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

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

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

GoPro veteran brings decades of senior level expertise in consumer products strategy, design, R&D and engineering to his role at Reviver, creators of the digital license plate

San Francisco, CA - June 20, 2017 – Reviver, creator of the rPlate™, the world’s first digital license plate, today announced that Fabrice Barbier, who served as Senior Vice President of Consumer Devices at GoPro since 2013, has been appointed Chief Operations Officer. A talented and seasoned executive, Fabrice has over 30 years of experience in technology, business strategy, product development and operations. In addition to overseeing Reviver’s operations, Fabrice will spearhead the product, design and development of Reviver’s innovative rPlate, which recently hit the road in California. 
 

“It’s thrilling to join the team responsible for a fundamental shift in automobile design and connectivity – the rPlate brings change and innovation to a part of the car that has remained the same for 125 years, and will be a key component in a global ‘connected car’ eco-system,” said Fabrice. “Because Reviver worked in close collaboration with state DMVs and lawmakers while developing the rPlate, this technology is not only a reality, but also road-ready. I’m looking forward to working closely with the team as we develop the next generations of the rPlate.”

The rPlate transforms today’s license plate into a connected car platform that digitizes the costly, often frustrating and time-consuming DMV renewal process, while providing a highly adaptable telematics platform as well as a “5th screen” for localized messaging/advertising. The rPlate has approval from state legislators in California, Texas and Florida, and preliminary approval from Arizona’s Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. Prototype rPlates are already operational in California, and Reviver plans to launch the rPlate in four states by the end of 2017. 

“Fabrice’s experience heading a team whose disruptive solutions reinvented photography and camera mobility - and brought it to the masses - will be invaluable as we continue to expand rPlates capabilities,” said Neville Boston, CEO and Founder of Reviver. “We are very excited to welcome him to our team as we positively disrupt automotive connectivity.”

During Fabrice’s six years leading the consumer products group, GoPro’s revenues increased from $65M to $1.6B. Prior to his tenure at GoPro, Fabrice spent for four years as Senior Director of Technology and Product Management at Flextronics, where he developed several new product line initiatives in display, computing, components and modules for mobile industries.

In addition to the roles he’s held in the US, Fabrice has significant international experience and a strong understanding of markets and operations outside the United States.

About Reviver
San Francisco-based Reviver’s mission is to bring new and far-reaching efficiencies, revolutionary marketing, and unprecedented connectivity to the auto industry through disruptive technology. With its recently launched rPlate™, the company has completely reinvented the 125-year-old stamped metal license plate into a connected car platform that digitizes and automates the costly, often frustrating and time-consuming DMV renewal process. Approved by multiple DMVs and DOTs, the rPlate also provides telematics functionality and brings a new level of personalization to existing license plates. For more information visit www.reviver.io.

Media Contact:

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

Rising Dealership Real Estate Prices and Private Sector Spending Offset Slight Decline in Blue Sky Values, according to The Blue Sky Report® released by Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors report for Q1 2017 reveals robust dealership buy/sell activity in 2017 with dealership valuations remaining high, even as auto sales slow; private buyers dominate buy/sell market as publics focus on non-US acquisitions

Irvine, CA, June 5, 2017 – Buy/Sell auto dealership activity remains robust for the first quarter of 2017, in spite of slowing auto sales and a slight dip in Blue Sky Values, all of which is offset by high dealership real estate prices, according to The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, which today released its analysis for Q1 2017.  Outpaced by the privates in acquisition activity, publics are directing their focus to non-US acquisitions.  According to the report, macro-economic conditions, which offer opportunities for both optimism and pessimism, are contributing to a high level of activity in the buy/sell market, which is expected to continue throughout the year.

“2017’s buy/sell market is fueled by diverging viewpoints from conservative sellers and ambitious buyers – and is influenced by consistently high real estate valuations.  Those confident in the long-term health of auto retail continue to seek acquisitions and investments,” said Erin Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “By contrast, the pessimists, and those who are generationally ready to go out on a high note, are increasingly choosing to exit the market, selling their dealerships at today’s high prices and avoiding a potential downturn. All of which contributes to a very active and robust buy/sell market.”

