Deal Origination & Acquisition Target Identification
Specialist research and discreet outreach to find acquisition targets that fit your strategy
Building an acquisition pipeline takes time, judgement and consistent effort. If you’re pursuing growth through M&A, the quality of your targets and your first approach can determine whether a deal progresses.
Our M&A Research and Deal Origination service helps UK and overseas buyers identify, prioritise and engage the right businesses in the UK and internationally. We map markets thoroughly and uncover both on-market and off-market opportunities, giving you a fuller and more accurate view of what is realistically in scope.
Why Companies Outsource Deal Origination
Clients work with Fivefold when they need to:
Increase the number of genuinely in-scope acquisition targets
Move faster,
without compromising on diligence
Build a qualified pipeline through structured research and outreach
Validate market size, ownership structures, and target availability
Reach off-market and
hard to contact businesses discreetly
Add specialist capacity when in-house time or M&A resource is limited
Run a consistent origination process from strategy through to transaction
What We Deliver
We operate as an extension of your corporate development team, private equity house, or advisory function, supporting a single strategic acquisition or a multi-deal buy-and-build programme.
Our work blends rigorous market mapping with senior, commercially minded engagement to open the right conversations and progress opportunities efficiently.
Our deal origination process:
01
Define your acquisition strategy and target criteria
02
Market mapping and long list creation
03
Research, profiling and prioritisation of targets
04
Discreet outreach and initial conversations
05
Introductions, momentum and negotiation support
06
Pipeline management, reporting and ongoing market monitoring
UK and International Coverage
Whether you’re a UK acquirer expanding domestically or an overseas buyer looking for UK targets (or opportunities globally), we help you build a credible pipeline and convert the right opportunities into successful transactions, with pace, discretion and clear reporting throughout.