# From First Questions to First Deals: Navigating Machine Shop Acquisitions, Ep #28

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/buy-the-numbers-7058319/from-first-questions-to-first-deals-navigating-machine-shop-acquisitions-ep-28
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/buy-the-numbers-7058319/from-first-questions-to-first-deals-navigating-machine-shop-acquisitions-ep-28.md
Podcast: [Buy the Numbers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/buy-the-numbers-7058319)
Published: 2025-09-11T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://dcc033c8-8903-4fb0-9253-67dad5f7e9db.libsyn.com/from-first-questions-to-first-deals-navigating-machine-shop-acquisitions-ep-28
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dcc033c8-8903-4fb0-9253-67dad5f7e9db/BTN028.mp3?dest-id=4723887
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/buy-the-numbers-7058319/episodes/from-first-questions-to-first-deals-navigating-machine-shop-acquisitions-ep-28
Duration seconds: 3038

## Resource

When you're buying a machine shop for the first time, it's easy to feel like you're lost in the dark. I've been through more than 150 transactions in my career, but I still remember what it was like sitting across from my first seller—wondering if I was asking the right questions or if I was missing something important. That's why I love conversations like this one. In this episode of Buy the Numbers , I sit down with Jeff Lee, Operations Manager at Hayer Engineering in Singapore. Jeff reached out after listening to some of our episodes on acquisitions, and the quality of his questions made me realize they weren't just for him—these are the same questions countless first-time buyers wrestle with but rarely get answered. Jeff shares his story of joining his family's 30-year-old oil & gas machining business, beginning the search for potential acquisitions in the region, and running into the roadblocks that every buyer faces: how to evaluate opportunities, when to buy assets versus equity, and what really happens when you integrate a new shop. As we work through his list, I pull from my own playbook—what I look for in a shop, how I handle customer concentration, and why 'people' issues almost always end up being the biggest surprises. Whether you're on your first acquisition or your fiftieth, I think you'll find this conversation valuable, practical, and maybe even a little reassuring. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… (0:43) Jeff Lee's background and path to Hayer Engineering (3:00) Why pursuing deals can feel lonely and stressful (5:13) The characteristics I look for in a shop (7:47) Verdant Commercial Capital makes the process smooth & easy (8:25) What my acquisition strategy looks like: diversification and capabilities (11:08) Asset vs. equi…

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## Transcript

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