Automotive dealership staff can stream live video during a chat or SMS conversation, improving customer engagement and reducing decision-making time.

Las Vegas, Nevada– September 19, 2017 – Gubagoo Inc., the leading provider of dealer communications solutions, today announced that a powerful new sales tool has been integrated into its communication platform: Live Video Streaming. Debuted at the Digital Dealer Conference and Expo, Live Video Streaming underlines the company’s commitment to provide dealers with the ability to engage and communicate with their customers the way they want to, whether through chat, text, calls, social, or video.  This new functionality gives dealers the power to turn a chat or an SMS conversation into a live sales presentation through the Gubagoo mobile and desktop app (ResQ).

“Imagine turning a chat into a live video call…on the fly,” said Brad Title, CEO of Gubagoo. “Do a walk around and take a video of vehicles on the showroom floor.  It’s a powerful communication tool to have, especially given that today’s buyers lead busy lives and might not have time to visit the dealership in person.”   

With Live Video Streaming, dealership personnel have the option to stream a live one- or two-way video directly during a chat or SMS session, expediting the consumer research and decision-making phase by facilitating faster communication between customer and dealer. To see a demonstration of Live Video Streaming, visit Gubagoo at booth #505 at the Digital Dealer Conference (#DD23), September 18-20 at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.   

About Gubagoo

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Gubagoo is the leading provider of 24/7 auto dealer live chat, text, video, and call monitoring solutions. With a mission to provide a smarter, more cost-effective alternative to the old lead generation model, Gubagoo is the first dealership website solution that successfully makes anonymous traffic identifiable, and converts the 95% of dealer site traffic that traditionally defects.  More than 2,800 dealerships, including some of the nation’s largest dealer groups, as well as OEM-certified programs, are using Gubagoo’s omni-channel communication platform to take their customer experience to the next level.  For more information about Gubagoo, visit www.gubagoo.com, e-mail hello@gubagoo.com or call 855.359.2573.

Gubagoo Media Relations

mWEBB Communications, Melanie Webber, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Consumers can instantly check their credit rating online and share with automotive dealerships

Las Vegas, NV – September 18, 2017 –  Gubagoo Inc., the leading provider of dealer communications solutions, today announced a new Credit Pre-Qualification feature that checks against consumer credit information stored at the leading national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  This will be beneficial to consumers who are interested in purchasing a vehicle but are uncertain of their credit status.

Consumers who visit a Gubagoo powered dealership website using their desktop or mobile device can access and submit a credit pre-qualification form while in a live chat.  The dealer will receive rich data relating to the consumer’s credit score and outstanding vehicle loans, and can tailor their sales response to suit the consumer’s automotive needs and budget and also prioritize lead follow up.

“Car buyers will now find it easier to pre-qualify for a car loan while shopping online for their next vehicle,” said Brad Title, CEO of Gubagoo. “It is a win-win for both car buyers and dealers in terms of convenience and time saved.  We expect that car dealers who use our solution will see a dramatic increase in the number of qualified leads they receive.”

Gubagoo’s Credit Pre-Qualification feature is available now and will be demonstrated live at the Digital Dealer Conference (#DD23) Booth #505 on September 18-20 at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  
 

About Gubagoo

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Gubagoo is the leading provider of 24/7 auto dealer live chat, text, video, and call monitoring solutions. With a mission to provide a smarter, more cost-effective alternative to the old lead generation model, Gubagoo is the first dealership website solution that successfully makes anonymous traffic identifiable, and converts the 95% of dealer site traffic that traditionally defects.  More than 2,800 dealerships, including some of the nation’s largest dealer groups, as well as OEM-certified programs, are using Gubagoo’s omni-channel communication platform to take their customer experience to the next level.  For more information about Gubagoo, visit www.gubagoo.com, e-mail hello@gubagoo.com or call 855.359.2573.

Gubagoo Media Relations

mWEBB Communications, Melanie Webber, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Dealerships can centrally manage and oversee SMS communications and ensure compliance

Las Vegas, Nevada – September 18, 2017 – Gubagoo Inc., the leading provider of dealer communications solutions, today unveiled a seamless new capability for its communication platform: Outbound Texting. This new functionality enables dealerships to easily engage in permission-based communications with their customers via SMS, using their Gubagoo mobile and desktop app (ResQ) as a centralized communication center.

