deal-tracker

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:

1. One-line status update
2. Key developments this week
3. Upcoming milestones (next 2 weeks)
4. Blockers or risks
5. 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