The report from Kerrigan Advisors is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report and analysis of dealership mergers and acquisition activity and franchise values.  Laying out the high, average and low multiples for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments for the quarter, the report offers a detailed view of public and private company dealership acquisition activity.   Key findings from the Q1 2017 report include:

• Dealership real estate prices and rents rose considerably on a quarter over quarter basis. Real estate, for most dealers, is their highest value asset, far exceeding franchise value.
• Transaction activity increased slightly in the first quarter of 2017, exceeding 2015 and 2016’s high pace with 60 dealership buy/sell transactions completed in the quarter. *
• 2017 is tracking towards 240 transactions for the year.
• The number of multi-dealership transactions declined from 19 to 11.* Kerrigan Advisors expects the pace of multi-dealership transactions to increase considerably as the year progresses.
• Public retailers’ acquisition spending decreased 12%. Since January, The Kerrigan Index™, which includes the seven public auto retailers, is down 9.6% to 492, underperforming the S&P 500.
• The private sector acquired 93% of the franchises sold in the first quarter of 2017.
• Domestics continued to grow their share of the buy/sell market - a trend driven by the growing market share of trucks and SUVs.
• Import luxury franchises’ share of the buy/sell market decline by 45%

The report also identifies the following three market trends, which Kerrigan Advisors expects to affect the buy/sell market in 2017 and beyond.

   Dealership profit plateau shifts buyer’s focus to current earnings

   OEMs’ buy/sell approval processes differ significantly

   Multiple arbitrage for dealership business lines continues

“Overall, we continue to expect 2017 to be a very active year for buy/sells with private buyers, new entrants and certain public buyers eager to put their capital to work. An increasing number of sellers are coming to market motivated by current prices and a strong desire to capitalize on today’s buy/sell activity,” concluded Kerrigan.

The Blue Sky Report®, a Kerrigan Quarterly, is published four times a year and includes Kerrigan Advisors’ 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.

Kerrigan Advisors also releases a monthly index, The Kerrigan Auto Retail 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 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 video reel of Erin’s commentary on the market, click here.

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

*The Banks Report/Kerrigan Advisors analysis

Pioneering auto technology leader Brian Boling returns as CEO to  lead company’s international automotive IoT strategy

Irvine, CA – May 23, 2017  - Procon Analytics, a global leader in connected car telematics, today announced the rollout of a progressive new platform that powers a new suite of connected car products and services. The highly scalable platform has been designed to connect both businesses and drivers to their vehicle assets throughout the entire ownership lifecycle – and is architected to deliver unparalleled business intelligence solutions to the global auto industry.

Procon Analytics’ leaders, Brian Boling, former CEO of Connected Holdings, and Bill Cheney, COO of Connected Holdings, developed and successfully incubated the platform for two years under Connected Holdings, an Intelligent Services Platform company established to provide IoT entrepreneurs with the finances and infrastructure to kick start their business ideas.

“I’m thrilled to be back leading Procon Analytics with Bill as the industry enters the next chapter in connected car telematics and next generation IoT solutions,” said Boling, CEO. “I look forward to working with the team to develop strategy and business intelligence solutions and services for the global auto industry – it’s an exciting homecoming for me.”  

The new suite of products and services joins Procon’s existing international connected car solutions and enables the company to deliver a more efficient, value-driven connected car and tracking process to US automotive retailers and lenders, while simultaneously innovating solution features, business intelligence, IoT and big data solutions for the global automotive industry.

Procon’s multi-national suite of products now includes:

• Procon Automotive, a dealer lifecycle management and customer retention solution platform serving new car auto dealers throughout North America.
• Elo GPS, a stolen vehicle recovery and driver monitoring mobile app sold through new car dealerships designed for consumers.
• MyCar, a mobile app allowing drivers to remotely start a vehicle from their smartphone and sold throughout North America.
• Oigo Telematics, a fleet management & vehicle recovery system supporting businesses in Latin America.

Automotive IoT is exploding – analysts forecast the connected car market will be worth nearly $155.9 billion globally in 2022[1] and that over 380 million[2] connected vehicles will be on the road as soon as 2021 (up from 36 million in 2015) – and Procon is poised to lead the way once again.

“Bringing this technology under the Procon Analytics portfolio enables us to deliver leading-edge features, applications and functionality to our customers, providing high value solutions to improve profitability. And, ultimately, our data analytics group will provide customers with business intelligence and insights based on the unique data Procon is able to mine within the connected car ecosystem,” said Bill Cheney, Procon Analytics’ CTO and Managing Director.

Boling, a trailblazer in automotive GPS, holds multiple IoT patents leveraging GPS technology. Boling’s earlier tenure at Procon, which he originally founded in 2003, saw the company deliver nearly 4 million connected automotive GPS tracking devices. A Procon spin off company, Spireon, was the first and only aftermarket automotive group in the USA to reach delivery of over 1 million devices per year. Today Spireon is the undisputed leader in risk mitigation solutions for the sub-prime industry in the USA and one of the fastest growing in transportation telematics.

