Unveiling the Dark Side of M&A: Lessons from Failed Deals

In an era where over 7,000 businesses shut their doors each year in Japan — notably despite being profitable — the concept of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) has gained significant attention as a potential solution to the pressing issue of succession shortages. Yet, an alarming trend has emerged; many executives are landing in dire trouble due to M&A failures, associated disputes with brokerage firms, and even post-sale lawsuits.

To combat this, the Business Executive Community “Sanbou,” led by Kenji Araya, CEO of Sanbou Inc., is organizing an exclusive seminar titled "Learning from the Dark Side of the M&A Industry: Essential Conditions for Avoiding M&A Failures" on February 3, 2026. At this event, attendees will gain insights from a notable speaker, Shunsuke Ohno, CEO of Nippon Partnership Support, who has a wealth of experience as an M&A advisor.

The Rising Crisis of Black Ink Business Closures

As research indicates, Japan faces an ongoing crisis fueled by a lack of successors. According to the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, there were approximately 49,788 cases of business closures in 2023, with 52.4% of these companies being in profit at the time of closure. A staggering 28.4% of business failures were attributed directly to the absence of a successor. This paradox has positioned M&A as a popular solution for many owners seeking to preserve their businesses.

However, this has not been without issues. Articles in major economic media such as 'Toyo Keizai' and 'Diamond Online' have pointed out the “traps” in the M&A process and the “dark side” of brokerage companies, bringing these concerns to the forefront of public discourse.

Understanding M&A Failures through Real Cases

The seminar intentionally puts the spotlight on M&A failures rather than successes. The rationale is straightforward: while successful cases are often influenced by specific individual factors, failures exhibit common patterns that can and should be studied in detail. The event’s expert, Shunsuke Ohno, is known in industry circles as “M&A Fox,” continuing to share insights and experiences from the challenging world of M&As on social media platforms.

Key Topics of the Seminar

1. The Surge in M&A Troubles: Analyzing the reasons for the increasing frequency of M&A disputes and failures in recent years.
2. Learning from Lawsuits: Reviewing actual lawsuit cases to identify critical mistakes and missteps that should be avoided.
3. Spotting Unethical Brokers: Equipping business owners with knowledge to identify and avoid dubious brokerage services, along with necessary contract insights to protect their company interests.
4. Preparation is Key: Understanding the essential conditions and pre-emptive measures needed to ensure successful M&A transactions.

Event Details

- Name: Learning from the Dark Side of the M&A Industry: Essential Conditions for Avoiding M&A Failures
- Date & Time: February 3, 2026, from 19:00 to 22:00
- Target Audience: Business Executives
- Participation Fee: Costs for networking will be borne by attendees; initial trial participation for non-members is permitted.
- Capacity: Varies by venue (No limit for online attendance)
- Registration URL: https://luma.com/lvbwrtmz

Venue Locations

- Main Venue: Sanbou BAR Shinjuku, 3-15-11 Shinjuku, Adhoc Shinjuku Building 5F, Tokyo
- Hyōgo Venue: Sanbou Snack Ashiya (Live streaming), 2-37 Kawanishi Town, Ashiya Thousand Building, Hyōgo
- Ibaraki Venue: Sanbou BAR Tsukuba Tribeca (Live streaming), 3-20-1 Gakuen no Mori, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
- Osaka Venue: Sanbou BAR Osaka (Live streaming), Venue undisclosed, details will be provided individually to registrants.

Speaker Profile

- Shunsuke Ohno: CEO of Nippon Partnership Support, has been a leading force in the M&A advisory landscape since establishing his company in 2021. He partners with over 60 M&A support firms nationwide, known for providing comprehensive advice for both sellers and buyers. Having handled more than 1,000 succession consultations, Ohno is acutely aware of the complexities involved in M&A deals and advocates for proactive measures.

Join this pivotal seminar to shield your business from potential pitfalls in M&A deals and ensure a thriving future.

For more information, visit Sanbou.