Dealer news: Sutherlin sells its last Florida dealership; acquisition in Kentucky
Sutherlin Automotive Group is out of the Florida market.
The Alabama-based dealership group, owned by Brett Sutherlin, sold its last store in the Sunshine State, Sutherlin Nissan of Vero Beach, to Andy Unanue, according to Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions, which represented the seller in the transaction.
The dealership has been renamed Nissan of Vero Beach.
In August, Sutherlin sold three other Florida dealerships — Sutherlin Nissan Fort Myers, Sutherlin Nissan Cape Coral and Fort Myers Genesis — Krause Auto Group. The company continues to operate three locations in the Montgomery, Ala., area and one in Kingston, Tenn.
“As much I love the Vero market, this transaction made sense for us to further diversify our brand mix as a company in growth mode,” Brett Sutherlin said in a news release.
Sutherlin Automotive was founded by Brett’s father, George Sutherlin, more than 50 years ago.
Don Franklin acquires another Kentucky location
Don Franklin Automotive Group has acquired Knox Ford in Radcliff, Ky., from Gary Haupt, a deal announced by the Tim Lamb Group, which brokered the sale.
The dealership, which has been renamed Don Franklin Radcliff Ford, is the Don Franklin group’s 28th location, all in Central Kentucky.
“As I continue to look for expansion opportunities in Central Kentucky, it’s always a great fit when you find businesses like Knox Ford that have been well run by great people for so many years,” president Eddie Franklin said.
The company was founded in 1968 by Eddie’s father, Don Franklin, who invested his life savings to start Don’s Used Cars in Columbia, Ky.
Haupt, who had owned Knox Ford since 1999, said he sold the business to simplify his portfolio and focus on his larger Ford dealership in the Louisville area.