LMP Automotive Holdings agrees to purchase 70% stake in N.Y. dealership group

Editor's note: This story has been updated and corrected with revised information from LMP. The retailer is paying $425 million for its stake. An earlier version of this story had an incorrect value for the transaction.

LMP Automotive Holdings Inc., an emerging public auto retailer and subscription provider, said it agreed to pay $425 million for a majority stake in New York retailer Atlantic Auto Group and a related logistics company.

The deal, announced late Friday, would advance LMP's aggressive acquisition goal to grow to as many as 50 franchised new-vehicle stores within a year of starting from scratch.

Pending closing conditions, LMP plans to purchase a 70 percent stake in Atlantic Auto Group, which is owned by John Staluppi Sr. It represents the largest chunk of Staluppi Auto Group, which is ranked No. 9 on Automotive News' annual list of the top 150 U.S. dealership groups, based on 2019 retail new-vehicle sales. The deal would value Atlantic at $608 million.

Staluppi Auto Group includes stores owned by John Staluppi Jr., which are not involved in the transaction. Staluppi Auto Group sold 62,570 new retail vehicles last year at a combined 43 dealership locations.

Alongside previously announced acquisitions, the deal would bring Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based LMP to a total of 26 dealership locations. LMP, which originated as a vehicle subscription company and standalone used-car lot, initiated deals to acquire new-car dealerships just this year.

Atlantic Auto Group's management will continue to operate the business once the deal is closed, LMP said, which is expected between December and January, subject to automaker approval.

Staluppi Sr., founder and CEO of Atlantic Auto Group in West Islip, N.Y., will stay on as CEO and retain a 30 percent stake in the company, LMP said Monday. The sale also includes a logistics and vehicle storage company, Atlantic Central Storage.

"Atlantic is going to continue to operate the business," LMP CEO Samer Tawfik told Automotive News. "It's going to be one of our portfolio companies, which we will expand."

The deal includes 20 franchises at 17 rooftops, all in New York. The Atlantic dealerships and storage facility are expected to contribute to LMP an estimated $1.6 billion in revenue and $38 million in net income on an annualized basis in 2021, the company said. Atlantic Auto Group is expected to generate about $52 million in net income overall in 2021, Atlantic CFO Robert Dito told Automotive News.

The deal will be partially financed, which includes seller financing, and funded through company cash. The group will retain ownership of the real estate, which LMP will lease for five years, Staluppi Sr. said.

"It's a good opportunity for them; it's a good opportunity for my people," Staluppi Sr. said. "None of my business will change. All of the employees stay in place. I'm still the boss."

If all of the acquisitions LMP announced this year close, including Atlantic Auto Group, LMP's 26 rooftops will represent 33 franchises: five Toyota, two Lexus, three Honda, one Subaru, six Hyundai, three Genesis, three Kia, four Chevrolet, two GMC, two Cadillac and two Buick. The group will also have six used-only standalone stores, including the original store in Florida.

Tawfik told investors Monday that LMP plans to add 30 to 40 stores in 2021.

LMP, which went public last December, began in late 2017 with a business model centered around a "flexible lease" offering, wherein the company purchased new vehicles at fleet prices and used-vehicle inventory at auction to offer for subscription. The company would then sell the off-subscription vehicles.

LMP shares rose 3.1 percent to close at $36.17 on Monday, the first day of trading after the announcement.

This year, LMP announced deals to buy all or part of nine franchised dealerships and three used-vehicle stores in four Southern states for a total of about $120 million. These stores are expected to close starting at the end of November.

Together with the Atlantic Auto Group, LMP's planned acquisitions would fetch the fledgling public company $2.2 billion in annualized revenue in 2021 and would expand its employee count to over 1,600 from 30 people today. The company also expects to earn about $70 million in pretax income from the acquisitions.