Just three days after closing on Sellers-Sexton Ford, the group bought its first Illinois dealerships.
On Dec. 9, Ed Morse Automotive acquired Weir Chevrolet-Buick-GMC and Weir Ford, both in Red Bud, and Weir Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in New Athens, from retiring dealer Norman Roy, Morse said.
The stores have been renamed Ed Morse Chevrolet-Buick-GMC, Ed Morse Ford and Ed Morse Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram. The transaction also included Weir Parts Center, also in Red Bud, which was renamed Ed Morse Parts Center. Red Bud and New Athens are southeast of St. Louis.
Jennifer Rafael of Dealer Solutions Mergers and Acquisitions, a buy-sell firm based in Markham, Ontario, and with a U.S. office in Jupiter, Fla., represented Roy in the transaction.
Ed Morse now has 27 locations in Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. In July, the group bought two dealerships in Texas.
Ed Morse Automotive ranks No. 60 on Automotive News‘ list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the U.S., retailing 14,169 new vehicles in 2020. Ed Morse, Teddy’s grandfather, started the business in 1946.
