A seminar on strategic M&A in the housing and renovation industries was held, featuring presentations by Ajimine Akira (安次嶺 陽) of Kuratomi-Sahara M&A Office and Ogawa Hiroshi (小川 博司) of OLIVER CORPORATION.
The first session explained the basic concept of “strategic M&A,” which views M&A as a means of corporate growth and survival, while addressing challenges facing the housing industry, including market contraction, labor shortages and rising material costs. Drawing on his own experience, speaker Ajimine Akira (安次嶺 陽) introduced specific ways to maximize a company’s strengths, manage risks and review its cash-flow position, while dispelling the entrenched perception that M&A means selling a company or reflects business failure.
The second session featured a special discussion between Ogawa Hiroshi (小川 博司) of OLIVER CORPORATION, which is pursuing diversification primarily in the Hokuriku region, and Ajimine Akira (安次嶺 陽). Drawing on their respective experiences as sellers and buyers, they discussed the friction that arises in the M&A process, the difficulty of creating synergies and the realities of managing a business alliance.
Participants in the third session and subsequent sessions said they had learned about the seriousness of the succession issue, the importance of proactive acquisitions and the realities of the industry.