ARC Group successfully hosted the Capital Markets and M&A Forum Tokyo 2026 at The Ritz Carlton Tokyo, marking the first time the firm brought its flagship event to Japan. The exclusive forum convened senior corporate executives, institutional investors, legal advisors, and industry leaders, reinforcing ARC Group’s commitment to fostering high level dialogue and cross border collaboration in one of Asia’s most influential financial hubs.
As one of ARC Group’s flagship event, the Tokyo edition served as a strategic platform to examine the evolving dynamics of global capital markets, initial public offerings, and cross border mergers and acquisitions, with a particular focus on opportunities emerging within Japan and the broader Asia Pacific region.
Opening Remarks and Capital Markets Outlook
The forum opened with welcoming remarks by Crystal Zhang, Managing Partner at ARC Group, who introduced the Tokyo edition and highlighted the firm’s decision to bring its flagship forum to Japan for the first time. Her remarks emphasized Japan’s increasing relevance in international capital markets and the importance of creating a platform for candid discussion among global market participants.
This was followed by a keynote presentation from Paul Chong, Partner at ARC Group, who delivered a strategic overview on raising growth capital in the United States capital markets. Drawing on his extensive experience across investment banking and private equity, Paul Chong provided insights into public listing pathways, including IPOs and alternative structures, and discussed key considerations for companies evaluating access to international capital markets.
Navigating United States Capital Markets and Listing Requirements
The morning program continued with a keynote session addressing common legal and regulatory challenges faced by foreign companies listing in the United States by Simon Luk, Senior Advisor at Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP. The session focused on governance standards, compliance readiness, and regulatory expectations, offering practical guidance for Japanese and regional companies preparing for overseas listings.
This was followed by a Capital Markets Panel Discussion examining the current state of United States capital markets, the challenges faced by Japanese companies pursuing international listings, and strategies to overcome regulatory, valuation, and investor positioning hurdles.
The panel featured Roger Salazar, Jr., Managing Director and Head of Global Capital Markets at ARC Group Securities, Simon Luk, Senior Advisor at Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, Joy Pan, Senior Partner at MarcumAsia, and Paul Chong, Partner at ARC Group. The discussion was moderated by Ian Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ARC Group Securities.
Panelists shared practical perspectives drawn from recent transaction experience, highlighting evolving market conditions, regulatory considerations, and best practices for companies navigating cross border listings and access to United States capital markets.
Cross Border M&A Strategies
In the afternoon, the program shifted focus to mergers and acquisitions. Valentin Ischer, Partner at ARC Group, delivered a keynote titled From Tokyo to Southeast Asia, outlining a mid market cross border M&A playbook for Japanese companies expanding into regional growth markets. His presentation addressed transaction structuring, sector selection, and execution considerations across Southeast Asia and other high growth regions.
The forum concluded with a global cross border M&A outlook panel for 2026, bringing together senior professionals to discuss how geopolitical developments, macroeconomic shifts, and sector consolidation trends are reshaping global deal making. The discussion highlighted the increasing importance of local market expertise, strategic partnerships, and disciplined execution in cross border transactions.
Global Cross Border M&A Outlook
The afternoon program concluded with an M&A Panel Discussion titled Global Cross Border M&A Outlook 2026: What’s Changing, What Wins, focusing on the evolving dynamics shaping international deal making and cross border transaction activity by Valentin Ischer, Partner at ARC Group.
The panel featured Catherine Li, Senior Managing Director, Life Sciences and Cross-Border M&A, and Simon Luk, Senior Advisor at Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP. The discussion was moderated by Valentin Ischer, Partner at ARC Group. The discussion explored how macroeconomic shifts, geopolitical developments, and sector specific trends are influencing M&A strategies globally, with particular attention to execution considerations for mid market transactions.
Panelists shared perspectives on how companies and investors can navigate changing market conditions, identify resilient sectors, and structure cross border transactions effectively amid increased regulatory scrutiny and competitive deal environments. The session provided attendees with practical insights into the factors expected to shape global M&A activity in 2026 and beyond.
Engagement and Dialogue
Throughout the day, participants engaged in off the record discussions and networking sessions, fostering open dialogue and strengthening professional relationships. The strong level of interaction underscored the forum’s role as a platform for meaningful exchange among executives, investors, and advisors active across capital markets and M&A.
Commenting on the event, Carlos Lopez, Chief Operating Officer of ARC Group, said:
“Bringing our Capital Markets and M&A Forum to Tokyo for the first time was an important milestone for ARC Group. Japan remains a key market within the Asia Pacific region, and this forum provided a valuable platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and relationship building among market participants.”
Anna Sahlberg Carlsson, Marketing Manager at ARC Group, added:
“The strong level of engagement throughout the forum highlighted the relevance of these discussions for companies navigating cross border capital markets and M&A, and underscored the value of creating a focused platform for meaningful dialogue among market participants. It was a proud moment for the ARC Group team.”
Sponsors and Partners
ARC Group extends its sincere appreciation to the forum’s sponsors and partners, whose expertise and support contributed to the success of the Tokyo edition and provided valuable perspectives on cross border capital markets and M&A activity:
- Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, SRFC is a nationally recognized law firm of about 70 attorneys with corporate, securities, litigation, trusts and estates and tax practices, serving clients from all over the world.
- MarcumAsia, a leading independent accounting and advisory firm recognized for guiding Asia based companies through IPOs, cross border listings, audit, and compliance, with deep expertise in United States and international reporting standards.
- ARC Group Securities, ARC Group Securities LLC is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. The firm specializes in providing comprehensive capital markets and investment banking services to emerging growth and mid-market companies globally, with a focus on bridging Asia and Western markets.
ARC Group thanks its sponsors for their continued collaboration and commitment to advancing informed dialogue across global capital markets.
Looking Ahead
The successful conclusion of the Capital Markets and M&A Forum Tokyo 2026 further reinforces ARC Group’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration across global financial markets. ARC Group looks forward to continuing its flagship forum in key international financial centers, supporting clients and partners navigating an increasingly complex global environment.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Anna Sahlberg Carlsson
Marketing Manager
[email protected]
