Every week, in collaboration with LISTING, an M&A matching platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we report on newly listed assets and acquisition demand in the domestic M&A market. By examining the background of deals and market trends, we provide practical market information to companies and investors considering M&A. [Editor’s Note]

[Edaily Marketin Reporter Song Seung-Hyeon ] A long-established industrial equipment manufacturer and a labor-based manufacturing support services company have been listed for sale one after another in the domestic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. Both companies are profitable, with annual sales in the 7 billion won range. A materials manufacturer and a materials company affiliated with a major conglomerate are each pursuing acquisitions—with budgets exceeding 20 billion won—of a chemical materials company for semiconductor processes and a beauty and cosmetics brand, respectively. This trend reflects continued strategic acquisition demand aimed at securing specific capabilities, such as technology and brand value, rather than merely expanding scale.

According to the M&A matching platform LISTING on the 1st, Company A, an industrial equipment manufacturer with annual sales in the 7 billion won range, is seeking a buyer. Company A posts an operating profit margin of around 3% and has an integrated production system that handles everything in-house, from design to machining, assembly, and quality inspection. It possesses a product lineup based on its own intellectual property and a nationwide distribution network, and its export share has been growing rapidly recently. Total assets are in the 9 billion won range, and the desired sale price is around 7 billion won. It is considered a suitable acquisition target for buyers in the same or adjacent industries seeking to secure both production infrastructure and a sales network at once.

Another asset for sale is Company B, a manufacturing support services firm that outsources production processes for manufacturing companies. Driven by expanding orders from clients, its annual revenue has grown rapidly to the 7 billion won range, and it continues to operate at a profit. With a labor-intensive business structure that does not require large-scale capital investment, its asset burden is light, and its on-site operations team is considered a core asset. The asking price is in the 3 billion won range, and analysts note that the entry barrier is relatively low given the company’s size, making it a viable option for service companies looking to expand their manufacturing customer base or acquirers seeking to enter adjacent sectors.

Acquisition interest is also taking shape. Materials manufacturer C is pursuing the acquisition of a chemical materials company for semiconductor processes with a budget exceeding 20 billion won. The company is seeking a firm that possesses in-house manufacturing technology, production facilities, and a research lab across the entire spectrum of process materials, suggesting that the goal is a substantive expansion of its materials portfolio rather than a simple equity investment.

Company D, a materials firm affiliated with a major conglomerate, is also seeking a high-growth beauty and cosmetics brand with a budget of over 20 billion won. It is prioritizing companies with expertise and capabilities in marketing and logistics, a move interpreted as a strategy to secure new growth engines by adding consumer goods brands to its existing materials- and manufacturing-centric business structure.

Industry observers expect this two-way market revitalization—driven by both supply and demand—to continue for the foreseeable future. While recent M&A inquiries have focused on concrete synergy points—such as proven profitability, technology, and brand strength—rather than mere scale, another notable feature of the current market is that asset-heavy manufacturing and lean-structure service industries require entirely different types of acquirers, even when their revenue scales are similar.

A Listing official stated, “Even for properties with similar revenue scales, the suitable acquirer varies depending on the business structure; therefore, it is in the acquirer’s best interest to clearly define their acquisition objectives to increase the likelihood of a successful transaction.”

Detailed information on available businesses and acquisition demand can be found on LISTING.