What’s My Motivation?

The fifth “W” in the famous “Five Ws” of journalism is “Why,” but in M&A planning, it’s the question to place at the head of the list. An acquisition begins with a wish to acquire something, and behind that wish there is—or there should be—a cogent and compelling motive. This is what makes understanding your motivation the bedrock of your strategy as a buyer. In this post and others to follow, we’ll examine the aspects of “Why” from both the pro and the con sides.