grow an international business having a well defined product, customer and market.

Entrepreneurs/founders and co-founders can expect prompt, objective and constructive guidance in their dealings with the industry.

A deal approved for presentation by an angel network or fund will meet requisite standards of presentation, in terms of content and performance, for a pitch to investors.

Where syndication is sought and a deal has been approved for dissemination by one network, other networks and fund managers will use best endeavours to ensure the deal is disseminated as expeditiously as possible.

Once an opportunity has been approved for investment, it may be declined by other networks for lack of alignment with those investors but not for lack of investment readiness.

Recognising the importance of due diligence and its direct impact on the success of an angel deal, the industry supports the use of due diligence project plans and checklists.

Deal leads and due diligence teams recognise the need to be thorough will be balanced against the need to complete due diligence in a timely manner.

When making investment decisions, angels will evaluate each deal based on their own research and assessment of the commercial opportunity and are expected to use any due diligence report as the basis for any further enquiry and verification and should not rely on it as any more than one opinion.

No investor will place reliance on satisfactory completion of a due diligence process as a sign of the ability or future success of a venture.

Where reliance is placed on a fund or network’s completion of due diligence there is no recourse against that fund or network.

When all documentation has been completed to close a deal, time is of the essence. Industry participants will respond to all communication as expeditiously as possible, including using their best endeavours to secure all relevant signatures.

Industry Promotion

Media interest, understanding, promotion and support for angel investment are welcome.

The industry will take care to convey an accurate representation of angel investment and the risks and rewards involved. Any media commentary will respect commercial confidence and those investors who wish to retain a low profile or remain anonymous.

Should any media commentary misconstrue or otherwise misrepresent information, industry commentators will seek to have the situation corrected.

 All industry participants are encouraged to participate in and assist with policy development initiatives.

 Industry participants are encouraged and supported to promote angel investment to new investors.

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