Buy and Build

In this episode, we explore the dynamic UK debt landscape with a new searcher, Scott McGregor. Scott brings extensive experience in finance and private equity, and as a new searcher, he recently undertook the task of examining the broader UK SME cash flow lender landscape. He then shared his findings on Searchfunder, generating considerable engagement. We thought it would be beneficial to bring hi...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Sam Turner, a friend and return guest to the podcast. Sam was a guest on episode 20, about 2 years ago. At that point, he had completed his first acquisition and he laid out a very ambitious growth plan.  Since then, Sam has completed a further 3 acquisitions and although his sector strategy has broadened, it is fair to say his goals are eve...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of discussing the intricacies of acquiring and operating a franchise operation with Ruth Brown, COO of Home Instead, and Mahdi Kaz, a multi-unit franchise owner within the Home Instead network.  We cover a lot of ground in the episode including: Common misconceptions of the franchise model, The resale and acquisition opportunities, The benefits franchising offer...

Today we speak again with Jordan Hammond, who returns to speak about his experience implementing EOS in his business. As a reminder, Jordan owns Genuine Comfort, which he grew from scratch to $5m in turnover before turning to strategic acquisitions to nearly triple his top line while simultaneously doubling the profit margins. To learn more about his acquisition journey, jump back a couple of epis...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rob Liddiard, a professional Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) implementer, to reflect on an insightful morning where he introduced the EOS principles to my team at Amber Home Improvements.  Before becoming an EOS implementer, Rob was the founder and CEO of Yapster, a workplace messenger app for frontline organisations. Rob self-impleme...

In this episode, we are joined by Matthew Bradley. Matthew is the founder of Tikto Capital, a private investment firm investing in and acquiring UK SMEs and tech businesses. Before Tikto, Matthew was the CIO and CFO of Forward Partners, a publicly-listed venture capital firm.  During the episode, Matthew shares valuable insights into his investment and deal origination strategy, how he pivoted to...

In this episode, we are thrilled to have a returning guest, Rob LeBlanc— Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Ambit Partners. Rob brings a wealth of experience in traditional search fund investing, particularly in emerging markets, investing in 80 search funds across 30 countries.  During the episode, Rob delves into the intricacies of Ambit Partners' searcher selection process, the importance of a st...

Today we speak with Jordan Hammond, owner of Genuine Comfort. Jordan grew his business from scratch to $5m in turnover before turning to strategic acquisitions to nearly triple his top line while simultaneously doubling the profit margins.  During the episode, Jordan shares his unique approach to reaching out to competitors, building relationships, and ultimately executing successful acquisitions....

This week, we wanted to publish an episode that was released a while back but feels very relevant given the current debt financing market. The listenership has grown significantly since this was released so you may not have heard this.  Royalty financing is an interesting alternative financing offering for buyouts or equity releases. It mixes certain elements of debt and equity in an attempt to be...

This week we speak with Alexi Jones, a former investment banker- turned startup founder and now acquisition entrepreneur.   Alexi now heads up Viso Logistics, a business acquisitions group building a next-generation UK logistics network. During the episode, we discuss Alexi's first acquisition of Jag Express, his deal sourcing and acquisition strategy, why he decided on this sector and his future...

This week we speak with co-host Graeme Wallis to discuss the successful raising of his search fund, Hargrave Succession.  We discussed his fundraising process, how he built an investor network, and the importance of having a complimentary cap table. We also dive into the types of companies Graeme is searching for and his internship program.  Graeme then turns the tables and gets an update from Pau...

This week we speak with Sandy Farmer and Jo Cockburn from Ethos Partners - entrepreneurial providers of supportive capital for cash-generative, fast-growing, ambitious UK and European companies. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating journeys of Sandy and Jo, the story behind the founding of Ethos, and its mission to bridge the gap between retiring business owners and aspiring investors.  W...

This week we speak with Ritz Steytler, CEO of Abacus Partners and a senior advisor at Vonzeo Capital. Ritz is also the co-founder and CEO of Axora, an innovative B2B marketplace driving digital transformation for industrial companies. In this episode we dive into Ritz's journey as a searcher and operator of PXP Solutions, including his role in the acquisition of omnichannel payment processor PXP s...