“Today, it’s all about the convenience of your communication with consumers,” said Brad Title, CEO of Gubagoo. “But it’s also a balancing act with efficiency and time: getting back to consumers quickly and establishing a positive expectation is critical as the sale moves forward. Our solution opens up a new channel of communication for dealers and consumers –ultimately helping to improve customer loyalty and drive more sales.”

Like all software solutions built by Gubagoo, the technology is designed for dealers, with simplicity and power in mind.  Outbound Texting also centralizes texting so that dealer managers can more effectively ensure compliance and managerial oversight. To learn more about Outbound Texting, stop by the Gubagoo booth #505 at the Digital Dealer Conference (#DD23), September 18-20 at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
 

About Gubagoo

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Gubagoo is the leading provider of 24/7 auto dealer live chat, text, video, and call monitoring solutions. With a mission to provide a smarter, more cost-effective alternative to the old lead generation model, Gubagoo is the first dealership website solution that successfully makes anonymous traffic identifiable, and converts the 95% of dealer site traffic that traditionally defects.  More than 2,800 dealerships, including some of the nation’s largest dealer groups, as well as OEM-certified programs, are using Gubagoo’s omni-channel communication platform to take their customer experience to the next level.  For more information about Gubagoo, visit www.gubagoo.com, e-mail hello@gubagoo.com or call 855.359.2573.

Gubagoo Media Relations

mWEBB Communications, Melanie Webber, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Chat operators can quickly search and push vehicle part information to consumers over live chat or SMS

Las Vegas, NV– September 17, 2017 – Gubagoo, the leading provider of dealer communications solutions, today unveiled Parts Directory, a new and instant way to provide auto parts information to consumers, expanding the power of its best-in-class communication platform to better serve auto dealerships. Through Gubagoo’s seamless integration with an extensive auto parts directory, consumers can now request vehicle part details via live chat or text message and, in just moments, see the part and get a description with pricing.

“Gubagoo Parts Directory is a great way for dealerships to acquire new leads and boost parts revenue. It also saves time for dealerships – who no longer need to field cold calls from parts-seeking customers – and for consumers who, in today’s fast-moving world, don’t want to wait while someone flips through a catalogue,” said Brad Title, CEO and Founder of Gubagoo.

The technology is as simple as it is powerful: Gubagoo operators can search a database of vehicle parts using parameters such as VIN, year, make, model, part name, and push the part information to the consumer during a live chat.  Visit Gubagoo’s booth #505 at the Digital Dealer Conference (#DD23) on September 18-20 to see a live demonstration of Parts Directory.

About Gubagoo

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Gubagoo is the leading provider of 24/7 auto dealer live chat, text, video, and call monitoring solutions. With a mission to provide a smarter, more cost-effective alternative to the old lead generation model, Gubagoo is the first dealership website solution that successfully makes anonymous traffic identifiable, and converts the 95% of dealer site traffic that traditionally defects.  More than 2,800 dealerships, including some of the nation’s largest dealer groups, as well as OEM-certified programs, are using Gubagoo’s omni-channel communication platform to take their customer experience to the next level.  For more information about Gubagoo, visit www.gubagoo.com, e-mail hello@gubagoo.com or call 855.359.2573.

Gubagoo Media Relations

mWEBB Communications, Melanie Webber, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Brady brings over 30 years of automotive and governmental experience to the firm, and will provide counsel on generational transitions and corporate planning.

Irvine, CA, September 5, 2017– Kerrigan Advisors, the leading buy/sell advisory firm to auto dealers in the US, today announced the appointment of Phil Brady as Senior Advisor to the firm. Brady will put his deep experience and extensive relationships in automotive retail to work as an advisor to Kerrigan Advisors and its clients for generational transitions and corporate planning.  

“It’s impossible to overstate the value of adding Phil Brady to the Kerrigan Advisors team,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “Few, if any, understand the automotive retail space better, nor the needs of dealers when it comes to managing the complexities of their businesses, whether it’s a legislative issue, an economic challenge or planning for the future, particularly as our industry evolves.”

That experience will add immediate value to Kerrigan clients.  “Phil brings with him the experience of industry leadership during some of the toughest times our industry has ever seen,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “In leading NADA through 2012, he navigated auto retail through collapsing sales, a brutal financial market, and OEM bankruptcies. It’s this sort of depth of industry understanding and perspective that Kerrigan clients will really benefit from as they consider their business’ future in today’s consolidating auto retail market, whether that means passing to the next generation, gearing up for growth or considering a sale.”

