1: Confidential consultation with client
NBB understands the far reaching implications and impact - both professionally and personally - that come along with the decision to sell your dealership. After selling over 500 dealerships, we are intimately familiar with every detail of facilitating, negotiating and consummating a sale.
Often times, the decision to sell may not always be clear and may or may not be the decision most appropriate for your needs. We can assist you in identifying all of your options and can give you valuable information to help you decide the best course to take. These early discussions are often conducted by phone and/or email as confidentiality is so vital or, depending on your situation and needs, can be face-to-face. Regardless of how conducted, this begins the relationship-building process, critical to our mutual comfort and success.
If you enlist NBB to help you sell your dealership, be assured that we have well-developed methods that will give your dealership the broadest possible exposure while making every reasonable effort to protect confidentiality.
2: Dealership valuation
There is no substitute for a sensible market value. We often find a dealer’s perceived value of his/her dealership may be off by as much as 50% in either direction. Since each dealership is unique, no two dealerships are alike. Therefore, finding the “real” value of the dealership requires going far beyond looking only at fixed assets, real property and profitability.
Our experience which has been specific to the automotive industry for more than 30 years, allows us to find hidden, yet real, value in your dealership. In addition to providing NBB with financials, you will complete our questionnaire designed to draw from over 50 different factors in determining your dealership’s value. These factors have been identified through NBB’s experience and industry knowledge and have proven to ascertain a value more meaningful than that which can be done by simply implementing the more traditional methods used by CPA’s and/or business appraisers.
3: Site visit by NBB
Site visits by NBB professionals can be very helpful but are not always necessary, especially in situations where confidentiality is an issue. In some cases, a visit may be necessary to solidify the value determination and/or make specific recommendations to you about preparing the dealership for sale. Because we travel the marketplace a great deal of the time, our extensive knowledge of various markets and familiarity with the dealerships is quite vast.
4: Engagement agreement signed
Upon the decision to go forward with a sale, it is now time to document roles and expectations. NBB by now has explained extensively our scope of services and how we work. You will have a good understanding of what is ahead, what will be expected of you and what you can expect from NBB and the process. The team is now established and it is time to take your dealership to the market.
5: Information gathering
Although the gathering of information began in our initial meetings and our processes are already in motion, it will be incumbent upon you to provide certain information, documents and materials that are crucial to NBB’s marketing efforts. With your cooperation, we will put together a comprehensive presentation package. At this time, you will complete a more in-depth questionnaire; and our checklist of materials needed will be made available to guide you in this step of the process.
6: Marketing package prepared
NBB’s package, prepared with your information and continuously updated as necessary, becomes a key tool for us to help potential buyers “touch and feel” your dealership from a distance. The information you have provided for the marketing package empowers us to get potential buyers excited about the prospect of owning your dealership. It becomes the basis by which the buyer will build his proforma. The buyer’s proforma is the primary tool he will use to decide what he will be willing to pay for your store.
7: Marketing strategy developed
Just as no two dealerships are the same, neither are any two deals. You will ultimately decide how aggressive or conservative you want NBB to be in the marketing of your dealership. The decision involves in-depth and on-going dialog between you and NBB to identify the most appropriate plan for your situation.
8: Identify potential buyers
NBB maintains on average a database of just over 2,000 registered, active buyers, many of whom have completed multiple transactions with our help. Our office typically receives in excess of 75 new calls per week from prospective buyer individuals and buyer groups. With this level of activity, we are able to mine our own database continuously to begin to identify a likely buyer pool for your consideration. All buyers engaged with NBB sign our proprietary non-disclosure and commission agreement before any discussions specific to any deal takes place.
9: Seller filters buyers
Upon your direction, NBB will present that initial buyer pool for your consideration. Next is a collaborative process between you and NBB. We will provide information about each buyer candidate so that you can begin to get a feeling for them and together we will determine the best place to begin. NBB has also established four regional offices around the country to maximize opportunities allowing each NBB office to communicate with one another closely and continuously to enhance buyer relationship sharing.
10: Seller qualifies buyers
At your discretion and with NBB’s guidance, potential buyers may be asked to provide documented evidence of their automotive industry experience such as CSI and SSI scores, in addition to evidence of their financial ability to consummate a deal.
11: Detailed information to buyers
Once we have your concurrence and the first list is identified, our initial presentations will be made to the pool of buyer candidates. This process might be conducted in a number of ways, and always with care in protecting confidentiality. The presentation method chosen is based on various factors such as the relationship between NBB and the buyer, the nature of your deal, buyer’s preferred style and more. Remember, every dealership is different, therefore every deal is different. A large part of NBB’s experience and expertise is in knowing how to best make the presentation and when.
