M&A Zing (S2EP4) - Search Fund Royalty: Mentorship, Models, and the Future of ETA - Bramley Johnson
Season 2, Episode 4, Jul 30, 05:31 PM
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Join Gareth Hawkins as he sits down with "Search Fund Royalty," Bramley Johnson, to explore the evolution of search funds, why mentorship matters, and how to build a lasting legacy through Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).
In this episode, Gareth Hawkins speaks with Bramley Johnson, renowned search fund investor, former Director of the International Search Fund Center, and now founder of Victoriam Equity. Bramley shares candid insights on the evolution of the search fund model, from its humble beginnings in the 1980s to today’s thriving international ecosystem.
Together they discuss why the traditional search fund model remains powerful, how mentorship and aligned incentives create standout results, and the critical importance of picking both the right searcher and the right company. Bramley also addresses emerging debates on CEO replacements, the impact of new capital flooding the space, and how searchers can avoid common pitfalls.
Key highlights include:
- The essential qualities investors look for in searchers
- Why the traditional search fund model still works (and when not to mess with it)
- The "quick-kill" checklist: how to rapidly evaluate and discard bad deals
- Victoriam Equity’s mission to bring mentorship back to the core of search funds
- Real talk on the realities and challenges of running a successful search and acquisition
- An essential listen for searchers, investors, and anyone involved in SMB acquisitions.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction and welcoming Bramley Johnson
[02:21] Bramley’s deep family roots in the search fund ecosystem
[05:13] Why the traditional search fund model works from an investor’s perspective
[07:05] Addressing myths and realities around firing search fund CEOs
[11:18] Opportunities and risks from the rapid expansion of search funds
[16:17] Why the search fund model is inherently difficult to scale
[21:01] Bramley’s advice on selecting great searchers and avoiding common deal pitfalls
[26:26] Introducing Victoriam Equity: a return to mentorship-driven investing
[29:20] What Bramley wished he'd had as a searcher and how Victoriam Equity fills the gap
[36:07] Victoriam Equity’s open investment thesis and commitment to community-building
[39:02] Bramley’s pioneering work to expand search fund accessibility
[41:25] Bramley’s top advice for new searchers: "Know your seller and kill deals early"
[49:10] How to contact Bramley and Victoriam Equity
[51:09] Closing remarks from Gareth Hawkins
Join the conversation on serial acquisitions! Share your thoughts on this episode, and let us know your experience and challenges with SMB acquisitions. Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast - it helps us reach more acquisition entrepreneurs!
Useful Links & Resources:
Connect with Bramley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bramley-johnson-66b9287/
Victoriam Equity Company Website
https://www.victoriamequity.com/
Join the BizCrunch Acquisition Community
https://www.bizcrunch.co/community
Together they discuss why the traditional search fund model remains powerful, how mentorship and aligned incentives create standout results, and the critical importance of picking both the right searcher and the right company. Bramley also addresses emerging debates on CEO replacements, the impact of new capital flooding the space, and how searchers can avoid common pitfalls.
Key highlights include:
- The essential qualities investors look for in searchers
- Why the traditional search fund model still works (and when not to mess with it)
- The "quick-kill" checklist: how to rapidly evaluate and discard bad deals
- Victoriam Equity’s mission to bring mentorship back to the core of search funds
- Real talk on the realities and challenges of running a successful search and acquisition
- An essential listen for searchers, investors, and anyone involved in SMB acquisitions.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction and welcoming Bramley Johnson
[02:21] Bramley’s deep family roots in the search fund ecosystem
[05:13] Why the traditional search fund model works from an investor’s perspective
[07:05] Addressing myths and realities around firing search fund CEOs
[11:18] Opportunities and risks from the rapid expansion of search funds
[16:17] Why the search fund model is inherently difficult to scale
[21:01] Bramley’s advice on selecting great searchers and avoiding common deal pitfalls
[26:26] Introducing Victoriam Equity: a return to mentorship-driven investing
[29:20] What Bramley wished he'd had as a searcher and how Victoriam Equity fills the gap
[36:07] Victoriam Equity’s open investment thesis and commitment to community-building
[39:02] Bramley’s pioneering work to expand search fund accessibility
[41:25] Bramley’s top advice for new searchers: "Know your seller and kill deals early"
[49:10] How to contact Bramley and Victoriam Equity
[51:09] Closing remarks from Gareth Hawkins
Join the conversation on serial acquisitions! Share your thoughts on this episode, and let us know your experience and challenges with SMB acquisitions. Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast - it helps us reach more acquisition entrepreneurs!
Useful Links & Resources:
Connect with Bramley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bramley-johnson-66b9287/
Victoriam Equity Company Website
https://www.victoriamequity.com/
Join the BizCrunch Acquisition Community
https://www.bizcrunch.co/community