M&A Leader’s Edge: Transforming Market Intelligence -Optimizing Private Market Analysis with Speeda-

｜Introduction

In this edition of Speeda’s User Voice, we are honored to feature Mr. Yusuke Ojima, Corporate Officer and Head of the Overseas Division at Nihon M&A Center Inc.

Nihon M&A Center is Japan’s leading independent M&A brokerage firm, specializing in “friendly M&A” for small and medium-sized enterprises with a vast track record both domestically and internationally.

As 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of its global expansion, the firm has come a long way since its “zero-to-one” journey began in Singapore. Today, it has grown into a regional powerhouse of over 60 professionals across Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

This decade of growth represents more than just a business expansion; it reflects a commitment to building a vital bridge between Japan and ASEAN. Under Mr. Ojima’s leadership, the firm continues to foster “mutual prosperity” and regional development through strategic cross-border M&A.

Speeda is proud to share Mr. Ojima’s insights on leveraging our platform to navigate Southeast Asia’s fragmented markets and opaque private company landscape, as well as his vision for the future of market intelligence.

Expanding M&A in ASEAN: Business Growth and Key Strategies

Could you tell us about your company’s business and your current role?

Mr. Ojima: Nihon M&A Center’s overseas business has established bases in five countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and is expanding in South Korea through investments. Additionally, we have joined alliances to handle M&A cases in Europe and the United States. We focus particularly on the ASEAN market, with over 50 employees in our overseas business, closing more than 10 deals per year and handling over 150 cases annually, steadily growing since our overseas expansion.

The Singapore office was established in 2016, while the other offices were set up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, our business performance has been steadily expanding, targeting not only Japanese companies but also buyers from Europe, the U.S., and ASEAN. Our Singapore office also covers cases in other countries, collaborating with teams in each region to proceed with negotiations.

Currently, as the General Manager overseeing our five Southeast Asian offices, I am responsible for overall management. We aim to establish our Indonesian subsidiary by the end of the year, while also increasing personnel across all offices. Strengthening local recruitment and talent development is a key strategy for further growth.

Note: This interview was conducted in February 2025. The title and information are current as of that time.

Speeda’s Role in Target Selection and Market Research

How many people in your company use Speeda, and what roles do they perform? Additionally, what kind of research do you conduct using Speeda, and which specific features do you utilize?

Mr. Ojima: All consultants in our overseas sales offices use Speeda. We primarily use it to identify key players within each industry and to narrow down potential targets.

We sometimes receive broad requests from Japanese companies such as, “Please introduce M&A opportunities in this industry within this country.” By applying filters in Speeda, we can narrow down prospects, making it an essential tool for target selection and list creation.

In our line of work, starting from the buyer’s demand alone is ineffective, as approaching companies with no intention of selling rarely leads to success. Therefore, we often focus on finding sellers. For example, we frequently reach out to elderly business owners considering retirement who are open to M&A as a means of further growth.

We use Speeda’s industry player lists before approaching potential sellers, making it an invaluable tool for our initial contact. Additionally, information such as the founding year and executive profiles is particularly useful. Since we generally do not approach very young companies, having access to company age data is extremely helpful.

What led you to start using Speeda?

Mr. Ojima: We had been using Speeda in Japan, and as the number of national staff in Singapore increased, we decided to adopt it locally as well.

Could you share Speeda’s strengths and weaknesses compared to other services?

Mr. Ojima: Speeda provides a vast amount of market information. It not only covers industry players but also offers extensive data across various industries, making it convenient for obtaining market insights.

When Japanese companies progress in negotiations, they often request specific market information about the country in question. However, reliable market data for Southeast Asia is scarce. Among the available options, Speeda offers one of the most comprehensive datasets.

If I had to point out a limitation, it would be that having access to market growth rates and market size data would be even more beneficial. Growth rates are crucial indicators for company valuation, so having this data readily available would be highly valuable. Currently, we rely on expensive reports from Western research firms or estimates based on past growth rates when data is unavailable.

If there are cases where you do not understand the logic behind certain market size figures, we can offer research services to construct logical assumptions and provide estimations based on specific premises.

In September 2023, your Singapore office requested research on the Singapore construction market. Could you share more details about this?

Mr. Ojima: We occasionally made similar research requests when we had Speeda contracts in Japan as well. We often receive inquiries from clients asking why Singapore, why its construction industry, and how it compares to other countries. Given the importance of understanding market indicators across Southeast Asia, we likely made this request to compile key market metrics.

Key Research Factors for M&A in Southeast Asia

What aspects of M&A research are particularly crucial in the Southeast Asian market?

Mr. Ojima: While this varies by country, financial information is extremely important. Typically, if financial data is unavailable, we need to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) to obtain it, which requires significant time and effort.

Even if only partial or highlighted financial data is available, it serves as a crucial conversation starter, improving efficiency and reducing the time required for discussions.

What advice would you give to those considering starting to use Speeda?

Mr. Ojima: The ability to access market information from overseas and identify key industry players is invaluable. While M&A is just one component of corporate planning and growth strategies, Speeda is also useful for joint ventures, business matching, and competitive analysis.

Currently, many M&A advisors exist, but I believe more corporate teams will start utilizing M&A internally as a strategic tool. Having access to a database like Speeda, which companies can use themselves, enhances productivity and makes the process more efficient.

Thank you very much for your time today and for sharing your insights during the interview session!

Interview Date: Janurary 27, 2025
The content of the interview article, as well as the affiliations and titles of the individuals mentioned, are based on information as of the time of the interview.

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