Lithia moves into new Florida markets
Lithia & Driveway’s massive dealership portfolio continues to grow.
The giant auto retailer added three more stores to its holdings with the acquisition of Duval Acura and Duval Honda in Jacksonville, Fla., and Subaru of Gainesville in Gainesville, Fla., from Duval Motor Company.
The locations are the first in those markets for Lithia, which operates more than 300 dealerships in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The company said the additions are projected to generate more than $200 million in annualized revenue, as well as strengthening its import and luxury store footprint in Florida and extending the geographic reach of its retail network.
Lithia said the newly acquired stores, which were financed using existing on-balance sheet capacity, raise its total year-to-date expected annualized revenue acquired to $5.9 billion.
“These award-winning dealerships bring a strong legacy of customer service and community engagement, aligning perfectly with our growth strategy,” Lithia president and CEO Bryan DeBoer said in a news release. “This acquisition enhances our presence in key markets, reinforcing our commitment to providing exceptional retail experiences wherever, whenever and however customers desire.”
Duval Motor Company continues to own and operate Duval Ford in Jacksonville, which was founded by the family in 1916 and is now run by fourth-generation CEO Hampton Graham and president Alex Graham.
Haig Partners, which advised the seller in the transaction, said the sale of the Honda, Acura and Subaru dealerships was a “strategic decision,” allowing the Grahams to concentrate on expanding their Ford network to complement Duval Ford.
“We’re excited for the future of Duval Motor Company,” Hampton Graham said. “The Graham family traces our roots in Jacksonville back to Walter McRae Sr. taking a porter job with Duval Ford all the way back in 1921. Duval Ford will continue to carry on that incredible legacy created by the McRae family, and we want to continue to grow with Ford Motor Company.
“The deep relationships we create with our employees and customers have always been central to Duval Motor Company. To say that we will miss working with the Duval Acura, Duval Honda and Subaru of Gainesville teams would be an enormous understatement. They are family.”