12: Coordinate site tours
The site tour is important for obvious reasons, and also provides you and the buyer candidates a chance to meet personally and get a better feel for one another. We will generally encourage a visit early-on, especially in cases where the buyer may not be local to the market.
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13: Seller selects best buyer
Ideally, the acquisition opportunity will be presented to 5-6 candidates initially and then as candidates drop, we will add another to the process. We are striving to always have multiple candidates looking at your deal at the same time. This is critical for creating a competitive environment and a sense of urgency which creates good deal flow. This process will ultimately push one buyer to the top while firming up the value of your dealership.
14: Assistance with drafting initial offer
NBB will prepare a comprehensive Offer to Purchase on behalf of the Buyer. This document is NOT intended to serve as the definitive agreement, rather to provide the attorneys with the framework they will need to formalize the deal in the definitive purchase agreement once the majority of important deal points are decided and a deal appears eminent. Our goal at this stage is to outline the spirit of the agreement, including as many of the details and specifics as possible to make the attorney’s job go more smoothly and quickly.
15: Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
NBB knows all too well what a life changing experience this is for sellers and buyers both. By now, we have reached a point in the deal process where emotions run high, and the pressures are great. NBB can, UNLIKE attorneys, interact with BOTH deal principals. We are able to build and maintain a wall in order to avoid potential alienation throughout the negotiation process and continue to draft counter offers when necessary. We will interact intensely with both sides, fostering healthy negotiations in a productive environment, as we facilitate the process of overcoming obstacles so that both sides may achieve their mutual goals.
16: Buyer and seller agree on terms
Once the Offer to Purchase fully executed we can move forward knowing there is a strong foundational tool with which the parties’ attorneys’ can work. This is a critical step to reach before the attorneys become too involved in the negotiations. Remember, no two dealerships are alike; no two deals are alike. NBB facilitates the sales and acquisitions of new motorcycle dealerships across the country EXCLUSIVELY. We know from past experience that strong legal and/or accounting influence too early-on can impact negatively on the deal process – often at the expense of the deal.
17: Attorney drafts buy-sell
NBB strongly encourages all parties to engage and utilize legal representation specific to the automotive industry. There are attorneys whose practices are automotive specific. We have experience with many of them across the country, can refer clients for their services and will be pleased to make the introductions when necessary.
18: Consummate negotiations
Even with the solid framework of an Offer to Purchase containing mutual agreement in place, this is the time where tensions may be at their absolute highest levels. With additional parties now involved (attorneys, accountants, etc.), the dynamics become more complicated. As the buy-sell is being drafted, some challenging deal points typically continue to arise - both financial and non-financial. NBB will continue to assist the parties on both sides in overcoming obstacles through discussions and negotiations. The attorneys, bound by legal constraints, can hold discussions with their respective clients only.
Objective discussions are crucial at this time because this is the point in the process when an otherwise good deal might break down. We will manage necessary communications to assist both you and the buyer in negotiating away the issues successfully. Both parties can then sign the definitive purchase agreement (buy-sell).
19: Buyer conducts due diligence
NBB again encourages all buyers hire an automotive accountant to assist them in conducting due diligence to the buyers’ satisfaction. As mentioned before, NBB is able to introduce buyers to a network of professional experts in this area.
20: Begin satisfying contingencies
Yes, they do exist – in every deal. Your NBB deal maker will make every effort to assist both sides in the timely removal and sign-off of all contingencies.
21: Submit buy-sell
Submit buy-sell to Harley-Davidson Motor Company – Concurrently, you will inform to the Motor Company your intention to sell. You forward the buy-sell agreement to the Motor Company and make the introduction of the buyer.
22: Buyer’s application
Buyer’s application to Harley-Davidson Motor Company – Within two weeks of signing the buy-sell, the buyer should complete the application to the Motor Company. As before, we can, if necessary, refer the buyer to professional experts to assist with this process.
23: Harley-Davidson approval
Once the Motor Company receives a completed application, they typically take about 60 days to approve the buyer, depending on the state in which the dealership is located.
24: Transaction closes
Generally, within 5 days of factory approval and following the final physical inventory, the transaction closing will occur. This may take place at the dealership and, depending on the situation; NBB may be present to assist as necessary and share congratulations all around.
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Continued Success
At NBB we normally represent about 50 dealerships for sale nationwide, most are exclusive listings. Since our inventory constantly changes, please contact our office to discuss current acquisition opportunities. And remember to register with a broker in your region so they will follow up with you.
See what we can do for you.
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