June 7, 2018
In a previous post (see: 2017 in Review: Trends in Retail Auto Mergers and Acquisitions), I highlighted the increasing prevalence of joint ventures (JVs) in the auto industry either as an approach to succession or as a way for individuals, family offices or investment entities who are new to the retail auto industry to get their start. Whatever the purpose of a JV, such partnerships…
February 8, 2018
Nobody likes to think about estate planning. Not only does the phrase evoke a sense of drudgery, but many people literally associate it with death. Clearly nobody wants to think about their own death, especially when there are deals to be done, customers to please and reputations to build. The visceral aversion to sitting down and thinking about what happens after is certainly understandable. [caption…
February 2, 2018
In my previous post “2017 in Review: Trends in Retail Auto Mergers and Acquisitions,” I highlighted an all-too-familiar and continuing trend: the battles between buyers and sellers over valuation — battles that arise from what I like to call the “value disconnect.” Sellers, who naturally want to get top dollar for their dealerships, are often reluctant to admit annual sales increases or operational efficiency haven’t…