This week we speak with Dr Ewan Lloyd-Baker, an accomplished entrepreneur with an extensive background in turnarounds, corporate finance, and M&A.  In this episode, Ewan shares his experience acquiring and growing a 200-year-old manufacturing company. We discuss the benefits of acquisitions and reverse mergers and the pros/cons of running a publicly listed entity. We also delve into the key insigh...

This week we replay an episode where Paul was a guest on the Build and Exit podcast hosted by Julie Wilkinson. Julie does a great job at chronicling Paul's search journey and they cover a lot of topics that the listeners often ask about. So I hope this is helpful! Check out Julie's podcast: Build and Exit

Bent Flyvbjerg is the first BT Professor and inaugural Chair of Major Programme Management at Oxford University's Saïd Business School and the Villum Kann Rasmussen Professor and Chair in Major Program Management at the IT University of Copenhagen. He recently published a new book titled How Big Things Get Done, which breaks down the key elements of successful project management.  In this episode,...

This week we speak with Ayo Disu, Co-founder at Octillion Capital Partners (OCP). OCP is an eCommerce acquisition company that acquires, operates, and builds culture-defining, socially conscious consumer brands. In this episode, we discuss OCT's first acquisition of Lean Caffeine, a health-conscious coffee company that also sells superfoods like bone broth and MCT oil. Ayo talks about the synergie...

This week we speak with Bruno Lea on the latest episode in the ETA mini-series. Bruno launched the first traditional search fund in France in 2018, Lea transmission SAS. Since acquiring, Bruno is the current president of Haas Automation in France and Spain. He also completed his MBA at IESE  Business School and worked as an associate director of MBA admissions there. During the episode, Bruno shar...

This week we speak with João Diogo Stoffel, founder of the first traditional search fund in Portugal in 2017. After the successful completion of his search in 2019, João now runs Project To Be, an organization focused on the early education sector with the aim of operating a group of Portuguese and Spanish family-oriented schools. During the episode, Joao shares his journey into the world of ETA f...

This week we speak with Gautam Basu, the managing partner at True North Search. Gautam has 30 years of experience executing M&A transactions and is a Professor of Practice, a board member, and an entrepreneur in the acquisition space. In this episode, we explore ETA in the Nordics. Gautum shares his experience educating both investors and searchers on this new and exciting market. Gautam also disc...

This week we speak with Tobias Raeber, a former searcher and now seasoned investor and advisor. In 2013, Tobias raised the first partnered search fund in Europe, focusing on Switzerland and Germany. In this episode, we discuss the Swiss and German markets and how they compare to other ETA markets in Europe. Tobias also shares his insights and experiences fundraising in a new market without the typ...

In today's episode, we welcome back Jan Simon, a well-known figure in the ETA community. Jan is the Managing Partner of Vonzeo Capital Partners and is also a lecturer and professor at various business schools. In this episode, we continue our regional mini-series by discussing the ETA/search fund market in Spain, the second-largest market for search funds outside of the US.  We start off by discus...

In this episode, Paul and Graeme are joined by Simon Webster, who raised the first search fund in the UK in the 1990s. That acquisition was an incredible success but not without its challenges. Since then, he has exited a few turnarounds and invested in over 50 search funds. He is also very involved in several key business schools across Europe as an advisor and lecturer for all things ETA. Simon...

This week we speak with Luis Reyes, managing partner of Iberian Ventures. Luis discusses why his second acquisition, which was in the fire protection sector, has caused his fund to focus almost exclusively on consolidating the industry. Luis explains why the sector is attractive, why rolling-up smaller operations make sense, and how to acquire below the levels of the PE. Paul and Luis also discuss...

This week we speak with Craig Brennan, founder and CEO of The Little Sports Group. Craig is building a group of companies in the sports, education and childcare sectors. After growing his first company to £1M in revenue organically, Craig acquired a competitor and doubled the size of his business overnight. Since then he has completed 7 acquisitions in the last 18 months.  In this episode, we disc...