Buy and Build

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 episodes to learn more!

According to Jordan, a big part of successfully integrating those acquisitions and the subsequent growth was due to the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

During the episode, we explore the role of EOS implementers, the evolution of organizational structures, and the challenges and strategies for hiring the right people. Jordan shares insights into overcoming resistance to change and maximizing EOS for sustainable business growth. Throughout the conversation, we emphasize the importance of aligning core values, defining clear roles, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement to drive operational excellence and success. Enjoy this fantastic conversation!

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If you are a UK searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator- a program designed to help you acquire the right business, quicker. Paul founded the boot camp but the curriculum is developed and presented by former guests of the podcast. The next cohort of peers is incredible, you should consider joining them: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

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Follow Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-hammond-9a79562a/ 

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-implemented EOS in his startup and the impact on his business was profound. Since exiting Yapster, Rob has been focusing on helping others implement EOS in their business. 

During the episode, Rob and I work our way through the different components of EOS, getting my initial takes, while Rob enriches the discussion with his deeper understanding and personal experience with EOS. 

We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did recording it. 

Be sure to follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertliddiard 

and check out his EOS site for more information: https://www.eosworldwide.com/rob-liddiard 

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If you are a UK searcher looking to buy a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

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 minority investments throughout last year (2023), and the importance of engaging with businesses that are genuinely open to selling.

We also spent time discussing some interesting sectors Matthew has gone deep on and what his findings were. 

It is always a great time chatting with Matthew and we hope you enjoy the conversation too!

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If you are a searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The bootcamp curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

Enjoy!

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 strong local cap table, and the most interesting markets they have invested in Fund I. We also get into the plans for Fund II. Exciting times!

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If you are a searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The bootcamp curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

Enjoy!

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. He walks through the crucial role transparency plays in fostering trust during these intricate negotiations.

We also discuss the difficulty in integrating those acquisitions effectively and even the importance of a business operating system like EOS.

If you are looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator- a program designed to help you acquire the right business, quicker. Bootcamp was founded by Paul but the curriculum is developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

Enjoy!

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 better align with owners. In the episode, we get into the details of royalty financing and the types of businesses best suited for it.

If you are looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

Enjoy!

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 plans

This week we also announced the Buy and Build Accelerator. If you are a searcher, check it out to learn more:

 https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

Enjoy!

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 Paul.

Enjoy!

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. 

We then dive into the search fund/ ETA ecosystem. We discuss why the asset class fits their investment strategy, how they feel they can add unique value as investors, their investment criteria, and past deals. 

Enjoy!

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 solutions by Abacus Partners, a payments business that underwent a transformation, leading to a significant exit. We delve into the challenges he faced, his experiences in various industries, and his current role at Abacus Partners, guiding growth businesses.

Tune in now!

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 insights from the eventual exit in 2018. 

Ewan is a natural leader with a wealth of knowledge. We hope you enjoy this fantastic conversation!

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, Professor Flyvbjerg discusses how he became interested in the execution and management of mega projects and how this has become a global phenomenon. He emphasizes that successful project management is not limited to big projects but applies equally to small projects such as house renovation or wedding planning. He also shares some of the most memorable and technically interesting projects he has studied, highlighting the importance of framing problems, leading complex projects, and building teams. Enjoy!

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 synergies between the missions of Lean Caffeine and Octillion Capital Partners, and how the acquisition has been a great addition to their portfolio. Ayo also shares their future plans for growth and the company's evolving thesis. Tune in to hear the inside scoop on growing an eCommerce company. Enjoy!

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 shares how he discovered the model during his MBA and how he initially thought it was a model that could only work in the US. Bruno also talks about the challenges of finding investors in France who were not familiar with the model but managed to secure US investors who were keen on investing in the French market. Bruno also talks about deal sourcing, capital markets and operational dynamics in the French market. This is truly a fantastic conversation and a great primer for anyone considering searching or investing in France. Enjoy!

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 from his time at IESE Business School. We also discuss the importance of understanding a market like Portugal (this includes culture and being able to connect with owners), how he pursued an evergreen strategy in the early education sectors after learning of the success in other markets, and the strategies he has executed on whilst running the business, which includes the first 2 years during covid. 

We hope you enjoy this very insightful episode!

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 discusses the different aspects that make the Nordics an attractive ETA region, including the demographics, the capital markets, and the industrial base. With two successful deals under his belt, he provides a unique insight. Enjoy!

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 typical MBA experience, and we also discuss his successful (partial) exit from the business he acquired in 2015. Enjoy!

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 discussing the history of search funds in Spain. We get into other ETA models and Jan explains how market maturation leads to other ETA models developing. Jan also goes into detail as to why Spain is an attractive market for ETA. We hope you enjoy!

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 shares his story of how he first learned about search funds and his thoughts on the UK market in the 90s. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of being an entrepreneur and offers advice for those interested in the ETA journey today. Enjoy!