How to Approve Deals That Meet All Requirements
Overview
As a broker on the WhiteLabel Community Deals Platform, approving deals that meet all regulatory and platform requirements is one of your most important responsibilities. The approval process represents the final verification that a deal is ready to be presented to investors. This guide will walk you through the steps to properly approve compliant deals, ensuring that only high-quality, regulation-compliant offerings reach the investment marketplace.
Prerequisites
Before approving a deal, you should:
- Have an active broker account on the platform
- Have thoroughly reviewed all deal details and documentation
- Have verified compliance with applicable securities regulations
- Have confirmed that all required documentation is complete and accurate
- Have received satisfactory responses to any questions or concerns raised with the issuer
- Be ready to take responsibility for the approval decision
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Complete Your Final Review
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Before approving, conduct a final comprehensive review of the deal:
- Verify all previously identified issues have been resolved
- Check that any requested document updates have been made
- Confirm all compliance requirements are satisfied
- Review any recent changes made by the issuer
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Use the tabs on the Deal Approval page to navigate through:
- Details
- Documents
- Investors (if applicable)
- Comments
Step 2: Access the Deal Approval Interface
- From the Broker Dashboard, access the pending deal you've reviewed
- On the Deal Approval page, locate the approval controls at the top right
- You'll see options to "Reject," "Comment," and "Approve"
Step 3: Review the Approval Implications
- Note the statement on the Deal Approval page: "Approving this deal will make it visible to investors on the platform."
- Understand that your approval:
- Represents your professional judgment that the deal meets all requirements
- Allows the deal to be visible to potential investors
- Links your name and reputation to the deal
- Creates an audit trail of your approval decision
Step 4: Document Your Approval Rationale (Optional but Recommended)
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Before clicking approve, consider adding a final comment documenting your approval rationale:
- Click the "Comment" button
- Summarize your review findings
- Note any specific compliance verifications completed
- Document any conditional aspects of your approval
- Click "Submit" to add this to the deal record
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This creates a clear record of your decision-making process
Step 5: Click the Approve Button
- Once you're confident the deal meets all requirements, click the "Approve" button
- The system may display a confirmation dialog asking you to confirm your decision
- Review any statements in the confirmation dialog
- Click "Confirm" or "Yes" to finalize your approval
Step 6: Verify Approval Status
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After approval, the deal status should update to reflect the approval
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The deal will move from "Pending" to either:
- "Active" if the sale start date is current or past
- "Upcoming" if the sale start date is in the future
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Verify this status change has occurred correctly
Step 7: Check Deal Visibility
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To confirm the deal is now visible to appropriate investors:
- If available, use the "Investor View" tab to see how the deal appears to investors
- Alternatively, check that the deal appears in the appropriate marketplace listings
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Verify that all approved documents are accessible
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Confirm that the deal details are displayed correctly
Step 8: Monitor Post-Approval Activity
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After approval, continue to monitor:
- The deal's fundraising progress
- Any investor questions or concerns
- Any post-approval updates from the issuer
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The deal will appear in your "Approved Offerings" section on the dashboard
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Click "View Approved" to see all deals you've approved
Step 9: Document the Approval in Your Records
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For your own records, document:
- The date and time of approval
- Key compliance verifications performed
- Any special conditions or notes
- The deal's unique identifier
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This documentation helps with:
- Future regulatory inquiries
- Performance tracking
- Process improvement
Step 10: Communicate with the Issuer (If Appropriate)
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If platform protocol includes broker communication with issuers:
- Consider sending a congratulatory note
- Provide any guidance on next steps
- Offer assistance with investor questions
- Set expectations for ongoing compliance
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This communication helps maintain a positive relationship with issuers
Best Practices
- Be Thorough: Never approve a deal without a complete, comprehensive review
- Document Your Process: Keep records of your review and approval rationale
- Maintain Independence: Base approval decisions solely on compliance and quality factors
- Be Consistent: Apply the same standards to all deals
- Verify Fixes: Confirm that all previously identified issues have been properly resolved
- Consider Investor Perspective: Evaluate the deal from an investor's viewpoint
- Maintain Confidentiality: Handle all deal information with appropriate confidentiality
- Know When to Consult: Seek additional expertise on complex compliance questions
- Understand Your Responsibility: Recognize that your approval carries professional weight
- Continuous Monitoring: Stay aware of approved deals' performance and any issues that arise
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
-
Approval Button Not Active
- Solution: Verify you have the necessary permissions
- Solution: Check if any required review steps are incomplete
- Solution: Refresh the page and try again
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Status Not Updating After Approval
- Solution: Refresh the page
- Solution: Check if the approval was properly registered
- Solution: Contact platform support if the issue persists
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Deal Not Visible After Approval
- Solution: Verify the deal's start date hasn't been set to the future
- Solution: Check if there are any platform-specific visibility settings
- Solution: Confirm the deal is published to the correct investor groups
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Post-Approval Document Changes
- Solution: Review the changes to ensure they don't affect compliance
- Solution: Document the changes in your records
- Solution: Consider if re-approval is necessary based on the significance of changes
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Approval Regret
- Solution: If you identify issues immediately after approval, contact platform support
- Solution: Document the concerns that arose after approval
- Solution: Learn from the experience to improve future reviews
Getting Help
If you encounter any issues during the approval process:
- Navigate to the
/support
Support center by clicking on the "Support" link in the main navigation - Select the appropriate category for your issue
- Provide specific details about your approval-related question
- Submit your support request
- Support staff will respond through the platform's notification system