M&A Advisory for SMEs and Mid-Caps Bridgecode, the Undisputed Market Leader

The earlier you prepare for an M&A, the better. Closing a deal requires a strategic preparation period, from financial statement diagnostics to deal structuring. Buyers do not appear exactly when you want them to, so it is important to start reviewing acquisition proposals now.

A deal typically takes 6 to 12 months, and in some cases longer. For a smooth process and a swift closing, we recommend starting preparations now and keeping your deal terms flexible.

The M&A Center (advisory) operated by Bridgecode focuses on sell-side and buy-side advisory for SMEs and mid-cap companies with revenue of KRW 5bn to 100bn+. For small businesses with revenue under KRW 5bn, we recommend our sister service, the M&A Exchange (platform); advisory is also available through an engagement with the M&A Center. We have closed numerous deals for loss-making companies and businesses involving succession, fundraising, governance, or spin-offs/mergers through tailored strategies. Our advisory quality is third-party verified: top S grade in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups M&A advisory evaluation, a top-10 KIBO M&A partner, and a top-rated KVCA advisory firm.

Handling over 2,500 M&A inquiries every year, we have closed sales and acquisitions across manufacturing, consumer goods, F&B, franchise, IT/platform, bio, healthcare, fashion, services, and cross-border deals. Publicly disclosed cases — including a KOSPI-listed company (Unichem), the No. 1 eyewear brand on Musinsa, and a cross-border beauty-dental deal (Trunk Corporation) — are available on our case studies page.

Acquirers generally value business continuity and stable operations after the acquisition, so retaining existing employees is the norm. For key personnel in particular, employment retention is often written into the deal terms.

Invoices are issued with the line item labeled only as 'advisory service fee' — words like M&A or sale never appear. We recommend limiting communication with the advisory firm to the CEO or one designated person, using a personal email address that regular employees cannot access.

Enterprise value for investment and enterprise value for M&A are different. An M&A valuation must be prepared to logically persuade the buyer, and it comprehensively considers not only financial metrics such as operating profit but also non-financial indicators like technology, goodwill, and growth potential.

Our baseline is a success fee of 3–7% of the transaction value upon closing. A one-time service fee applies for the core services provided during the advisory process, including company analysis, deal materials preparation, information memorandum production, internal/external matching, press and network PR, and marketing.

Please come as you are — no preparation needed. During your visit, we will walk you through the M&A process and introduce Bridgecode in detail. If you decide to proceed with an M&A, we will request the necessary materials at that point.