Acquiring Minds How to Buy & Operate a Plane Ride Away
Feb 27, 2023
Paul Quirk, owner of Amber Home Improvements and host of the Buy and Build podcast, shares insights from his unique journey of acquiring a UK window and door business while living in Switzerland. He discusses the key differences between UK and US acquisitions, detailing strategies for sourcing deals and navigating financing options. Paul also reflects on the digital marketing challenges businesses face and how he revamped his company's processes. His experiences commuting between countries highlight the balance of work and family life in entrepreneurship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Cross-Border Search And Weekly Commute
- Paul moved from Geneva to search the UK while keeping family ties in Switzerland and ultimately commuted weekly.
- He bought Amber and now lives in the UK during the week while flying home most weekends.
UK Debt Market Forces Bigger Equity Checks
- The UK debt market differs sharply from the US with shorter terms and pricier private credit.
- That forces self-funded buyers to raise more equity or seek significant seller finance to bridge deals.
Broker Incentives Inflate Seller Expectations
- UK broker incentives often skew toward retainers not success fees, inflating seller price expectations.
- That widens the valuation gap between buyers and sellers and complicates dealmaking.
