Sale of leading domestic brand in the highly desirable Washington DC market marks Kerrigan Advisors’ 284^th dealership sold and 54^th franchise sold in the Mid-Atlantic region since the firm’s inception

WASHINGTON DC – December 19, 2024 – Kerrigan Advisors, the premier sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide, represented Northern Virginia-based Country Auto Stores in the sale of Country Buick GMC of Leesburg in Loudoun County to Jaffer Syed. In addition to being the 80^th franchise Kerrigan Advisors has sold in 2024, the completion of this transaction represents Kerrigan Advisors’ 54^th franchise sold in the Mid-Atlantic region and its 284^th dealership transaction since 2014.

“We are pleased to have completed the sale of Country Buick GMC and to represent Andy Budd in the sale of this desirable dealership, located in the wealthiest county in the country,” said Gabe Robleto, Senior Vice President, Sell-Side Advisory at Kerrigan Advisors. “Andy is a highly respected dealer and generous contributor to the community. We were honored to support him in bringing this transaction to a positive close."

Operating in the economically vibrant Washington DC metropolitan area, Country Buick/GMC is the 7th highest volume Buick GMC dealership in the state (out of 38) and ranks in the top 35% nationally for Buick GMC.

“When looking to hire an advisory firm, Kerrigan Advisors was the clear choice given their leading transaction experience, particularly in the Washington DC-Baltimore market. They managed the sale process from beginning to end on my behalf and were extremely professional ensuring my goals for my sale were met,” said Andy Budd, Owner of Country Auto Stores. “A welcoming and comfortable experience for the Leesburg community has always been our top priority, and I’m incredibly proud of our employees for consistently delivering on that promise. It was a very hard decision to sell; however, I am confident that under new ownership with Jaffer Syed, the community will continue to receive the same exceptional service.” 

Loudoun County, located in Northern Virginia, is one of the most desirable in the nation, driven by robust population growth (up 39% since 2010, 8x the US average rate) and high incomes (for 16 consecutive years, Loudon County has ranked as the highest-earning county in the US). The county also benefits from Virginia's pro-business environment, named America’s Top State for Business in 2024, according to CNBC. Situated within the Washington DC metropolitan area, Loudoun County thrives in one of the nation’s strongest economies, consistently outperforming the overall US, particularly in recessionary periods.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Andy Budd in this booming part of the US. The Mid-Atlantic boasts one of the country’s strongest economies and is highly sought after by today's buyers, as we have learned across the 54 franchises successfully sold by Kerrigan Advisors in this region,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder & Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors.  “We were pleased to be able to leverage our firm’s knowledge, bolstered by our work on the successful sale of Jim Koons Automotive last year, one of the industry’s largest transactions in history, to bring the Country Buick GMC transaction to a conclusion that delivered the best value for both parties.”

About Kerrigan Advisors

Kerrigan Advisors is the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has led the industry with the sale of over 280 dealerships representing over $9 billion in client proceeds, including the third largest transaction in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury Automotive Group. The firm advises the industry’s leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Led by a team of veteran industry experts with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, accounting, finance and real estate, Kerrigan Advisors does not take listings, rather they develop a customized sales approach for each client to achieve their personal and financial goals. In addition to the firm’s sell-side advisory services, Kerrigan Advisors also provides a suite of consulting and investor services including growth strategy, market valuation assessments, capital allocation, transactional due diligence, open point proposals, operational improvement and real estate due diligence.

Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples, and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download a preview of the report, click here. The firm also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index™, click here. To read the 2023 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. To read the 2024 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 949-307-1723