Once the industry cleared the Fourth of July, buy-sell activity involving dealerships exploded like fireworks with Haig Partners and Performance Brokerage Services announcing transactions involving 13 stores in three states.

Beginning with Haig Partners, the firm served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to Tom Dinsdale Automotive in the sale of its three dealerships to The Rydell Company. The dealerships included in this sale were Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet Cadillac GMC and Tom Dinsdale Hyundai in Grand Island, Neb., and Tom Dinsdale Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Hastings, Neb.

Founded in 2003 by Tom Dinsdale and his wife Kim, Tom Dinsdale Automotive grew over time to become one of central Nebraska’s most recognizable groups.

The group’s GM dealership, Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet Cadillac GMC, is particularly well known for its facility, which is one of the largest GM facilities in the world at more than 70,000 square feet and its Cadillac franchise. This is the only Cadillac franchise between Omaha and Denver.

Tom Dinsdale Automotive became a beloved local brand through its many charitable endeavors and community involvement. The Dinsdale family, along with the Tom Dinsdale Automotive dealerships, have been highly charitable and supportive of the Grand Island and Hastings communities. The group directly supported more than 80 charities and were highly involved with the Nebraska State Fair, Hastings College, Grand Island Central Catholic, Hastings St. Cecelia and Heartland United Way.

The group’s high level of charitable involvement created strong local relationships and directly supported the Central Nebraska community in which most of Tom Dinsdale Automotive’s customers work and live.

The sale of Tom Dinsdale Automotive represents the Dinsdale family’s exit from automotive retail but the family will remain active in the community and State of Nebraska with other business interests. Also, Tom will never be too far away from his beloved Cornhusker football.

“It was not an easy decision to sell. But it made sense at this point for myself and my family to retire,” Tom Dinsdale said in a news release from Haig Partners. I will forever be proud of the group I built and want to thank my teammates for their many years of dutiful service. I am very grateful to our long-time advisors and CPAs, James Anderson, and Matt Peppmuller of Forvis Mazars, for their advice and introduction to John Davis and the team at Haig Partners.

“My wife Kim and I knew in our first meeting that they were the perfect fit for us. John Davis, and his teammate Erik Haig, went the distance – visiting with us in person, carefully listening to our goals, and crafting a compelling marketing package for our company that helped attract an excellent buyer in The Rydell Company. I know my former employees and neighbors in Grand Island and Hastings are in excellent hands,” Tom Dinsdale continued.

With this acquisition, the Dinsdale dealerships will join The Rydell Company, a rapidly expanding automotive retail organization with a rich history in the Midwest.

Founded in the 1940s by Leonard Rydell in Minnesota, the Rydell Company later expanded under his son, Wes. It now operates more than 80 dealerships across 17 states.

“It was a pleasure to assist Tom and Kim Dinsdale in the sale of their dealerships to the Rydell Company,” Haig Partners managing Director John Davis said in the news release. “The satisfying part of our role in a transaction is helping our clients achieve their goal. Tom and Kim had carefully built their empire in Grand Island and Hastings over the course of two decades, and we knew it was going to be critical to find a buyer that was going to take great care of their employees and honor their legacy of community and charitable involvement.

“When The Rydell Company expressed interest, I knew we had a serious, fair and reliable buyer at the table. They have a very experienced team and that has made this transaction a very smooth process,” Davis continued.

Stephen Dietrich, Sarah Seeding and Anna Ayar from Holland & Knight provided legal counsel to the seller and James Anderson and Matt Peppmuller from Forvis Mazars provided closing assistance and accounting services to the seller.

Haig Partners has advised on the sale of 28 dealerships so far in 2025.

Sale of Foundation Automotive Corp.’s 4 dealerships in Tennessee

In another transaction, Performance Brokerage Services announced the sale of Foundation Automotive Corp.’s four dealerships in Tennessee, including Jones Chevrolet Humboldt, Jones Nissan of Savannah, Jones GMC of Savannah, and Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Savannah, to Jones Motor Company.

Foundation Automotive Corp operates more than a dozen dealerships across Colorado and Texas, representing a variety of domestic and import brands.

Established in 1960, Jones Motor Company has become a trusted family name serving communities across Tennessee. With five locations in Savannah and Humboldt, the group represents brands including Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet, Nissan, and GMC.

