d-wwei Deal Tracker
Workflow
Step 1: Deal Setup
For each deal, capture:
- Deal name / code name: Project [Name]
- Client: Seller or buyer name
- Deal type: Sell-side, buy-side, financing, restructuring
- Role: Lead advisor, co-advisor, fairness opinion
- Deal size: Expected enterprise value
- Stage: Pre-mandate → Engaged → Marketing → IOI → Diligence → Final bids → Signing → Close
- Team: MD, VP, Associate, Analyst assigned
- Key dates: Engagement date, CIM distribution, IOI deadline, management meetings, final bid deadline, target close
Step 2: Milestone Tracking
Track key milestones per deal:
| Milestone | Target Date | Actual Date | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement letter signed | ||||
| CIM / teaser drafted | ||||
| Buyer list approved | ||||
| Teaser distributed | ||||
| NDA execution | ||||
| CIM distributed | ||||
| IOI deadline | ||||
| IOIs received / reviewed | ||||
| Shortlist selected | ||||
| Management meetings | ||||
| Data room opened | ||||
| Final bid deadline | ||||
| Bids received / reviewed | ||||
| Exclusivity granted | ||||
| Confirmatory diligence | ||||
| Purchase agreement signed | ||||
| Regulatory approval | ||||
| Close |
Status: On Track / At Risk / Delayed / Complete
Step 3: Action Items
Maintain a running action item list across all deals:
| Action | Deal | Owner | Due Date | Priority | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P0/P1/P2 | Open/Done/Blocked |
Step 4: Weekly Deal Review
Generate a summary for weekly team meetings:
For each active deal:
- One-line status update
- Key developments this week
- Upcoming milestones (next 2 weeks)
- Blockers or risks
- Action items for next week
Pipeline summary:
- Total active deals by stage
- Deals at risk (missed milestones, stalled processes)
- New mandates / pitches in pipeline
- Expected closings this quarter
Step 5: Output
- Excel workbook with:
- Pipeline overview (all deals, one row each)
- Per-deal milestone tracker tabs
- Action item master list
- Weekly review summary
- Optional: Markdown summary for email/Slack distribution
Important Notes
- Update the tracker weekly at minimum — stale trackers are worse than no tracker
- Flag deals where milestones are slipping — early warning prevents surprises
- Action items without owners and due dates don't get done — be specific
- The pipeline view should show deal stage, size, and likelihood — useful for revenue forecasting
- Keep notes on buyer/investor feedback — patterns in feedback inform strategy adjustments
- Archive closed/dead deals separately — keep the active view clean