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 publishing and content company with its own original content, as well as a food manufacturing and distribution company with a stable customer base, have been listed for sale one after another in the domestic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. B2B distribution and e-commerce companies, as well as educational content and technology firms, have each set aside budgets of over 10 billion won to identify acquisition targets that can create synergies with their core businesses. The trend continues this week, with sellers highlighting their profitability and customer bases, while buyers are specifically seeking targets that can deliver immediate results when integrated with their existing operations.

According to the M&A matching platform LISTING on the 15th, Company A, a publishing and content firm with annual sales in the 4 billion won range, is seeking a buyer. Company A is understood to maintain a higher operating profit margin than its industry peers, based on a business structure centered on in-house content. The asking price is in the 3 billion won range. Although its scale is not large, the quality of its profits is high, making it a suitable target for strategic acquirers seeking to secure content assets alongside a stable source of cash flow, or for mid-sized companies aiming to diversify their portfolios.

Another asset up for sale is Company B, a food manufacturing and distribution firm with annual sales in the 7 billion won range. It maintains stable sales through a base of regular clients, and the asking price—around 2 billion won—is considered reasonable relative to its sales volume. As there is room for profitability improvement, this is seen as an opportunity for a food company that already possesses production and distribution capabilities to secure scale and a client network at a relatively low cost by restructuring cost structures and distribution channels following the acquisition.

Acquisition interest is also taking shape. Company C, a B2B distribution and e-commerce firm, is considering acquisitions with a budget exceeding 10 billion won in the B2B-based distribution, manufacturing, and tech sectors—specifically targeting companies that can generate synergies with its existing business. As this demand aims to simultaneously expand its existing business and enter new markets, wholesale and distribution companies with a solid client base or firms with in-house technological capabilities are likely to be prioritized.

Company D, an educational content and technology firm, is also pursuing the acquisition of an education company—such as a private tutoring academy—with an offline education network, with a budget exceeding 10 billion won. The company plans to combine this with its own online education technology and content to expand into a business model that spans both online and offline channels. Analysts note that this aligns with the growing trend of technology companies in the education sector seeking to directly acquire offline operations.

Industry observers expect this two-way market revitalization—driven by both supply and demand—to continue for the time being. A key feature of the recent market is that, as M&A inquiries have shifted from focusing on mere scale to the quality of profits and post-merger synergies, sellers are increasingly promoting their assets by emphasizing profitability and transaction fundamentals rather than just revenue figures.

A Listing representative stated, “For the time being, in the small-to-medium-sized deal market, the success of transactions will hinge on matching small but proven assets with acquirers who have a concrete vision for synergies.”

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