As a Senior Advisor, Brady adds insight and perspective based on his automotive and legislative background, advice that will be especially valuable in helping dealers navigate the changes and complexities of today’s automotive retail landscape. “It’s a privilege and a pleasure to be associated with Kerrigan Advisors, the well-recognized consummate professionals in representing dealers as they evaluate strategic options for their businesses,” said Brady. “I very much look forward to re-engaging with my many friends and colleagues in the auto retail industry.”  

Brady was President of NADA from 2001 to 2012, and served as Deputy Counsel to the President during the Reagan Administration and Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary in the White House from 1991 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush, as well as General Counsel to the US Department of Transportation. He retired in 2015 as Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Phillips 66 and is now an adjunct professor at Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. Brady, a cum laude graduate of both the University of Notre Dame and Loyola University School of Law, practiced law in California before entering government in Washington, D.C.

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is a national dealership buy/sell advisory firm focused on providing a high level of client service for dealership sellers. Led by a team of veteran advisors who have represented transactions totaling over $2.5 billion in automotive, private equity and investment banking, Kerrigan Advisors customizes each sale process to maximize the seller’s transaction proceeds. With the most comprehensive buyer database in the industry, Kerrigan Advisors has the industry context and expertise to match each seller with the right buyer.

In addition to the monthly Kerrigan Auto Retail Index, each quarter, Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Erin Kerrigan is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, AICPA, NADC and Driving Sales’ President’s Club. She has also been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America, US Trust, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank and has led webinars for NADA and Automotive News.  Her expertise is also featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine. 

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 424.603.4340

Dealership Buy/Sells Steady in the First Half; Increased Activity Likely in Q3 and Q4, according to The Blue Sky Report™ released by Kerrigan Advisors

Over 200 transactions expected for the year; dealers begin taking on equity partners, while reinsurance profits increasingly factor into buy/sells, and key manager retirements spur sales    

Irvine, CA – August 28, 2017 – Dealership buy/sell activity during the first half of 2017 reveals a notable willingness by auto dealers to take on minority and majority equity partners, according to analysis from the Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly. Released today, the report also shows that buy/sell activity through the first half of 2017 remained high. Kerrigan Advisors expects activity in the second half of the year to surpass the first half, resulting in the 4th year of over 200 buy/sells.

“2017 is on pace to be a record year for equity partner investment structures,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “We think this shift in buy/sell activity is mostly due to the increasing size and complexity of the dealership groups coming to market. In addition, dealers are attracted to the opportunity to remain involved in the business post-transaction, while also taking some chips off the table.”

The Blue Sky Report, published by Kerrigan Advisors, is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership M&A activity, as well as franchise values. It includes analysis of the first half of 2017 - laying out the high, average and low blue sky multiples for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments for the quarter - and offers a detailed view of public and private company dealership acquisition activity.  

Key data and analysis from the first half of 2017 includes:

• 101 dealership buy/sell transactions completed in the first half of 2017, compared to 106 transactions during the first half of 2016.[1]
• Multi-dealership transactions represented 25% of completed transactions in the first half of 2017.  Those transactions saw a 23% rise in the number of franchises represented per transaction.
• Public retailers increased spending 61% in the first half of 2017, compared to the first half of 2016.
• Domestics’ share of the buy/sell market remained at 44%, while non-luxury imports saw their share of the buy/sell market increase to 39%.
• Toyota, Honda and Subaru dealerships enjoy high buyer interest, with consistently high profitability
• Amongst the publics, Lithia and Penske have acquired 21 US dealerships
• The private sector acquired 93% of the franchises sold
• Dealership real estate prices and rents rose slightly as compared to 2016

“We see resilience in the buy/sell market,” continued Kerrigan. “Even though SAAR is down, it remains within a historically high range. Auto sales in the first half of 2017 were actually 5% higher than the trailing five-year average, and dealerships remain highly profitable.”

The report identifies three key trends moving forward into Q3 and Q4 of 2017:

• Dealers take on majority and minority capital partners
• Reinsurance profits increasingly factor into buy/sells
• Retiring key operators prompt some dealers to sell

“One of the more interesting trends we see moving into Q3 and Q4 of 2017 is retirement-driven transactions, but not necessarily in the way you think,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “When a key lieutenant retires, that’s prompting some older dealers to sell, versus finding a replacement. As a result, the retirement of key management, in combination with the aging of the dealer body, is increasingly prompting older dealers to sell.”  

