McMillan Woods and Nihon M&A Center Malaysia Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Cross-Border M&A for SMEs

McMillan Woods has officially entered into a strategic collaboration with Nihon M&A Center Malaysia through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an important milestone in strengthening cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Nihon M&A Center is Japan’s leading M&A advisory firm, renowned for its deep expertise and extensive international buyer network. This collaboration brings together Nihon M&A Center Malaysia’s global M&A capabilities with McMillan Woods’ strong local presence and trusted relationships within the Malaysian SME ecosystem.

Empowering SMEs Through Strategic M&A

The partnership is designed to help business owners unlock enterprise value, pursue strategic growth, and navigate succession planning with greater clarity and confidence. By aligning resources, networks, and advisory capabilities, both firms aim to make M&A transactions more accessible, practical, and actionable for SMEs—bridging local businesses with global opportunities.

With the MoU in place, the collaboration moves into a more structured and execution-focused phase. This includes proactive engagement with high-potential SMEs to reposition M&A not as a last resort, but as a strategic tool for long-term sustainability, growth, and orderly transition.

Supporting SMEs in a Challenging Economic Landscape

The collaboration comes at a pivotal time, as many SMEs face succession challenges, rising cost pressures, and rapid AI-driven digital disruption. Against the backdrop of a slowing economy, McMillan Woods and Nihon M&A Center Malaysia aim to close critical knowledge gaps by providing professional, practical guidance that enables business owners to make informed strategic decisions—even in uncertain market conditions.

A key focus of the partnership is effective buyer–seller matching, ensuring that SME owners can realise value while maintaining business continuity and future growth potential.

What This Means for McMillan Woods’ Clients

Under the MoU, clients of McMillan Woods will benefit from:

• Expert-led M&A talks and personalised pre-deal consultations conducted by Nihon M&A Center Malaysia’s specialist advisory team
• Direct access to an extensive international buyer network spanning Japan, Malaysia, and other global markets

Dato’ Seri Dr. Raymond Liew, President of McMillan Woods, shared:

“Our focus is not merely on helping clients survive, but on guiding them to build businesses that are sustainable and ultimately saleable. Many of our mature SME clients are now actively exploring M&A as a strategic pathway to pursue their long-term aspirations. This collaboration is both timely and highly relevant.”

Echoing this sentiment, Nihon M&A Center Malaysia emphasised the importance of viewing M&A as a proactive strategy rather than a reactive solution, guiding SMEs through the process with professionalism, clarity, and international reach.

Expanding Regional and Global Impact

With Nihon M&A Center Malaysia as its strategic M&A partner, McMillan Woods is now positioned to extend its M&A advisory capabilities beyond its 16 offices in Malaysia to its broader international network, particularly across Southeast Asia. This collaboration strengthens McMillan Woods’ ability to deliver well-structured, strategic M&A advice that supports growth, transformation, and succession planning.

Together, both organisations aim to bridge local enterprise with global capital—ensuring Malaysian SMEs are not only prepared for M&A transactions, but positioned to succeed long after completion.