A pioneer in automotive IoT, Cheney was a founder of Drive OK, one of the first companies in vehicle finance IoT. Previously, Cheney served as a senior executive in Qualcomm’s semiconductor and international investment divisions. Cheney specializes in operational processes and systems that are critical success factors to an IoT company’s ability to scale, sustain growth and deliver strong returns. His recent work in big data analytics focuses on new, exciting sources of growth and profitability.

About Procon Analytics
 

Procon Analytics, a global leader in automotive telematics, is dedicated to bringing better, more efficient, more value-driven connected car features, along with next-generation channel management processes, to US automotive retailers and lenders, while simultaneously innovating data, business intelligence and IoT solutions for the global automotive industry. Procon Analytics currently operates in the US, Canada and Latin America with a focus on creating big data solutions for the automotive industry.

For more, visit www.ProconAnalytics.com.

Cooper brings decades of auto retailing innovation to fast-growing tech company that created the first-ever digital license plate 

San Francisco, CA - April 5, 2017 – Reviver, creator of the rPlate™, the world’s first digital license plate, today announced that Allan Cooper has been appointed Chief Strategy Officer. Cooper brings over twenty-five years of automotive expertise to Reviver where he will work closely with founder and CEO Neville Boston to develop and implement the marketing, sales and business development strategies of the fast-growing tech company.

“Allan is a true automotive retailing and marketing visionary and brings invaluable insights into every aspect of the automotive business to Reviver, including strong relationships with potential partners and key stakeholders,” said Boston. “Already, he has brought new depth to our automotive bench; his contributions will be invaluable as we continue to innovate around the connected car ecosystem and extend the Reviver brand.”

Throughout his career, Cooper has played a central role in delivering disruptive, transformative retailing solutions to the automotive industry. He was honored by J.D. Power and Associates as a ‘Pioneer of Automotive Internet Retailing’ and was a founding partner of OneCommand, a company which was at the forefront of innovating targeted digital messaging solutions for automotive dealerships and manufacturers.

“Reviver and rPlate arrive at a time when the automotive industry is on the brink of another disruptive shift, driven by technologies that create new, far-reaching efficiencies and unprecedented connectivity. To be a key part of this transformation by supplying OEMs, dealer groups and commercial fleets with all those opportunities through a digital license plate – the ‘5th screen’ – is incredibly exciting,” said Cooper.

“I’ve spent the first part of 2017 working closely with Neville and the rest of the team developing our go to market strategy and am thrilled at the myriad opportunities for innovation on the road ahead,” Cooper continued.

Cooper most recently headed Cooper Media Group, a firm focused on helping automotive clients expand their footprint in the US and Australia.

About Reviver
San Francisco-based Reviver’s mission is to bring new and far-reaching efficiencies, revolutionary marketing, and unprecedented connectivity to the auto industry through disruptive technology. With its recently launched rPlate™, the company has completely reinvented the 125-year-old stamped metal license plate into a connected car platform that digitizes and automates the costly, often frustrating and time-consuming DMV renewal process. Approved by multiple DMVs and DOTs, the rPlate also provides basic telematics functionality and brings a new level of personalization to existing license plates. For more information visit www.reviver.io.

Media Contacts:

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

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

eLEND Solutions Mobile Adoption Survey shows 60% of responding dealers are not considering using tablets in either their Sales or F&I departments.

New Orleans, LA – January 27, 2016 – Mobile devices can speed up a transaction process that the vast majority of dealerships say is too long, yet 60% of dealers not using them say they are not even considering adopting mobile tablets in their dealerships. Why? Cost and staff/management resistance to change, say dealers responding to a recent survey on dealership mobile tablet usage by eLEND Solutions. 

The snapshot survey, conducted among dealerships nationwide in Q4 2016, reveals that tablet usage in the Sales department is more prevalent than in the F&I department which is where, according to recent data, dealers report that the process tends to slow down. While the cost of the average tablet is around $400, the time saved by shaving even just one hour from the sales/transaction process could easily create sales productivity and additional car sales, translating into cost benefits that could likely pay for a tablet in a day.

“This survey reveals yet another ‘perception-versus-action’ disconnect in the journey to improve the customer experience,” said Pete MacInnis, CEO of eLEND Solutions. “Dealers say that mobile tablets offer potential for improvements – even those who aren’t using them, suggest that they will speed up transaction times - yet half of those surveyed are not even considering implementing them in their F&I departments because of cost and staff resistance to change.”