Kerrigan Advisors is deeply involved in the Buy/Sell Market, having advised on the sale of 59 dealerships, including four of the Top 100 Dealership Groups in the US. Most recently, Kerrigan advised on the sale of Downtown LA Auto Group to Lithia Motors. Kerrigan Advisors’ extensive experience representing the largest dealership groups in the country provides the firm with a unique perspective on the trends shaping the industry and today’s franchise values. 

The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, is published four times a year and includes Kerrigan Advisor’s signature blue sky charts, multiples and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. The multiples are based on Kerrigan Advisors’ view of franchise values in the current buy/sell market and can be applied to adjusted pre-tax dealership earnings to estimate blue sky value. To download the report, click here: www.kerriganadvisors.com/the-blue-sky-report/. 

Kerrigan Advisors also releases a monthly index, The Kerrigan Index, composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market.  The KAR Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access the Kerrigan Index™, click here: www.kerriganadvisors.com/the-kerrigan-index/.

Erin Kerrigan (http://www.kerriganadvisors.com/meet-the-team/) is Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors, and is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells. A sought-after commentator on automotive retailing topics ranging from consumer auto buying trends to auto retail consolidation to private equity in auto retail, she has keynoted numerous automotive conferences and her analysis has appeared in publications such as Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal. For a recent video of Erin’s commentary on the market, click here.

Ryan Kerrigan (http://www.kerriganadvisors.com/meet-the-team/) is Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors and an expert on US auto retail buy-sell transaction work. Prior, Ryan served as Managing Director at Serent Capital, a $250MM private equity fund investing in middle market companies and served as General Manager of the family’s auto dealership. Mr. Kerrigan began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on growth strategies, organizational issues, pricing and business valuation.

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is a national dealership buy/sell advisory firm focused on providing a high level of client service for dealership sellers. Led by a team of veteran advisors who have represented transactions totaling over $3.0 billion dollars in automotive, private equity and investment banking, Kerrigan Advisors customizes each sale process to maximize the seller’s transaction proceeds. With the most comprehensive buyer database in the industry, Kerrigan Advisors has the industry context and expertise to match each seller with the right buyer.

In addition to the monthly Kerrigan Auto Retail Index, each quarter, Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values. Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Erin Kerrigan is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, AICPA, NADC and Driving Sales’ President’s Club. She has also been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America, US Trust, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank and has led webinars for NADA and Automotive News. Her expertise is also featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine.

Contacts

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
mWEBB Communications
Melanie Webber, 949-307-1723
melanie@mwebbcom.com

Los Angeles-Based Downtown LA Auto Group is the Fourth Top 100 Dealership Group
sold by Kerrigan Advisors in the last 20 months

Irvine, CA, August 9, 2017 – Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisory firm to auto dealers in the US, represented and advised Downtown LA Auto Group, #55 on Automotive News’ 2016 Top 150 Dealership Group list, in its sale to Lithia Motors. This sale marks the fourth Top 100 Dealership Group that Kerrigan Advisors has represented in the last 20 months, making the firm the leading advisor to the largest dealership groups in the US.  

Downtown LA Auto Group, founded in 1955 by Nickolas and Jeanette Shammas, was owned by Diane and Carole Shammas, their daughters.  Since 2003, Darryl Holter served as the group’s CEO and Elay Sung, who will continue to oversee dealership operations on behalf of Lithia as a Platform Vice President, was the COO.

“When we were deciding on our sell-side advisor, we were looking for a firm familiar with marketing a group of well-established, urban auto dealerships. We chose Kerrigan Advisors, because we felt Erin and Ryan Kerrigan would provide us with individualized attention and guidance while at the same time allow us to give our input in order to successfully sell our family’s dealerships,” said Diane Shammas.  “The team at Kerrigan Advisors did an exceptional job managing the sale of our group.  From the initial sales presentation through negotiations and the closing, Kerrigan Advisors was key to the success of this transaction,” said Carole Shammas.

The sale of Downtown LA Auto Group, which is believed to be the largest multi-dealership group sold so far in 2017, includes Downtown LA Motors Mercedes, Porsche of Downtown LA, Audi of Downtown LA, Toyota of Downtown LA, Volkswagen of Downtown LA, Nissan of Downtown LA, and Carson Nissan.  Collectively, these dealerships, many of which are amongst the highest in new unit sales volume for their respective franchises, represent over $850 million in annual revenue.  The Downtown LA Auto Group sale did not include Felix Chevrolet, Nickolas Shammas’ first dealership, which the family has chosen to retain. 

