Following our previous session with Vistage Group – where Mr. Law Sem Liang, Senior Consultant at Nihon M&A Center Malaysia, conducted a fruitful workshop on M&A for an exclusive group of members – we are pleased to share that the Malaysia team was once again invited to speak, this time on a larger scale.
On 20 November, our Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Mr. Yusuke Ojima, represented Nihon M&A Center Malaysia, had the privilege to speak at the forum, themed “Bigger in M&A, Future with AI,” successfully organized by Vistage Group in Penang. The event gathered more than 80 Small & Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) business owners and key decision-makers, creating a vibrant space for learning, exchange, and meaningful conversation.
This forum featured two major topics that are shaping the future of business – artificial intelligence (AI) and mergers & acquisitions (M&A). While these topics may appear technical at first glance, the day’s discussions made it clear that they are becoming increasingly essential for SME leaders navigating growth, competition, and succession.
Opening the Stage: How AI is Reshaping Business Performance
The event opened with a compelling session by James Lau, Founder and CEO of Aqreight & Bloccoli, a company specializing in AI, big data, and IT solutions. James began by explaining why AI has become such a significant driver in today’s business landscape, before breaking down how SMEs can adopt AI in practical and achievable ways – from improving operational efficiency to making smarter, data-driven decisions.
He also introduced several useful AI tools that SMEs can leverage, along with practical tips on prompts, templates, and day-to-day applications that can enhance productivity and streamline business workflows.
His session offered participants a fresh perspective on how technology can complement traditional business strategies, which is a topic that clearly resonated with many SME leaders in the room.
A Deep Dive into M&A: Real-World Explanations by Nihon M&A Center Malaysia
“How many of you have a business plan?”
“How many of you have a successor in place?”
Following the AI session, our Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Mr. Yusuke Ojima, representing Nihon M&A Center, opened his presentation with two simple yet thought-provoking questions. Surprisingly, only a few hands were raised – a clear reflection of how succession planning and long-term business strategy are areas many SMEs are still exploring, which made the session especially timely and relevant.
Mr. Yusuke then guided the participants through practical, real-world insights into how M&A can become a strategic tool for business continuity, growth, and regional expansion. Despite the complexity of the topic, he delivered the session with warmth, humor, and clear explanations – making the discussion lively, relatable, and easy to follow.
Throughout his 45-minute sharing, he focused on three core pillars, giving participants a structured understanding of the M&A landscape.
1. Understanding Japanese M&A Trends
Mr. Yusuke began by highlighting some of the pressuring challenges shaping Japan’s rapidly evolving M&A environment: ageing business owners, saturated domestic markets, shortage of successors, and rising corporate closures. These long-standing issues have become far more urgent in recent years, prompting many Japanese companies to proactively explore opportunities beyond their borders – especially within ASEAN.
He explained that despite these challenges, Japan’s M&A market continues to grow steadily, driven by the need for succession planning and strong investor interest in Southeast Asia.
Interestingly, the issues seen in Japan decades ago now mirror what many Malaysian SMEs are experiencing today, allowing participants to relate immediately. And with this context in place, Mr. Yusuke naturally transitioned into the fundamentals of how M&A works and why it has become a vital strategy for business continuity.
2. M&A as a Strategic Pathway for Continuity and Growth
He then explored the common issues faced by Malaysian SMEs – a competitive market, succession gaps, limited resources, and the increasing pressure to scale sustainably. Many business owners are aware of these issues but may not be familiar with the strategic options available to address them.
To help the participants visualize this, Mr. Yusuke walked through the typical business lifecycle and discussed how SMEs often lean toward initial public offerings (IPO) once they reach a mature stage. He then compared this route with the M&A pathway, highlighting the advantages and strategic benefits each offers.
He also shared why Japanese companies are increasingly drawn to Southeast Asia – and Malaysia in particular – due to the country’s strong halal market positioning, cultural alignment, and stable economic outlook.
3. Lessons from Real M&A Case Studies
To make the discussion even more concrete, he presented two real M&A case studies Nihon M&A Center had supported. These examples offered participants a clearer view of how an M&A transaction is structured – covering deal frameworks, key takeaways, valuation drivers, and how both buyers and sellers can create long-term strategic value.
Mr. Yusuke also emphasized the core elements that influence valuation, such as management capabilities, market positioning, industry outlook, and customer relationships. These case studies helped demystify the M&A process and gave participants who may be considering M&A for the first time a more realistic understanding of what to expect.
Engaged Participants, Positive Responds, Promising Momentum
One of the highlights of the forum was the remarkable level of curiosity and participation from the SME leaders in the room. The Q&A session, moderated by Mr. Yeoh Seng Hooi, Chair of Vistage Group and Secretary General of SAMENTA, was filled with thoughtful, practical questions such as:
- What are the dos and don’ts when preparing for M&A?
- What valuation methods do Japanese investors prefer?
- What compliance gaps should Malaysian companies be aware of?
- How do P/E (Price-to-Earnings) multiples look for manufacturing businesses?
- What challenges typically arise in Japan–Malaysia M&A linkages?
These conversations carried on even after the session ended, with several participants approaching Mr. Yusuke privately to discuss their own succession plans, growth challenges, and potential interest in exploring M&A further. Not only that, but we also received very positive feedback from participants, many of whom said the session was relevant and helped them better understand concepts they were previously unfamiliar with. Several expressed that they gained actionable knowledge, and a better understanding of what M&A could mean for the future of their business.
Vistage Group likewise shared encouraging feedback and reaffirmed their appreciation for having Nihon M&A Center as part of this learning journey. Their acknowledgement of the session’s value, along with the strong engagement from SME owners, underscores the growing relevance of M&A conversations in Malaysia.
We are truly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Vistage Group as we continue supporting SMEs in their growth and succession planning. To us, the forum was more than just an event — it was a meaningful reminder of how open SME business owners are toward learning, gaining new perspectives, and exploring possibilities as they navigate their next phase. Whether through AI innovation or strategic M&A, SMEs today have more pathways than ever to build sustainable long-term value.
Whether you are planning ahead, evaluating your options, or curious about how M&A could fit into your long-term strategy, Nihon M&A Center Malaysia is here to help. Connect with us to explore practical pathways tailored to your business needs.
