A Searcher’s Second Act: Building a $25m Holdco

Smithlist is a job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:

• Smithlist - Operate & Lead a Business

After success as a traditional searcher, Eric Calderon started building an industry-focused holding company in 2020.

Topics in Eric’s interview:

• Accepting investment from Rick and Royce
• Acquiring through traditional search
• Commitment to community banks
• Ups and downs of the oil and gas industry
• “You gotta tell your story to anyone who’s listening”
• Emotional challenges of downsizing
• Shared services vs. decentralization
• Recruiting patient capital for a long-term hold
• Why $1m SDE is the target size for holdco acquisitions
• Evolving from operator to investor

References and how to contact Eric:

• LinkedIn
• TXE Capital
• Rick & Royce on Acquiring Minds: The 2 Professors Who Helped Start the ETA Movement
• Reid Pennebaker
• ETA Circle - Houston

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

• Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter
  
  

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron