SMEs get help to expand with M&A and joint venture tools

Trade body seeks to boost tie-ups and link firms to deal hunters via platform

- Krist Boo Senior Business Correspondent

Local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now being offered a leg-up on growth through a new programme to help them expand through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures and consortiums.

The initiative, launched by the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) on Dec 3, will promote collaboration, improve literacy on partnership models and connect SMEs to deal hunters, experts, funding and professional services through a deal-sourcing and resource aggregation platform.

In a study of 211 respondents in early 2025, the trade body found that while 60 per cent of SMEs are open to M&As and partnerships, 82 per cent rated their knowledge of the process as being poor or basic.

Only 13 per cent were satisfied with the professional services for their segment, citing cost and complexity as barriers.

The programme, called SME UNITE (Unifying Networks, Integration and Teaming for Enterprises), was launched by ASME at SGX Centre.