Buy and Build

Jordan Hammond, Founder of Genuine Comfort, shares his unique approach to strategic acquisitions, emphasizing the crucial role of transparency and trust. Topics also include starting a startup, building relationships with competitors, resources for sales professionals, and struggles with expertise and entrepreneurship.

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 discussion dives into the intricacies of raising a search fund, highlighting Graeme Wallis's successful journey. Key insights include building a strong investor network and the significance of a balanced cap table. Graeme explores growth industries ripe for acquisition, like insurance and IT, while emphasizing strong cash flow. The episode also showcases the vital role internships play in this ecosystem and addresses the challenges of navigating market fluctuations and managing debt during acquisitions. Personal transitions add a unique layer to the conversation.

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!

Ritz Steytler, CEO of Abacus Partners and senior advisor at Vonzeo Capital, discusses his journey as a searcher and operator of PXP Solutions, the challenges he faced, and his experiences in various industries. He shares insights on identifying a good company for acquisition, the role of Abacus Partners in coaching growth businesses, implementing changes and leveraging technology for business improvement, and the importance of pricing strategy in acquisitions, including implementing value-based pricing and leveraging pricing for competitive advantage.

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!