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.
