HoldCo Builders

How I Acquired 4 Companies and Built $30M Portfolio in 4 Years | Mathias Calonius Interview

Dec 23, 2023
Mathias Calonius, co-founder of the Finnish holding company JATKAJA, discusses his journey in acquiring four companies and building a $30 million portfolio in just four years. He shares insights on finding excellent deals, avoiding costly mistakes, and the patience required in managing diverse businesses. Mathias emphasizes the significance of relationship-building with CEOs during transitions and outlines strategies for tripling revenue from $3 million to $9 million. His experiences provide a fascinating look at the strategic dynamics of entrepreneurship and growth.
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ADVICE

Acquisition Criteria for Stability

  • Acquire traditional companies with steady profitability and aging entrepreneurs to fill the future leadership gap.
  • Avoid industries prone to digital disruption where small companies lack resources to adapt alone.
ADVICE

Persist in Deal Sourcing

  • Build deal pipelines by persistent outreach to aging company owners, even if initially uninterested.
  • Relationships grow slowly but can result in fruitful acquisitions over years.
ADVICE

Ownership Structure Advice

  • Acquire majority stakes but invite prior owners to retain small minority stakes to keep them motivated.
  • Also incentivize new management with ownership to foster entrepreneurial mindset.
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