The Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO) is expanding support for small and medium-sized enterprises preparing ownership succession through mergers and acquisitions.
KIBO said on the 22nd that it held the third 2026 Business Succession M&A Bridge Forum at the KBIZ Hall of the Korea Federation of SMEs in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo district on the 21st. About 140 people attended, including executives from SMEs in the greater Seoul area, M&A brokerages and financial institutions.
The forum was designed to brief SMEs on the rules, tax changes and support programs relevant to succession-driven M&A. Samil PwC and the law firm Byul outlined the state of business succession among Korean SMEs and key legal issues, while Zetaplan Invest and Intercapital Partners walked through points to watch in M&A transactions based on actual cases.
The accounting firm Aurum explained the eligibility requirements and tax benefits for sellers and buyers under the government's recently announced special taxation for third-party business succession. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance presented representations and warranties insurance, which covers risks that can arise during an M&A process.
KIBO also introduced its main support programs, including M&A guarantees, technology escrow and trade secret protection, and business succession consulting. In the latter half of the event, M&A brokerages, commercial banks and KIBO offered one-on-one consultations covering deal brokerage, financing and legal advice.
"Succession through M&A is an important way for SMEs to pass on the technology and management expertise they have built up and to improve their long-term viability," said Lee Sang-chang, a KIBO executive director. "We will expand cooperation with specialist institutions so that succession-driven M&A can proceed smoothly."
Since establishing a public-private M&A support framework in March last year, KIBO has helped match sellers with buyers and provided corporate valuation, technology protection and legal, accounting and tax advisory services. It has held three forums this year, in the Yeongnam region, the Chungcheong and Honam regions, and the greater Seoul area, and plans to expand the program nationwide next year.
