Consolidation appeared in the buy-here, pay-here industry on Tuesday.

Buckeye Dealership Consulting announced the acquisition of Berkshire Risk Services in a merger bringing together two industry service providers committed to empowering dealers and finance companies with innovative risk management tools and customized solutions.

“Buckeye’s customers expect best-in-class risk management strategies backed by unparalleled expertise,” Buckeye founder and CEO Rob Fox said in a news release.

“The combined strengths of the two companies will create economies of scale and access to a broader marketplace enabling Buckeye to enhance existing products while providing additional opportunities for our clients,” Fox continued.

Fox went on to mention that this strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for Buckeye, making the newly merged company one of the nation’s largest risk services provider serving the BHPH industry.

Now having more than 100 associates with offices in Ohio, Florida, and Kansas, Buckeye has bolstered its national footprint across all time zones for increased customer service and streamlined claims management.

The firm now boasts four certified public accounts, three attorneys, and dozens of associates with vast expertise in the automotive financing and insurance marketplaces.

Berkshire founder Chris Kirwan said that expertise makes Buckeye unique amongst service providers in the BHPH market.

“This merger creates an organization with truly formidable capabilities,” Kirwan said in the news release. “Combined, Buckeye and Berkshire have the intellectual and administrative horsepower equal to many insurance companies.”

Founded in 2007, Berkshire is a specialty provider of collateral protection insurance, vendor single interest and insurance monitoring solutions. Buckeye has had a strong business relationship with Berkshire since Fox founded the company in 2008, partnering to provide BHPH dealers and related finance companies with the ability to reinsure those product offerings.

“Buckeye built its brand on knowledge and experience in the F&I reinsurance market for independent dealers and finance companies,” Fox said. “This merger will further allow us to customize a program to fit business needs, help control risk, improve cash flow, and increase the bottom line.”

To learn more about Buckeye’s risk management services, visit www.buckeyereinsurance.com or call (330) 726-9030.