The Jones dealerships in Humboldt and Savannah, Tennessee will continue to operate at their current locations.

Following the sale, Foundation Automotive Corp. vice president of corporate development Mike McMeeken shared through a news release, “It was a pleasure to work and build a great relationship with the Performance Brokerage Services team of George Chaconas, Jimmy Robinson, Courtney Bernhard, and Jesse Stopnitzky to facilitate the sale of our platform of four automotive dealerships in Tennessee to focus and realign our core group of car stores. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the near future and wanted to thank them for their professionalism and tenacity to get these deals done, as it was not easy.”

Performance Brokerage Services has advised on sales of nearly 400 dealerships over the past five years.

“I’m thrilled to have recently helped facilitate Foundation Automotive Corp’s platform in Tennessee, alongside my new partner, Jimmy Robinson, and Courtney Bernhard,” Chaconas said. “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mike McMeeken and the entire team at Foundation for trusting us with the exclusive sell-side representation on this transaction. The road to closing was long and, at times, challenging — but we got it done, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team effort that made it possible. I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to have worked alongside Mike. It’s been a true pleasure to get to know him better, and I look forward to collaborating again on future opportunities.”

Robinson added, “I am honored to have represented Foundation Automotive Corp in their recent sale of their Tennessee platform to Chad Jones. It was a pleasure working alongside my partners, George Chaconas and Courtney Bernhard, to facilitate this transaction with Mike McMeeken and his tremendous team at Foundation Automotive Corp. I look forward to working with Mike and the Foundation team on their future endeavors.”

Sale of Sarchione Auto Group’s 6 stores in Ohio

In another transaction involving Performance Brokerage Services, the firm announced the sale of Sarchione Auto Group, which includes six dealerships in Ohio, to Ken Ganley Automotive Group.

The transaction includes Sarchione Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Dalton, Sarchione Ford Lincoln of Alliance, Sarchione Ford of Randolph, Sarchione Chevrolet of Randolph, Sarchione Chevrolet of Garrettsville, and Sarchione Auto Gallery in North Canton.

Sarchione Auto Group has been family-owned and operated since it was founded in 1917 by John and Joe Sarchione’s great-grandfather. What began as a small car lot in Alliance, Ohio, expanded to five franchised dealerships and one pre-owned dealership across Ohio, representing Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford, and Lincoln.

Ken Ganley Automotive Group was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Broadview Heights, Ohio. The group operates more than 50 dealership locations across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Florida.

The dealerships will continue to service customers in their current locations, and John and Joe Sarchione will continue to operate the six dealerships under Ken Ganley Automotive Group.

Following the sale, Joe Sarchione said in another news, “On behalf of my brother and me, we couldn’t have been happier with the team of Mark Shackelford, Sr. and Mark Shackelford, Jr. at Performance Brokerage Services. They both have a real passion for what they do as brokers in the automotive business and are extremely hardworking, knowledgeable, honest, and diligent. When the time came to sell our six dealerships, their guidance and expertise made for a seamless transaction. Their knowledge of the buy-sell process was outstanding and made for an extremely smooth and enjoyable experience. They are true gentlemen and a pleasure to work with.”

Ken Ganley added, “Mark did an outstanding job keeping a very large, six-store deal on track and moving forward. He was relentless in getting the deal to make sense for everyone involved, and the outcome was great on both sides. I would strongly recommend Mark Shackelford, Sr. and Mark Shackelford, Jr. for both a seller and buyer.”

Group 1 donates $250,000 to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund

Following a philanthropic path also taken by Toyota, Houston-based Group 1 Automotive is donating $250,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which supports relief and rebuilding efforts following the historic Fourth of July flood in Central Texas.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country directs funding to The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which will provide funds to vetted organizations providing rescue efforts and flood assistance in the Central Texas communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort.

“The loss of life and catastrophic devastation in Central Texas are unimaginable,” Group 1 president and CEO Daryl Kenningham said. “As a Texas-based company, we know Texans respond when adversity strikes. All of us at Group 1 hurt for those who lost loved ones, homes, and other property.”

Group 1’s Texas presence is comprised of 53 dealerships and approximately 6,000 employees, extending throughout the state, including San Antonio and Austin. Kenningham added that Group 1 has offered additional support by pledging $50,000 in matching funds for donations made by Group 1 employees.

To donate, visit this website.