Kuala Lumpur, 25 December 2025 – Nihon M&A Center Malaysia has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with McMillan Woods – one of the fastest-growing global networks under the umbrella of McMillan Woods Worldwide, whose member firms are primarily SME-focused accounting practices – marking the start of a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening the long-term sustainability and growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
The collaboration brings together Nihon M&A Center Malaysia’s extensive expertise in M&A advisory and extensive cross-border buyer network across Japan and Southeast Asia, with McMillan Woods’s close engagement with SMEs through its comprehensive professional services, including accounting, audit assurance, tax, corporate governance, and business advisory. By combining these strengths, both firms hope to provide SME owners with clearer pathways to explore succession planning, strategic partnerships, and expansion opportunities, both within Malaysia and regionally.
Under the MoU, the two firms will work together to identify and support SMEs that are considering business exit or strategic growth. McMillan Woods will leverage its trusted relationship with SME clients to identify suitable opportunities, while Nihon M&A Center Malaysia will provide specialized M&A advisory expertise. Through this collaboration, both parties aim to offer more holistic, accessible, and well-aligned advisory support that incorporates M&A considerations into long-term business planning.
“It is natural for business owners to start thinking about what’s next as their business reaches a certain stage of maturity,” said Mr. Yuki Fukushima, Managing Director of Nihon M&A Center Malaysia. “Good thing is that we are seeing a growing curiosity around M&A – not just as an exit, but more importantly as a way to protect what they have built and support the next stage of growth. By partnering with McMillan Woods, it allows us to support those conversations more thoughtfully and guide business owners through M&A as a strategic and meaningful path, with the right advice.”
“M&A should not be viewed as a last resort but as a strategic option for growth, succession and sustainability. By working closely with Nihon M&A Center Malaysia, we aim to guide Malaysian SMEs through this journey with clarity, professionalism, and international reach,” said Dato’ Seri Dr. Raymond Liew, President of McMillan Woods Worldwide.
SMEs play a central role in Malaysia’s business ecosystem, and supporting their continuity and long-term competitiveness is increasingly important. With this meaningful collaboration in place, Nihon M&A Center Malaysia and McMillan Woods seek to proactively engage with high-potential SMEs, helping business owners view M&A as a strategic tool for value-realization and succession, rather than something considered only when challenges arise. Ultimately, both firms aim to work towards a shared goal – to empower business owners approach the future with greater clarity and confidence, whether through succession, strategic partnerships, or expansion, and to contribute to a stronger, more resilient SME landscape in Malaysia over time.