The O’Brien Auto Team has expanded its presence in Kentucky, acquiring Jack Kain Ford in Versailles, Ky., according to a news release from Performance Brokerage Services, which advised on the sale.

In a statement on behalf of the Kain family, Bob Kain said, “After 67 years as a family-owned dealership, making the decision to sell was about much more than a business transaction. It was an emotional decision for our family, and Mark Shackelford, Sr., and Mark Shackelford, Jr., of Performance Brokerage Services understood that from the very beginning.

“As a father-and-son team, Mark, Sr., and Mark, Jr., brought a very personal approach to the entire process. They took the time to understand what was important to our family and were extremely sensitive to what it meant to close this chapter after nearly seven decades,” Kain said. “They guided us through every step, were always available when we needed them, and helped us find a buyer who shared our commitment to our employees, customers, and community. Throughout the process, Mark, Sr. and Mark, Jr. demonstrated professionalism, patience, integrity, and, most importantly, a genuine concern for our family. They never made us feel like we were simply another transaction.”

The O’Brien Auto Team dates back to 1987 with the opening of Parkway Mitsubishi in Normal, Ill. Over the last four decades, the group has expanded throughout Illinois, Kentucky and California and includes including Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Nissan dealerships.

Jack Kain Ford, which will be renamed O’Brien Ford, is the group’s second Ford dealership in the state.

Tim Short Auto Group buys 2 stores in Miss.

Further South, Tim Short Auto Group has acquired James Ceranti CDJR and James Ceranti Nissan in Greenville, Miss., from James Ceranti, according to a news release from DSMA.

The dealerships will now operate as Crossroad CDJR and Crossroad Nissan, according to the news release.

“When we went after the Ceranti stores in Greenville, I knew Chris Hawley and DSMA were on the seller’s side, and I figured every move they made would be about getting the most for the Cerantis. Chris did take care of his clients, but he did it in a way that was fair to everyone at the table,” said Todd Rea of Tim Short Auto Group, in a news release.

“Every deal has a few problems […]. Each time something came up, Chris brought creative solutions that worked for both sides and got us past it. Their prospectus was about as thorough as any I’ve seen, and we didn’t run into surprises later because they were upfront from day one,” Rea said.

“The DSMA team kept everybody moving and kept the deal on track to the finish line. Honestly, it was a pleasure working with them. Whether you’re buying or selling, I’d recommend Chris and DSMA.”