Kerrigan Advisors, headed by Erin and Ryan Kerrigan, has now served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to four of the Top 100 Dealership Groups, with each engagement resulting in a successful sale.  Including this most recent closing, Kerrigan Advisors has advised on the sale of 59 dealership transactions since July 2015, representing over $1 billion in client proceeds.

“We were honored to represent the Shammas family on the successful sale of their iconic Los Angeles dealership group,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors.  She added, “This large, complex transaction is a testament to the fact that Kerrigan Advisors does not take ‘listings’.  Rather, we work for a select number of engaged sell-side clients to achieve their specific financial and personal goals, keeping in mind what is best for their family and its legacy.”

“Kerrigan Advisors is pleased to have had the opportunity to lead such a significant transaction.  We know that Lithia’s commitment to its employees and the local community will enable the Shammas family’s auto retail legacy to continue in Los Angeles,” added Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors.

Ann Lawrence of DLA Piper LLP served as lead legal counsel to Downtown LA Auto Group and John Davis of Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP served as the accounting advisor.

Kerrigan Advisors actively monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download the report, click here. The company also releases the monthly Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market.  The Kerrigan Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index, click here.

Erin Kerrigan (http://www.kerriganadvisors.com/meet-the-team/) is Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors, and is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells. A sought-after commentator on automotive retailing topics ranging from consumer auto buying trends to auto retail consolidation to private equity in auto retail, she has keynoted numerous automotive conferences and her analysis has appeared in publications such as Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal.   For a recent video of Erin’s commentary on the market, click here(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPrMMtRF-IU&feature=youtu.be).

Ryan Kerrigan (http://www.kerriganadvisors.com/meet-the-team/) is Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors and an expert on US auto retail buy-sell transaction work.  Prior, Ryan served as Managing Director at Serent Capital, a $250mm private equity fund investing in middle market companies and served as General Manager of the family’s auto dealership. Mr. Kerrigan began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on growth strategies, organizational issues, pricing and business valuation.

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is a national dealership buy/sell advisory firm focused on providing a high level of client service for dealership sellers. Led by a team of veteran advisors who have represented transactions totaling over $3.0 billion dollars in automotive, private equity and investment banking, Kerrigan Advisors customizes each sale process to maximize the seller’s transaction proceeds. With the most comprehensive buyer database in the industry, Kerrigan Advisors has the industry context and expertise to match each seller with the right buyer.

In addition to the monthly Kerrigan Auto Retail Index, each quarter, Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Erin Kerrigan is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, AICPA, NADC and Driving Sales’ President’s Club. She has also been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America, US Trust, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank and has led webinars for NADA and Automotive News.  Her expertise is also featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine. 

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 424.603.4340

Southern California landmark dealership changes ownership after 57 years  

Irvine, CA, July 18, 2017 – Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisory firm to auto dealers in the US, represented and advised Honda of Hollywood, one of Southern California’s oldest Honda dealerships, in its sale to Bakhtiari Auto Group.  Honda of Hollywood is owned by Patricia, Don, and Bill Robertson. With this acquisition, Bakhtiari Auto Group will own eight dealerships in California, including Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru.

“It’s been a privilege to serve the people of Southern California for close to 60 years,” said Don Robertson. “We’ve seen generations of families come and go at our dealership on Santa Monica Boulevard, so we take our connection to the community seriously. That’s why we’re excited about what the Bakhtiari Auto Group will bring to the dealership in terms of experience, investment, and commitment.”

“For a transaction as important as this, it’s been invaluable having Kerrigan Advisors’ expertise to guide us to this important outcome for our family,” said Robertson. “Ryan’s unique experience, insight and service – especially when it came to the real estate and environmental complexities of the transaction, made this deal come together.”

Kerrigan Advisors, headed by Erin and Ryan Kerrigan, has now represented on the sale of 52 dealerships since July 2015, making it the most active sell-side advisor in the auto retail industry.  The firm has also represented three of the top 100 dealership groups in the last 18 months.  

“Honda of Hollywood has always been known for its family-style operations and total focus on friendly customer service,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “We wanted to make sure the Robertsons received that level of customer satisfaction from Kerrigan Advisors, in a transaction that delivered the best possible financial outcome.” 

