Fivefold addresses two longstanding weaknesses in the mergers and acquisitions market which can lead to unsatisfactory deal outcomes for sellers and buyers. Firstly, far too many businesses fail to sell, or sell for much less than their true value. This problem is largely addressable if companies undertake a deliberate period of exit planning before beginning their sale process. Secondly, acquisitive companies can often rely too heavily on “on-market” target introductions. This can lead to acquirers missing the best opportunities who may not even be actively looking to sell, but would be a much better fit if discovered.