Japan · Cross-border M&A advisory

Acquire a company in Japan.

Target search, due diligence, valuation and SPA execution — one accountable Japan-side partner, from screening to closing.

For overseas private equity firms and strategic buyers considering SME acquisitions in Japan.
01
Why us

Why you need a Japan-side deal partner

Inbound SME acquisitions in Japan carry risks that rarely surface in a data room: owner-centric governance, tax-driven accounting, limited disclosure and language barriers. BulkUp translates local realities into deal-relevant insight and delivers end-to-end execution support as your Japan-side deal partner.

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About BulkUp

One accountable structure, full local execution

BulkUp Consulting KK is an independent M&A advisory firm in Tokyo, supporting overseas companies and investors in inbound SME acquisitions with end-to-end support from target search to deal execution.

In-house specialists across financial, tax, legal and labor let us run Financial Advisory, full-scope Due Diligence and SPA support within a single accountable structure. You engage one advisor in Japan — we handle local execution.

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What we do

Five workstreams, one deal team

01
Target Search
Off-market SME targets via 25+ regional-bank relationships, unavailable through public channels.
02
Financial Advisory
Deal structuring, valuation support and negotiation assistance for inbound SME acquisitions.
03
Due Diligence
Practical full-scope DD across financial, tax, legal, labor and SPA matters — built to support SPA execution.
04
SPA Support
Coordination and execution through SPA negotiation and closing, working closely with legal counsel.
05
Deal Execution
End-to-end execution from target screening to closing, acting as your Japan-side deal partner.
DD focus: QoE · net debt & working capital · SME tax exposures · contracts & governance · labor & key-person risk
04
Experience snapshot
10+
inbound acquisitions supported
100+
SME M&A & DD projects
$3–20m
typical deal size (USD)
25+
regional banks in our network
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Engagement & fees

Fixed fee. No success fee.

Engagements are structured on a project basis, with scope and fees defined case by case. We do not charge success-based or transaction-based fees — ensuring fully independent, execution-focused advice.

Typical all-in fee
from USD 60,000
Target search · Financial Advisory · full-scope DD · SPA support, per typical inbound SME acquisition.
06
Who you will work with
Hiroki Sato
Hiroki Sato
Group CEO, BulkUp Group · MBA, Kyoto Univ.

Entrepreneur in Residence, University of Nottingham, UK

Former MUFG Bank and PwC Deals. Lead advisor and project owner for all engagements, with 100+ SME M&A and DD projects. Directly responsible for scope, key negotiations and final deliverables.

Chikao Inamura
Chikao Inamura
Director, BulkUp Consulting KK · ~30 yrs IB

Former Salomon Brothers (now Citi). Project manager across all transactions, leading day-to-day execution across target search, Financial Advisory, DD and SPA workstreams through closing.

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Our insights View all →
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2026 / 07 / 07
[case003] Hidden Wage Liabilities in Japan: A Labor DD Trap for Foreign Buyers
Hiroki Sato, President & CEO, BulkUp Consulting KK|April 2, 2026|5 min read Japanese SME acquisitions, labor due diligence is one of the most overlooked areas — and often…
002
2026 / 07 / 07
[Case002] When You Are 40% of the Target’s Revenue: How to Handle Valuation in M&A
If your company already accounts for a large share of the target’s revenue, should you subtract it from the price? The instinct is understandable—but usually wrong. In Japan’s…
001
2026 / 07 / 07
[Case001] When EBITDA Is Four Times Too High: Hidden Risks in Japanese SME Due Diligence
Foreign buyers often underestimate how Japanese SME accounting practices can distort reported profitability. In a recent engagement, normalized EBITDA diverged from the reported figure by a factor of…
Inquiry

Discuss your inbound acquisition in Japan.

Initial discussions are confidential and without obligation. We focus on execution feasibility, scope and next steps.