Aaron Jacoby and David Meyer of Arent Fox LLP served as legal counsel to Honda of Hollywood.

Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report® which includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples, and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download the report, click here. The company also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market.  The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index™, click here.

Ryan Kerrigan is Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors and an expert on US auto retail buy-sell transaction work.  Prior, Ryan served as Managing Director at Serent Capital, a $250mm private equity fund investing in middle market companies and served as General Manager of the family’s auto dealership. Mr. Kerrigan began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on growth strategies, organizational issues, pricing and business valuation.

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is the leading dealership buy/sell advisory firm focused on providing a high level of client service for dealership sellers nationwide. Led by a team of veteran advisors, Kerrigan Advisors customizes each sale process to maximize the seller’s transaction proceeds. The firm has sold 52 dealerships since 2015.  With the most comprehensive buyer database in the industry, Kerrigan Advisors has the industry context and expertise to match each seller with the right buyer.

In addition to the monthly Kerrigan Auto Retail Index, each quarter, Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director, Erin Kerrigan, is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate, and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, AICPA, NADC and Driving Sales’ President’s Club. She has also been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America, US Trust, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank and has led webinars for NADA and Automotive News.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Ryan Kerrigan is also a sought-after industry expert. He is featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine and has written Op-Eds for Automotive News, among other outlets.

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 949-307-1723

Interactive, personalized website experiences ramp up dealer conversions; Canadian dealer sees 31% lead to sale conversion rate in just one month on PERQ’s platform

Indianapolis, IN - July 12, 2017 - PERQ, which offers a game changing web-engagement platform, now offers its services in Canada where early adopters are already reaping significant results.

The interactive tool, which has been adopted by hundreds of auto dealerships across the US, generates, on average, five times the lead data usually collected by dealerships and a 40% increase in lead-to-sale conversions. In Canada, the platform, while in the early stages of adoption, has generated a 31% conversion rate for a British Columbia dealership studied by the company.

PERQ works with website providers and dealerships in a completely new way — creating more intuitive, responsive online experiences for consumers, while enabling dealers to gather more information to more effectively communicate with online customers.  To do this, PERQ’s web engagement platform ‘virtually’ trains dealership websites to have real-time conversations with each visitor, such as helping them to receive an estimated trade appraisal, schedule a test drive, calculate payments and receive incentives, along with helping them narrow down vehicle models and determine whether to lease or buy. 

“Why shouldn’t auto dealerships in the US, and now Canada, have the opportunity to offer consumers a personalized, Amazon-like experience on their dealership websites?” asks Andy Medley, president and co-founder of PERQ. “We believe this is the standard to strive for. Our data consistently shows a large percentage of dealership website visitors are still in the early phase of their shopping process and that this kind of approach increases conversions up to 200%. We’re excited to bring this level of success to dealerships across Canada.” 

According to Medley, most dealership websites in both the US and Canada rely on static forms and irrelevant calls to action (CTAs) that clutter up websites. These CTAs require consumers to re-input the same data over and over again and generally lack the intuitive, one-to-one experience consumers have come to expect. PERQ’s web engagement platform solves this.

Krieger Ford in Columbus, Ohio, and Harris Mazda in Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada, both use PERQ’s web engagement technology. The dealerships were grappling with the challenges of unresponsive websites, but now say this new interactive approach changes the dealership/consumer equation.

Chris Thomas at Krieger Ford in Columbus, Ohio, was able to dynamically offer up conversion buttons, banners and advertisements with PERQ’s technology to completely individualize the customer experience, creating a real-time conversation online, even with returning visitors. “Customers can continue their car-buying journey without starting from the very beginning — a happy surprise,” he says.

In just one month, Krieger posted these results: 110 leads, 92% form completion rate, 23% lead to showroom visit.

Meanwhile, Harris Mazda of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada had used other online tools over the years, but few actually delivered results, says owner Tony Harris, until the dealership implemented PERQ’s web engagement platform. “The quality of the leads is much better. The people are more qualified buyers and we’re having a higher success rate on converting leads to sales,” adds General Manager Doug Culham.

Harris was also pleased to experience no ‘cross border’ problems: “Usually, when we integrate with a vendor from another country, it doesn’t go well and there are issues with the conversion and integration. I’m happy to say with PERQ, we haven't had any issues.” 

