Anyone knows any precedent transactions of buying 2+ companies and merging?

searcher profile

November 10, 2019

by a searcher from London Business School in Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Hi all! We are looking into precedent transactions from previous searchers where there was a potential play for buying two or more companies that fit the investment criteria, yet individually these companies were below the EBITDA threshold (very fragmented industry), hence buying them separately and merging them was a strategic move. Does anyone knows if such a case exists in the search fund industry? We are aware of other cases were searches pursued greenfield initiatives with strong investment thesis and investors backed them, but not aware of a consolidation strategy.

Keen to speak to anyone that can share some insight.

Many Thanks

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commentor profile
Reply by an admin
from Stanford University in Honolulu, HI, USA
I look forward to hearing the feedback of the community on your question. In the interim, there are some examples discussed in interviews on Searchfunder:
* ^redacted‌’s interview about merging 2 companies that were a bit distressed: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/being-nimble-as-a-self-funded-searcher
* ^redacted‌’s interview on creating Trumpet Behavioral Health: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/the-marathon-begins-on-acquisition-day-searchfunder-interview
* ^redacted‌ discusses the impact of layering risks with multiple acquisitions that ended up being impacted by customer concentration: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/be-wary-of-customer-concentration
* ^redacted‌’s interview about sourcing their add-on acquisitions: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/redesigning-a-plant-services-company-for-growth and
* ^redacted‌'s interview with ^redacted‌ on the Think Like An Owner podcast is here: https://www.searchfunder.com/post/my-interview-with-nick-haschka-from-cub-investments-tlao-ep-5
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Reply by a searcher
from Portland State University in Portland, OR, USA
Effectively it’s a merger of many entities into a parent entity or possibly a reverse merger - surviving entity. I haven’t done these acquires/merger under the new tax regime. Would recommend talking to a tax atty specializing in m&a. Happy to make an intro to the folks I used in the past.
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