As the Covid-19 crisis continues and the full brunt of its economic impact becomes clear, merger and acquisition activity is expected to ramp up. Weaker players that had relied on government support or cash reserves are likely to experience more financial stress, leaving them ripe for takeover, while stronger firms will find new avenues to bolster their positions, acquire new or complementary skills, technologies, and products, or simply grab some valuable market share. But research shows that most M&A deals fail. To ensure that your organization capitalizes on this opportunity, avoid five traps: favoring strategic while ignoring the financials, walking away due to cultural differences, using bankers for valuation, not focusing on integration as you negotiate, and moving too slowly.