[Offline Startup Seminar Vol. 2] Lawyers on Exit Strategy from the Latest IPO and M&A Trends

Domestic M&A deal counts in Japan hit a record in 2025, and in May 2026 METI published guidance positioning M&A as one of the growth paths open to startups, so the exit market is shifting. This session covers the practical points founders need when weighing which exit route fits their own company. The first half reviews the latest exit-market trends, what due diligence and listing examination actually look at, the caveats of running a dual-track process, and how to think about contracts and governance with either an IPO or an M&A in view. The second half is a cross-talk between an IPO lawyer and an M&A lawyer, working through concrete cases and the judgment calls that come up in practice. The speakers are Keita Mashimo, a lawyer focused on M&A and startup investment, and Fumihiko Ogata, a lawyer and certified public accountant with a background in IPO work. The venue is Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), 1F SQUARE-1, running 19:00 to 21:00 with networking from 20:15. It is aimed at startup founders, CFOs, and staff in corporate planning, legal, or finance; lawyers and law firms in the same field are asked not to attend.