Syntax Partners is pleased to announce the release of our latest annual review:
APAC Cross-Border M&A involving Japanese Companies: Review 2025 and Insight for 2026 | Syntax Partners, Inc.
Based on 361 APAC transactions announced by Japanese corporates in 2025 (Syntax Partners survey, observation‑date basis), this report provides a data‑driven assessment of where Japanese capital, management attention, and strategic priorities flowed across the region over the past year.
What This Review Covers
Grounded in our proprietary deal tracking, the report delivers:
- Country/region tallies — with Singapore (57), China (50), Vietnam (42), Thailand (39), and India (37) as the top destinations
- Industry-level trends — ICT/Digital (69) leading, followed by Chemicals & Materials (48), Consumer & Retail (32), and Healthcare (28)
- Directionality in major industries — including digital transformation, portfolio pruning in manufacturing, local route‑to‑market strategies in consumer sectors, and ASEAN channel expansion in healthcare
- Deep‑dive country insights — from China’s exit-heavy year to India’s multi‑channel financial ecosystem expansion
- Cross-cutting themes — China risk management, “China+1” reallocation, open innovation, energy/security considerations
- Implications for 2026 — actionable guidance for management teams on capital deployment, portfolio optimization, and strategic M&A positioning
Why This Matters
2025 marked a decisive shift toward dynamic portfolio management across APAC. Japanese corporates simultaneously advanced geopolitical de‑risking and reinvested in priority growth themes, using M&A as a central mechanism for both.
Looking ahead to 2026, the ability to make faster choices about markets, technologies, and governance, and to redeploy capital with discipline, will increasingly differentiate winners. This review provides a structured lens for management teams navigating that environment.