In just one month, Harris Mazda posted these results: 29 unique leads, 31% lead to sale conversion; an almost 11% unique click to lead conversion.

“Data, and these case studies, prove that the PERQ approach to engagement on dealership websites is working and rivals what consumers expect - and should be experiencing - when shopping for a car,” Medley says. “We believe having a personalized website experience is a core improvement that must be offered by dealerships to keep pace with their customers.” 

All data and analysis was gathered from PERQ’s web engagement platform – and from dealerships using the platform. PERQ’s platform works in partnership with dealerships and existing website providers and can be implemented in less than 7 days.

To read PERQ case studies, click here.

About PERQ

PERQ (www.perq.com), a marketing technology provider, boosts website conversions by creating and delivering interactive experiences to the right consumers at the right time. Founded in 2001, PERQ solutions today are used by more than 1,000 businesses across the United States. PERQ’s brands have been named to the Inc. “500 Fastest Growing Companies in America” list on three separate occasions, and its Web Engagement platform is a 2017 Gold Stevie® Award winner for lead generation software.

PERQ Media Contacts

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com or 949-307-1723

Cassandra Cavanah, mWEBB Communications, Cassandra@mwebbcom.com or 818-397-4630

Hendricks brings over 15 years of auto dealership public accounting and financial consulting experience to the leading auto dealer buy/sell advisory firm

Irvine, CA, July 10, 2017 – Kerrigan Advisors, the leading buy/sell advisory firm to auto dealers in the US, today announced that Mercedes Hendricks has joined the firm as Vice President. Hendricks brings extensive CPA-level expertise and a deep understanding of the dealership industry to the company, which is the most active sell side advisor in the industry. 

Hendricks will work directly with Kerrigan Advisors’ clients as they prepare their dealerships for sale, adjusting their financials to better reflect their true earnings and identifying opportunities for business improvement.  In addition, she will spearhead Kerrigan Advisors’ new Consulting Services which launched this summer.

“We are delighted to have Mercedes join the Kerrigan Advisors team,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “We have worked with Mercedes for years and have always considered her among the very best in the industry.  Her deep knowledge, and decades of experience, nicely enhance our firm’s capabilities.”

Those capabilities will be put to work with a new suite of consulting services for Kerrigan Advisors’ expanding roster of clients, including open point applications, transactional due diligence, litigation support and pre/post-closing accounting services.

“In addition to our sell-side work, we are often called upon by our clients to do various strategic consulting projects and to be a thought partner for key business decisions,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “The addition of Mercedes to our team will further expand the scope of these activities and enhance our ability to offer the automotive industry the highest level of service through our new Kerrigan Advisors Consulting Services division.”

Founded in 2015, Kerrigan Advisors has represented transactions totaling over $2.5 billion in automotive, private equity and investment banking, including the sale of 51 dealerships, making the firm the most active sell-side advisor in auto retail.  Kerrigan Advisors has represented three of the Top 100 dealership groups in in the last 24 months, more than any other firm in the industry. 

Prior to Kerrigan Advisors, Hendricks provided public accounting expertise in the areas of assurance and consulting for more than 150 dealerships across the country. She spent nine years with Crowe Horwath in their dealership services group. There she managed large projects ranging from traditional audit and review engagements to non-traditional consulting engagements, such as due diligence services in mergers and acquisitions, consolidations, reviews of internal controls and tests of compliance. She was a mentor and supervisor for teams and individuals from across the nation, and is considered a key thought leader in the automotive accounting services space.  

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is the leading dealership buy/sell advisory firm focused on providing a high level of client service for dealership sellers nationwide. Led by a team of veteran advisors, Kerrigan Advisors customizes each sale process to maximize the seller’s transaction proceeds. The firm has sold 51 dealerships in the last 24 months.  With the most comprehensive buyer database in the industry, Kerrigan Advisors has the industry context and expertise to match each seller with the right buyer.

In addition to the monthly Kerrigan Auto Retail Index, each quarter, Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Erin Kerrigan is a recognized industry expert on dealership valuation, real estate and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, AICPA, NADC and Driving Sales’ President’s Club. She has also been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America, US Trust, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank and has led webinars for NADA and Automotive News.  Kerrigan Advisors’ Managing Director Ryan Kerrigan is also a sought-after industry expert. He is featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine and has written Op-Eds for Automotive News, among other outlets.

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 424.603.4340