YK Consulting Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yusuke Kubota) announces that it has commenced operations on June 23, 2026, focusing on M&A and IT advisory (IT due diligence*1, PMI*2 support), as well as DX promotion support and IT system implementation support. Our company's mission is to be "the IT support team for companies tackling challenges with all their might." We will walk alongside companies facing digital challenges, from the M&A consideration phase through PMI and post-integration value creation. (Official Website URL: https://www.ykco.jp) *1 IT due diligence (ITDD) refers to the investigation and evaluation of a target company's IT systems, infrastructure, security, and operational structure in M&A or business succession to understand IT-related risks and their impact on corporate value. *2 PMI (Post Merger Integration) refers to a series of initiatives to integrate management, organization, human resources, IT systems, and other areas to transform into a single new company after an M&A transaction is completed. ■ Background of Establishment The M&A market in Japan continues to expand. In 2025, domestic M&A deals exceeded 5,000 for the first time, reaching 5,115 cases*1, with both the number of concluded deals and market size continuing to reach record highs. This growth is driven by factors such as strengthening competitiveness, consolidating management resources, increasing needs for business succession, and the growing presence of investment funds. M&A has become a viable management strategy not only for large corporations but also for small and medium-sized enterprises. However, the success rate of M&A objectives remains low at only 45%*2, indicating that the expected synergies are not fully realized in many transactions. In our experience providing support, we have observed numerous cases where financial, tax, and legal considerations take precedence in M&A transactions, and IT risks are not adequately assessed befor