ARLINGTON, Texas -

Just as the industry was purchasing last-minute holiday presents and figuring out where extra guests were going to sleep, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) and the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers (NABD) announced an agreement on Dec. 20 that their leaders hinted was coming.

Officials explained NIADA has acquired the assets and operations of NABD and will merge NABD's conference and educational services into those of NIADA.

NIADA said it closed on the acquisition on Dec. 14, completing more than two years of review, strategic discussions and due diligence.

The merger provides a succession plan for NABD, founded in 1998 by Ken Shilson.

“We are thrilled to formally join forces with Ken Shilson, Ingram Walters and the entire NABD team as we move forward together with a long-term NABD succession plan,” NIADA chief executive officer Steve Jordan said.

“NABD has provided a strong voice and specialized educational resources to more than 14,000 members over the past 19 years. I am pleased that the NABD legacy will live on within NIADA as we continue to develop new ways to serve the entire used motor vehicle industry,” Jordan continued.

The organizations indicated the NABD staff will transition into NIADA and continue in expanded roles to serve the needs of NABD members, NIADA members and the BHPH industry.

“Success in this industry is about working together,” said Shilson, NABD’s president. “It’s about using our collective resources to help our members succeed. And that’s exactly what we’ve done here. We’re working together for the success of the used car industry, which is what this merger is about.”

NABD’s Walters agreed that the deal embodies what NABD set out to do nearly two decades ago.

 “Our goal at NABD has always been the dealers’ success,” he said. “This combination will provide even more basis for that and an ongoing plan for their success.”

That plan includes merging NABD's National BHPH Conference into the NIADA Convention and Expo for a combined NIADA-NABD Mega-Conference set for June 18-21 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla.

A fall conference in Las Vegas is also under development, with plans to be announced in early 2018.

For more information on the upcoming NIADA-NABD conference, visit www.niadaconvention.com or www.bhphinfo.com.