The good news is that the other half of dealerships surveyed are either considering implementing mobile devices, or already using them, in the F&I department. The survey suggests that mobile devices offer a solution to the biggest issues that dealerships say impede customer satisfaction and profits: streamlining data flow and solving time clogs. 

Key highlights from Mobile Adoption Survey:

• 50% of dealerships surveyed are either using (17%), or actively considering (33%) using, mobile tablets in the F&I department
• 24% are using mobile tablets in the Sales department, with another 39% considering using them.
• 60% of respondents not using tablets will not consider using mobile tablets in either Sales or F&I
• 37% will not consider using mobile tablets in Sales department; 50% won’t consider using in F&I
• Of dealers using mobile tablets, the number one realized benefit cited was ‘speeding up the sales process’ (44%), with improved CSI (39%) and efficiency and consistency of processes (50%) second and third.
• Of dealers not using mobile tablets, the top perceived benefit cited was speeding up the sales process, followed by improved CSI, and improved process efficiency/consistency
• Cost, resistance to change, and undefined ROI were the top three reasons dealers cited for not using mobile tablets.

“We believe that mobile technology offers great opportunities to connect the car buying/selling process end-to-end in the dealership and that, as more dealerships adopt the technology, the results will challenge resistance and speak for themselves,” added MacInnis.

About eLEND Solutions
eLEND Solutions is a privately held automotive technology company specializing in online and in-store credit, finance and ‘deal making’ solutions designed to create a more efficient, faster moving Sales and F&I workflow that helps dealers sell more cars in less time, improve profitability and increase customer satisfaction.  For more information, visit www.elendsolutions.com.

Contact: 
Media Relations 
Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com 
Crystal Hartwell, mWEBB Communications, (714) 987-1016, crystal@mwebbcom.com

Gubagoo’s Web RESQ 2.0 is powerful new technology that enables advanced live or recorded video capability, as well as deeper Facebook integration for more traffic and better leads

New Orleans, LA -  January 26, 2017 – Gubagoo, the leading provider of dealer communications solutions today, at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in New Orleans, announced the availability of Web RESQ 2.0, a new technology platform that enables advanced communication capabilities on two key customer channels: Video and Facebook.

Web RESQ Video: Comprehensive Ability to Stream and Share Video 

Web RESQ Video offers a richer sales experience that aligns with customer expectations: fully 53% of online car shoppers use video to make their purchase decision[1]. And today, whether it’s a sales walk-around, or a chance to show service needs in real-time, the video chat capability offered by Web RESQ gives dealerships a powerful way to communicate with customers.

 “This video capability adds a whole new level of engagement for dealerships,” said Brad Title, CEO and Founder of Gubagoo. “For example, if a salesperson ‘RESQ’d’ a conversation by stepping in and taking over the call, that same salesperson can quickly send the customer a video walk-around of the car they want to buy. And best of all, the salesperson can do the walk around as live stream – all through chat.”

Web RESQ Facebook Integration: Drive More Traffic and Convert More Leads 

Surveys show that people spend an average of 40 minutes every day on Facebook[2], which is why Web RESQ provides instant messaging, with a full solution that offers instant messages, inventory integration, offers and video. With Web RESQ, Facebook Messenger conversations are handled just like chat, and dealers who respond to customers in real-time get an “immediate response badge” from Facebook. This lets people know that you are open and doing immediate business on the channel. 

“Today, Facebook is no longer just one of many options for dealers…it’s an absolute requirement, because this is where people are at their most reachable,” said Title.

About Gubagoo

Based in Boca Raton, Gubagoo is the leading provider of dealer live chat, text, and call solutions. Gubagoo offers seamless integrated web-based, SMS, and call monitoring technologies for automotive dealerships. Our passion for customer service and lead conversion, makes Gubagoo the best 24/7 car dealer chat, text, and overflow call provider in the automotive industry. Gubagoo’s U.S. based operators, receive the highest level of training and certification to make certain every customer that engages in a live chat, text, or call, receives the best possible customer experience. Gubagoo delivers the best quality of service to automotive dealership customers and strives to maximize the dealership’s lead conversion rate and long-term auto sales. For more information about Gubagoo products, visit www.gubagoo.com or contact 855-359-2573.

Gubagoo Media Relations

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

[1] https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/articles/consumers-take-the-wheel-how-digital-is-changing-the-australian-auto-industry.html

[2] https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.businessinsider.com/how-much-time-do-people-spend-on-facebook-per-day-2016-4?client=safari