Buying Businesses From Abroad

How serial investor Peter built a portfolio of 20 companies generating £18.5 million in turnover by acquiring distressed assets and executing strategic roll ups during a global crisis.

Dealmakers Case Study: Peter L. Industry: Multiple Sectors Deal Strategy: Distressed Assets & Supply Chain Roll Ups
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Spotting Opportunities in a Crisis

With over 30 years of commercial experience, Peter is an absolute master at spotting expansion opportunities. While many retail and service owners despaired during the national lockdowns, Peter went on the offensive. Instead of panicking when his London flower supply business was forced to pause operations, he focused his energy entirely on acquisitions.

By the end of the pandemic, he had acquired eight new businesses, bringing his total group portfolio to 20 companies tracking for an £18.5 million turnover. His secret to buying businesses from his home in France is relying heavily on an expert deal team. He trusts his financial advisors and due diligence team to evaluate cash flow and negotiate deals on the ground in the UK.

"The key to buying every business is to have the right people around you to do the due diligence. You cannot run 20 businesses on your own. We probably look at 50 a year to buy, and it would be impossible to do that alone."

Closing Deals on Church Steps and Rescuing Liquidations

Peter specializes in distressed acquisitions. When an administrator was about to liquidate a school playground equipment company, Peter swooped in and bought the entire business for just £40,000. By bringing the staff back and fulfilling the existing order book, that single acquisition quickly returned to producing a £2 million turnover.

In another incredible scenario, he attended a funeral in Yorkshire and successfully negotiated the purchase of a £1.5 million cleaning business right on the church steps. Later, when a frustrated owner was about to liquidate his weed killing business due to severe solicitor delays, Peter brought in a friendly insolvency contact. He acquired the entire company, including six fully loaded commercial vehicles and nearly £1 million in ongoing council contracts, for an unbelievable £14,000.

£40k

Playground Business Acquired

£2m

Turnover Generated

£14k

Weed Killing Business + £1m Contracts

The Ultimate Supply Chain Roll Up

Peter is a genius at connecting his supply chain. He acquired a Christmas decoration business, quickly realized they relied heavily on a specific haulage company, and simply bought that haulage company too. When the haulage director needed more vehicles with cranes, Peter acquired another local delivery firm. That final firm happened to deliver garden portacabins, a sector that absolutely exploded during the remote working boom.

To fund these rapid acquisitions, Peter masterfully utilized invoice financing and government backed loans. In one deal, he secured a £200,000 CBILS loan to fund a £150,000 down payment on a highly profitable grounds maintenance business, completely preserving his own liquid capital to immediately target his next acquisition just 20 miles away.

Supply Chain Integration

Christmas decorations → Haulage → Delivery → Portacabins

20 Companies Portfolio

£18.5 million group turnover

£200k CBILS Loan

Government backed funding for acquisitions

8 Businesses in One Year

Acquired during the pandemic lockdowns

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