FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Audi—Haig Partners LLC, a leading buy-sell advisory firm to auto retailers, served as the exclusive buy-side advisor to E1T1 Automotive Group on its acquisition of Audi Gainesville from Warren Henry Automotive Group. Audi Gainesville is located in a rapidly growing area of Florida.
The transaction represents E1T1 Automotive Group’s first acquisition in Florida and its entry into the luxury segment. E1T1, led by Jarryd Carver, has built a strong reputation in Virginia operating domestic and mid-line import dealerships. With this acquisition, Carver becomes the State of Florida’s first Black Audi dealer who is also a member of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, marking a meaningful milestone within the automotive retail industry.
Audi Gainesville features a beautiful, modern facility and has been recognized five times as a “Best Dealership to Work For,” reflecting the strength of its team and culture. The dealership is well positioned for long-term success as new product launches come to market and brand momentum improves.
Warren Henry Automotive Group, one of Florida’s most recognized luxury dealer organizations, executed the sale to optimize its dealership portfolio and operations. Audi Gainesville was its only dealership in North Florida. The group continues to own and operate a premier collection of 13 dealerships in South Florida, including several of the highest volume Jaguar-Land Rover and Lamborghini dealerships.
“We are excited to become part of the Audi family,” said Jarryd Carver of E1T1 Automotive Group. “This acquisition represents growth aligned with a brand known for innovation, performance and excellence. We will continue to serve our employees and the Gainesville community with excellence and integrity, building on the strong foundation already in place. We believe strongly in the long-term outlook for Audi and look forward to investing in the team and the market for years to come.
“I would also like to thank Derek Garber for navigating us through this transaction. Florida is an extremely competitive market, and we knew how strong his relationships were throughout the state. His guidance and access were instrumental in helping us successfully enter this market.”
Erik Day of Warren Henry Automotive Group said, “Audi Gainesville has been a meaningful part of our portfolio, and this transaction reflects a disciplined portfolio decision that supports our long-term strategic objectives. We continue to invest heavily in our South Florida luxury platform and remain active in evaluating opportunities in key metropolitan markets. Derek Garber was professional and thoughtful throughout the process, and we appreciate his efforts in helping bring this transaction to a successful conclusion. We congratulate Jarryd and his team and wish them continued success.”
Derek Garber, Managing Director at Haig Partners, said, “Haig Partners has built a reputation as a leading advisor to auto retailers. We are proud to continue delivering on our firm’s mission of maximizing value for dealers and advising leading dealer groups on broader portfolio strategy, including when to divest, when to reposition capital and, in select cases, when to expand. Florida continues to see strong demand from buyers across virtually all franchises due to its population growth, favorable tax environment and long-term economic fundamentals. In this case, we were proud to advise Jarryd Carver on a disciplined entry into the luxury segment and the Florida market, while Warren Henry executed a thoughtful optimization of its portfolio. Transactions like this reflect a healthy buy-sell environment in which strong operators are making long-term strategic decisions rather than reacting to short-term cycles.”
Greg Humphries and Cameron Katz of Shutts & Bowen LLP represented the buyer as legal counsel. Stephen Dietrich and Kyle Gaughan of Holland & Knight LLP represented the seller as legal counsel.
About Haig Partners
Haig Partners is a leading buy-sell advisory firm that helps owners of higher-value dealerships maximize the value of their businesses when they are ready to sell. The team at Haig Partners has advised on the purchase or sale of 575+ dealerships and has represented 32 dealership groups that qualify for the Top 150 Dealership Groups list published by Automotive News, more than any other firm. Clients of Haig Partners benefit from the group’s collective experience as previous executives with leading companies such as AutoNation, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, FORVIS, J.P. Morgan, Lexus, Porsche and Toyota Financial Services. Leveraging its unmatched expertise and extensive relationships, Haig Partners guides clients to successful outcomes through a confidential and customized sales process. The firm authors The Haig Report®, the leading industry quarterly report that tracks trends in auto retail and their impact on dealership values, and co-authors NADA’s Guide, “Buying and Selling a Dealership.” Haig Partners team members are frequent speakers at industry conferences and are regularly quoted in reputable media outlets, including Reuters, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, BBC, Automotive News, Wards and CarDealershipGuy. Haig Partners also hosts Maximizing Value Conferences that provide dealers with proprietary research about the auto retail industry and insights into dealership buy-sell trends, as well as content about how auto dealers can improve their operational performance. For more information, https://www.haigpartners.com.
Contacts
Transaction Contact:
Derek Garber
Managing Director
Haig Partners
[email protected]
(407) 949-2549
Media Contact:
Aimee Allen
Chief Growth Officer
Haig Partners
[email protected]
(603) 933-2194
