WellBear Launches “Cross-Border M&A Hub,” a Platform Dedicated to SMEs Cross-Border Transactions

February 21, 2025

Tokyo-based WellBear Inc. (Co-Founders: Ikkei Ohkuma and Yuta Sakurai) is pleased to announce the official launch of its new platform, Cross-Border M&A Hub, which specializes in small to mid-sized international M&A deals typically valued in the range of several hundred million to several billion yen (approx. $3M–$100M USD).

While Japanese companies have been increasingly active in overseas acquisitions—with 500–600 outbound M&A deals annually—participation from startups and mid-sized firms remains relatively low. WellBear’s new platform is designed to support those companies in accessing global growth opportunities through M&A.

The Current State of Cross-Border M&A for Japanese SMEs

• Limited Access for Startups and Mid-Sized Firms While domestic M&A deals among startups and SMEs have grown significantly in recent years—especially for succession planning—access to small-scale overseas deals remains limited. Language barriers, deal execution complexity, and sourcing challenges continue to hinder broader adoption.
• Challenges in Post-Merger Integration (PMI) and Talent Management Japanese acquirers often face difficulties post-acquisition, particularly with PMI, local talent integration, and adapting to local business practices. These issues are compounded by the lack of internal M&A expertise at smaller firms.
• Growing Interest in Using Equity as Consideration According to Nikkei (Feb 10, 2025), Japan is expected to loosen regulations to allow companies to use their own stock as consideration in overseas acquisitions. This would open new possibilities for startups and mid-cap firms to pursue acquisitions without heavy cash outlays.

About the Cross-Border M&A Hub

Operated by WellBear Inc., a firm with deep experience in global deal sourcing, execution, and post-merger integration, Cross-Border M&A Hub offers a hands-on, end-to-end support system for cross-border transactions.

Key Features:

1. Focused on Small to Mid-Sized Deals Unlike major investment banks that typically handle large-scale transactions, this platform focuses on deals in the $3M–$100M USD range across multiple industries and regions.
2. End-to-End Advisory by M&A Professionals Experienced advisors support every stage of the process—from matching and initial negotiations to due diligence, contract drafting, and post-merger integration (PMI). We help bridge gaps in language, culture, and legal frameworks.
3. Global Legal & Tax Advisory Network Through partnerships with local legal and tax professionals, we ensure every transaction is compliant with regional regulations. When Japan’s expected equity-based M&A reforms come into effect, our platform will support companies with the necessary expertise and resources to take full advantage of the new rules.

Ideal Users

For Buyers:

Japanese startups, publicly listed ventures, and mid-cap companies looking to expand overseas but facing challenges such as:

• Limited access to reliable deal flow
• Lack of internal cross-border M&A expertise
• Constraints on cash funding (interested in stock-based transactions once regulations are in place)

What’s Next

Expanding to Out-In M&A

While the platform currently focuses on outbound deals (Japanese companies acquiring overseas targets), we are actively expanding to support inbound acquisitions as well. This includes helping Japanese sellers connect with global buyers who may better understand their value proposition or offer strategic synergies.