E:33 Top M&A Entrepreneurs - Nick McLean Four Pillars and Five Acquisitions

Nick McLean is founder and member Four Pillar Investments.  Nick participates in all aspects of Four Pillars’ business. Currently, most of his activities revolve around deal origination and deal execution.

00:00 Intro to Nick McLean - bio
00:38 Why he called his company Four Pillars Investors - and what they mean to how he operates
03:27  How they qualify people from companies they acquire - 
05:37 The industry sector they acquires - and why he exited the furniture company
07:43  His Manufacturing,  Industrial Engineering Roots - The Tangible Importance to economy
09:31 Four Pillars First Acquisition - how they found the deal - terms and price of the deal - sticking points - buying a car with no gas
15:00  Applying operating efficiencies to the business and the results - steel prices rising 4X
16:48  Having the plant manager ascended into the #1 role
18:21  2nd Acquisition Eagle Precision larger deal and easier to get done - sourced / price 
22:00  Rev / Ebidta results on Eagle Precision
23:24  The bolt on company that they missed on - how they lost on the deal - why they tried to buy it
24:59  Acquiring Turk Mfg. - why the company sold to Four Pillars - what it added to portfolio
27:35  The Investors and financing for Eagle Precision and Turk Mfg.
30:45  The Dart Casting Acquisition - how that was sourced,  who financed it - capital provider partnerships, people considerations - the process for finding capital
37:24  How he works with brokers
39:00  How experience has helped him in new negotiations - valuations in the same ball park
40:31  His deal flow activities - all of the above - how luck and timing factor in
42:26  Typical drivers that motivate seller to sell - how they position the transition
44:32  Creating a bigger second bite of the apple for sellers - shooting for 8X
50:34   What was your call to adventure - that moment - the better mouse trap
53:15   Meeting the mentor - from intrinsic and personal experience
55:12   What was biggest stumbling block to his success - overcoming lack of experience