Continuously Strengthening Global Connections: Nihon M&A Center’s Takeaways from the World M&A Alliance Conference 2025 in Milan

The annual World M&A Alliance Conference is back! Following last year’s successful hosting by Nihon M&A Center in Tokyo, the World M&A Alliance Conference returned this year from October 2 to 4 in Milan, Italy, hosted by Fineurop Soditic.This year marks Nihon M&A Center’s fourth time attending the conference and it was our great pleasure to be part of this global gathering of M&A professionals and advisors from 14 member countries, including The Netherlands, United States, Mexico, France and more.

This year’s conference was especially meaningful as the World M&A Alliance welcomed two new members – Canterbury Partners from Australia and ÜNLÜ & Co. from Turkey – officially joining the alliance, further strengthening the group’s global footprint and diversity of expertise.

Connecting Minds Across Borders

The World M&A Alliance serves as a collaborative platform that connects independent M&A advisory firms across the globe with one shared goal, which is to provide cross-border solutions that help businesses grow, prosper, transform, and continue their legacy.

The two-day conference was filled with meaningful exchanges, where each member firm took turns to present updates on their latest developments, market trends, and key transactions within their respective markets. These sharing sessions provided valuable insights into the current evolving global M&A landscape, from succession-driven transactions in Asia, to private equity activity in Europe, and the growing cross-border appetite seen among businesses of various sizes looking to scale regionally and internationally. 

For Nihon M&A Center, our participation was represented by Vanessa Choy, our Deal Manager from the Malaysia team, who shared updates on the company's recent performance and activities, as well as key learnings and opportunities gained from the cross-border transactions we have supported.

Highlights and Insights from the Guest Speakers

Apart from the members’ presentations, the conference also featured several insightful guest sessions. One of the highlights of this year’s conference was the guest presentation by Campari Group, a long-standing client of Fineurop Soditic and one of Italy’s largest branded beverage companies. The group shared its M&A journey and international growth strategy - having completed over 40 acquisitions since its establishment - and discussed how it continues to successfully integrate new brands while maintaining its heritage, identity, and culture across markets.

The conference also featured several other guest speakers who offered valuable perspectives from various industries and professional fields. SEC Newgate, a global strategic communications and advocacy group, shared insights into how the company transformed itself through multiple acquisitions and strategic partnerships to achieve a truly global presence across five continents.

Meanwhile, Carton Pack, a leading European packaging group backed by A&M Capital Europe, discussed its rapid expansion strategy driven by a series of acquisitions across Italy, the UK, and Spain - illustrating how mid-sized companies can achieve pan-European scale through well-executed M&A. A&M Capital Europe, in turn, provided an investor’s perspective on identifying high-growth, resilient businesses across Europe, and shared its approach in supporting companies like Carton Pack to scale globally through long-term partnerships and operational expertise.

The inclusion of these sessions offered a holistic view of M&A from multiple angles including corporate, legal, advisory, and private equity, making the discussions both practical and insightful for all participants.

Building Stronger Bridges for Cross-Border Opportunities

Throughout the discussions, Nihon M&A Center shared updates on several ongoing and potential projects, some of which have already drawn interest from European partners. Such exchanges continue to strengthen our capability to match buyers and sellers across regions and open up new opportunities to connect Japanese and Southeast Asian companies with international investors.

More importantly, the conference reaffirmed our long-standing belief that M&A is not just about numbers, it is also a bridge that connects ambitions and synergies, preserves business legacies, and creates new growth paths across borders.

Participating in valuable conferences like the World M&A Alliance Conference is always part of Nihon M&A Center’s consistent effort to expand our global network, build resilient partnerships, and widen our outreach to help SMEs and family-owned businesses find the right partners - whether it is for growth, succession, or strategic collaboration.

Looking Ahead

As we look forward to the next World M&A Alliance Conference in New York City, in 2026, we remain committed to deepening our international collaboration and contributing actively to the alliance’s shared vision which is to make cross-border M&A more accessible, effective, and human-centered.

We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Fineurop Soditic for the warm hospitality and excellent organization throughout the event. The conference once again reminded us of the power of global partnerships and the collective strength that comes when firms from different markets come together with a shared goal.

Who Attended?

• Arcano Partners (Spain)
• Blacktrace (The Netherlands)
• Canterbury Partners (Australia)
• CP Investments (Poland)
• England & Company (The USA)
• Fimecap (Mexico)
• Fineurop Soditic (Italy)
• Goodbody Stockbrokers UC (Ireland)
• Inspirit Partners (France)
• JMB Advisors (Brazil)
• M.M.Warburg & CO (Germany)
• Wodehouse Capital Advisors (India)
• Nihon M&A Center (Japan)
• ÜNLÜ & Co. (Turkey)