INCLINE VILLAGE, Nevada – Kerrigan Advisors, a sell-side advisory firm to auto dealers in the U.S., represented owner Ron Bubar in the sale of Grand Junction Subaru and Grand Junction Volkswagen in Grand Junction, Colorado to Sonic Automotive.
The transaction marks the 118th and 119th dealership sale that Kerrigan Advisors has advised on in just the last six years, making the firm today’s most active sell-side advisor to the highest value transactions in auto retail. This transaction illustrates Kerrigan Advisors’ success in representing the highest quality clients nationwide, extending from individual dealerships to Top 150 dealership groups and the firm’s ability to leverage its robust, proprietary buyer database to identify the best buyer for each client.
“Having the opportunity to represent quality dealerships like Grand Junction Subaru and Grand Junction Volkswagen was an honor for our team,” said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “Grand Junction Subaru has been the largest volume dealership by new unit sales, in Mesa County, Colorado for six consecutive years. Finding a buyer who appreciated the strength of two award-winning dealerships with proven best practices was our goal in this engagement. It was a pleasure to work with Ron Bubar and navigate through today’s active, and competitive, auto dealership buy/sell market.”
A key part of Kerrigan Advisors’ approach to representing Grand Junction Subaru and Grand Junction Volkswagen was to provide insight into this attractive Colorado market, particularly in discussion with out-of-market buyers. Grand Junction is one of the fastest growing cities in Colorado, one of the most affordable places to live in the state, and Subarus and Volkswagens have significant market share: Volkswagen’s market share in Colorado is 30% higher than the US average, and Subaru is the second highest-selling brand in the state.
“We never took the popularity of our cars for granted, and made customer service our top priority every day,” said Ron Bubar, Owner of Grand Junction Subaru and Grand Junction Volkswagen. “The success we’ve had over the years is a direct reflection of our tireless efforts to keep the customer experience front and center – no matter what challenges came our way. Kerrigan Advisors brought that same sense of commitment and dedication to the way they represented my dealerships. As a result, they were able to reflect to the marketplace an accurate picture of the dealerships’ value, both in terms of the quality of the assets and the importance of our people.”
“In today’s record-breaking buy/sell market, it was important to identify a buyer who recognized the value of what Ron and his team created in Grand Junction and the tremendous benefits of operating in the Grand Junction market,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “Sonic Automotive really understood the unique position these dealerships held in their community and also has a powerful commitment to customer service that will ensure Grand Junction’s legacy continues.”
The Grand Junction dealerships have a strong track record of award-winning performances. In 2019, Grand Junction Subaru received the Subaru Love Promise Gold Award, and Grand Junction Volkswagen was named a Gold Pin Winner in 2019. Both awards recognize customer satisfaction and community involvement. The dealerships are also highly regarded online by JD Power, DealerRater and CarGurus. Notably, Grand Junction Volkswagen has won DealerRater’s Consumer Satisfaction Award for all dealerships in the state of Colorado for four consecutive years.
