DSMA is pleased to announce the successful sale of James Ceranti CDJR and James Ceranti Nissan in Greenville, Mississippi, from James Ceranti to Tim Short Auto Group. The dealerships will now operate as Crossroad CDJR and Crossroad Nissan.

Representing James Ceranti, DSMA’s Midwest Regional Director, Chris Hawley, successfully led the transaction, treating all parties fairly, finding practical solutions, and keeping the process moving forward.

DSMA’s involvement goes well beyond finding a buyer and negotiating an offer. From the LOI through the APA and all the way to closing, DSMA’s associates and Acquisition Management team coordinate the process, help navigate challenges, and maintain momentum at every stage.

That level of support is a key differentiator in how we approach transactions. By staying engaged throughout the process, we help create a smoother path to closing while remaining focused on protecting our client’s interests.

Regarding his experience working with Chris and DSMA, Todd Rea, from Tim Short Auto Group, shared:

“When we went after the Ceranti stores in Greenville, I knew Chris Hawley and DSMA were on the seller’s side, and I figured every move they made would be about getting the most for the Cerantis. Chris did take care of his clients, but he did it in a way that was fair to everyone at the table.

Every deal has a few problems […]. Each time something came up, Chris brought creative solutions that worked for both sides and got us past it. Their prospectus was about as thorough as any I’ve seen, and we didn’t run into surprises later because they were upfront from day one.

The DSMA team kept everybody moving and kept the deal on track to the finish line. Honestly, it was a pleasure working with them. Whether you’re buying or selling, I’d recommend Chris and DSMA.”

Another transaction successfully closed.

DSMA has facilitated the successful acquisition of Brookfield CDJR in Benton Harbor, Michigan from Don Brookfield by Eric Johnson, owner of Johnson Automotive Group LLC.

This transaction marks Eric Johnson’s second dealership acquisition and reflects the continued growth of his automotive platform, which includes ownership of Wabash Valley CDJR.

The opportunity was introduced through Jennifer Rafael, Vice President of Midwest & Partner at DSMA and Mike Funk, DSMA Regional Director of the Midwest. Mike brings over three decades of automotive industry experience and an extensive network of relationships with key decision-makers across the OEM and dealership landscape.

In today’s automotive M&A environment, acquiring dealership ownership has become increasingly competitive and complex, with heightened OEM scrutiny and more rigorous approval processes than ever before. Successfully navigating these challenges requires not only experience, but also deep industry credibility and longstanding relationships at the highest levels of automotive retail, strengths that continue to position DSMA as a trusted advisor in dealership transactions across North America.

Regarding his experience working with DSMA, Eric shared:

“Buying a dealership is a long process with a lot of moving pieces, and working with Mike and Jennifer throughout the acquisition of Brookfield CDJR was a huge help from start to finish.

We worked together for over a year on different opportunities leading up to this acquisition, and what I appreciated most was having people consistently helping navigate the process, keeping communication moving, and helping work through the challenges that naturally come up during a deal.

There were definitely stressful moments throughout negotiations, due diligence, and getting to the closing table, but Mike and Jennifer stayed involved throughout the process and helped keep things moving forward.

As this was my second acquisition, I understood how important it is to have the right people around you during the process, and I appreciated their persistence, communication, and guidance throughout the transaction.

I’m excited about the future with Brookfield CDJR and look forward to continuing to grow and work together on future opportunities.”

Backed by a database of more than 13,000 qualified buyers and a team of seasoned professionals with deep-rooted OEM, lender, and dealership relationships, DSMA continues to play a critical role in helping buyers and sellers navigate today’s evolving automotive landscape.