Vision Through M&A – A Collaboration Workshop with YYC Group and OCBC

Nihon M&A Center Malaysia recently had the pleasure of co-hosting an exclusive 2-hour workshop together with our accounting partner YYC Group, at the newly launched OCBC Premier Private Client Center – the bank’s first branch of its kind in Malaysia, dedicated to provide exclusive financial and wealth management services to high-net-worth and business clients. The workshop, held on 24 October 2025, has gathered over 40 pax of business owners and key decision makers, to delve deep into the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

The session began with a warm welcome from YYC Group and followed by a quick introduction from the OCBC team, who shared more about the bank’s new Premier Private Client proposition and how their extensive services are tailored to help clients manage and grow their wealth strategically. Then, this was followed by the M&A workshop, led by Mr. Yusuke Ojima, Regional Head of Southeast Asia, and Law Sem Liang, Senior Consultant, representing Nihon M&A Center Malaysia.

Understanding How M&A Can Open New Paths for Business Continuity and Growth

The workshop centered on how M&A can serve as a strategic pathway for business continuity and long-term growth. Mr. Yusuke opened the session with an introduction to Nihon M&A Center, sharing our history, vision, and the philosophy that has guided us since the beginning - “Assisting Companies to Continue and Prosper Through M&A.” He spoke about how this belief continues to drive our mission of supporting SME business owners in ensuring business continuity and building sustainable, long-term success.

Mr. Yusuke then shared insights on the growing appetite among Japanese companies and investors to venture into Malaysia, explaining why they often see the country as an attractive destination for investment and collaboration.  He also touched on some of the key challenges that many Malaysian SME business owners face today, for example, succession planning, workforce development, limited access to growth capital, and the pressure to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Drawing on his 10 years+ regional experience, he emphasized how Japanese companies, with their long-term outlook and collaborative approach, can bring not only financial investment but also technological expertise, global networks, and new market access to help SMEs grow sustainably.

Following this, Sem took over the session to guide participants through the fundamentals of M&A. He began by explaining what M&A really means, an overview of how the company life cycle is like, along with the concept of organic versus inorganic growth. This naturally led into a comparison between IPOs and M&A as two distinct pathways for business expansion, helping participants understand how each option aligns with different growth objectives.

To give participants a more practical understanding, Sem walked through the overall M&A process in detail - from initial meetings and documents preparation to strategic matchmaking, due diligence, and completion. He then introduced the three common valuation methods that are often used to assess a company’s market value, including the Cash Flow Approach, Income Approach (EV/EBITDA), and Asset-based Approach.

Sem also took the opportunity to share our strong proven track records in Malaysia and selected three completed deals as case studies to present. He walked participants through each transaction, explaining why both sellers and buyers chose to embark on the M&A journey, the challenges faced along the way, and how our consultants helped resolve them. These real-life examples provided participants with a clearer understanding of how the M&A process works in practice, what challenges may arise, and how businesses can prepare and navigate effectively if they are considering M&A in the future.

Before wrapping up, Sem addressed some of the most frequently asked questions from SME owners, offering practical insights drawn from real client experiences. He then opened the floor to questions – and many participants were actively engaged in asking thoughtful questions about how cross-border collaborations are typically structured, capital gains tax, buyout percentages, and strategies for attracting investors’ interest. Everyone was fully engaged which has reflected the growing curiosity and openness toward M&A among Malaysian SME business owners.

Meaningful Collaboration Built on Shared Purpose

At Nihon M&A Center Malaysia, we are always delighted to see this level of enthusiasm from the business community. We are deeply grateful to YYC Group and the OCBC team for the opportunity to collaborate on this initiative, which has been both insightful and impactful. The feedback from participants was very positive, and the session provided a great platform for us to expand our network and build closer connections within the business community. This experience truly highlights the value of our partnerships with YYC Group and OCBC, and we look forward to exploring more collaborations in the near future to further broaden our reach and impact. Notably, following the workshop, the OCBC team has also invited Nihon M&A Center Malaysia to return for a second exclusive session for their clients.

At the heart of what we do, we remain true to our roots which is helping businesses continue and prosper. Through sessions like this, we aim to help business owners gain a clearer understanding of the M&A process, and we remain committed to supporting them in ensuring continuity, driving growth, and building meaningful partnerships that create lasting value and impact.

Looking to enter the Malaysian market but not sure where to start? Nihon M&A Center Malaysia could be the right partner for you. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help you support your business growth journey.