TOKYO and KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Umios Corporation, a seafood company, and Wah Kong Corporation have partnered to create a strategic joint venture focused on Pet World International (PWI), a leading pet food company in Malaysia.

Umios acquired a majority stake in PWI earlier this year for ¥11.4 billion ($72.2 million USD). According to Umios, PWI holds the second largest share in the Malaysian pet food market and operates the country’s only BRC-certified pet food plant. The company has about 350 employees, sells its products through more than 10,000 brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms.

Through the venture, Umios will combine its capabilities in wet pet food with PWI’s dry food production capabilities, allowing the company to create comprehensive coverage across both dogs and cats and wet and dry formats. The partnership will integrate both companies’ sales networks, product portfolios, manufacturing capabilities and R&D expertise. 

“We have built PWI over many years into one of Malaysia’s leading pet food businesses, and our priority was to find a partner that could help take the company into its next stage of growth while sharing our long-term vision for the business,” said Choy Peng Yew, shareholder and chief executive officer of PWI. “Umios brings extensive capabilities in pet food, product development and international markets that are highly complementary to PWI’s strengths. By combining these capabilities, we believe we can accelerate PWI’s growth beyond Malaysia and build PWI into a leading pet food platform across Asia and beyond.”

Umios anticipates operating profit from the venture will reach ¥10 billion ($63.3 million USD) and led to a return on investment of about 18% by the end of March 2028. 

Merger and acquisition advisory firm Japan Corporate Advisory Institute (JCAI) served as financial advisor on the transaction.

“PWI brings outstanding brand and manufacturing strength in Malaysia and is the ideal partner to accelerate our pet food strategy across Asia,” said Kimihiro Takaya, managing executive officer, division director of Overseas Business Strategy Division and unit director of Fine Chemicals Unit at Umios. “JCAI bridged the two sides with deep insight and experience across Southeast Asia, helping build the trust behind this partnership.”

Olimjon Sadinov, managing partner at JCAI, added, “Successful cross-border transactions are ultimately about aligning strategy, value and trust. Umios and PWI bring complementary capabilities and a shared ambition to create a leading pet food platform across Asia. JCAI is proud to have helped turn that strategic ambition into a partnership.”

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