Leading Network that Facilitates Vehicle Transportation for Dealers Added to DealerTrack’s Comprehensive Solution Set
Lake Success, N.Y. ─ Expanding its range of solutions and services for the automotive retail industry, DealerTrack announced an agreement to acquire 1st Auto Transport Directory, Inc., a web-based network for arranging vehicle transportation and shipping. Total consideration for the transaction is expected to be approximately $74.0 million in cash, subject to standard purchase price adjustments.
Founded in 1997, San Diego-based 1st Auto Transport delivers a comprehensive suite of vehicle transportation related solutions for auto dealers, brokers, shippers, and carriers within the U.S. and Canadian automotive retail markets. The company’s offerings include:
- CentralDispatch.com, a leading business-to-business, subscription-based network for facilitating vehicle transportation, with more than 13,000 network subscribers;
- jTracker.com, a CRM and lead management tool for automotive transportation brokers; and
- MoveCars.com, one of the premier online advertising directories for the vehicle transportation industry.
“Similar to our other network solutions, the acquisition of 1st Auto Transport supports our mission to be the leader in driving efficiency in the automotive retailing industry. 1st Auto helps dealers source and dispose of vehicles in a more timely and cost effective manner,” said Mark O’Neil, chairman and chief executive officer, DealerTrack. “DealerTrack enables the key elements of a dealer’s workflow with our award-winning DMS, credit application network, and inventory management tools, among other offerings. We believe Central Dispatch complements DealerTrack’s turn-key inventory management services, including analytics, pricing, merchandising, group trade and now transportation, for franchise and independent dealers.”
“By joining DealerTrack, we will be able to extend our network into more automotive dealerships than ever before, and it will make it easier for dealers to ship vehicles anywhere, coast-to-coast,” said Wayne Harris, founder and president of 1st Auto Transport.
Barclays served as DealerTrack’s financial advisor in connection with this transaction, which is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, subject to customary closing conditions. Details on the financial impact of this transaction will be discussed in DealerTrack’s previously announced second quarter earnings conference call on August 7, 2012.
About DealerTrack (www.dealertrack.com)
DealerTrack’s intuitive and high-value web-based software solutions and services enhance efficiency and profitability for all major segments of the automotive retail industry, including dealers, lenders, OEMs, third-party retailers, agents, and aftermarket providers. DealerTrack, whose solution set for dealers is the industry’s most comprehensive, operates the largest online credit application network in the United States, connecting over 18,000 dealers with more than 1,200 lenders. DealerTrack’s Dealer Management System (DMS) provides dealers with easy-to-use tools and real-time data access to enhance their efficiency. DealerTrack’s Inventory offerings provide vehicle inventory management and merchandising solutions to help dealers drive higher in-store and online traffic with state-of-the-art, real-time listings, accelerate used-vehicle turn rates, and increase dealer profits. DealerTrack’s Sales and F&I solutions allow dealers to streamline the entire sales process as they structure deals from a single integrated platform. Its Compliance offering helps dealers meet legal and regulatory requirements, and protect their assets. DealerTrack also offers processing solutions for the automotive industry, including electronic motor vehicle registration and titling applications, paper title storage, and digital document services. For more information visit: www.dealertrack.com.