Daiwa Securities Group, a leading Japanese financial services company, has recently completed the acquisition of Dublin-based mergers and acquisitions consultancy, IBI Corporate Finance. This strategic move marks Daiwa’s effort to bolster its international footprint in the M&A sector.
The purchase, which converted IBI into a wholly owned subsidiary, was finalized earlier this month. While the exact purchase price remains undisclosed, estimations suggest it exceeds 10 million euros (approximately $10.7 million USD).
Daiwa is ambitiously targeting earnings of 70 billion yen (about $467 million USD) from its M&A business by the end of the fiscal year in March 2031, signifying a 50% increase over an eight-year period. The integration of IBI into its portfolio aligns with this growth strategy.
Founded in 1966, IBI Corporate Finance boasts a team of 28 professionals providing M&A advisory services across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and infrastructure. The consultancy is particularly known for its expertise in managing small- to mid-cap M&As valued at less than $500 million. It is estimated to generate an annual profit of around 2.4 million euros.
With M&A activities on the rise in Ireland, and many transactions being facilitated by advisers affiliated with accounting firms, IBI’s affiliation with Daiwa opens up new avenues. Leveraging Daiwa’s extensive global network, which includes connections to private equity funds in the U.S. and Europe, IBI aims to enhance its cross-border M&A capabilities.
This acquisition of IBI Corporate Finance marks Daiwa’s latest move in expanding its M&A advisory team, with plans to increase personnel by 40% to a total of 900 individuals. The company is strategically diversifying its revenue streams across Western economies. Previously, Daiwa’s M&A advisory presence in Europe was primarily concentrated in the U.K., Germany, and France. Since 2018, the Japanese brokerage has strategically established advisory offices in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, either through acquisitions or independent ventures. With this recent addition, Ireland now becomes Daiwa’s ninth location in Europe.
