Alan Haig of Haig Partners will present data about buy-sell activity in 2015, an outlook for 2016, and current blue sky multiples.

Executives from leading dealership groups discuss their perspectives on the market, what franchises they want to buy, and what markets they are targeting. Also, these buyers will speak about the role of OEM facility requirements in their acquisitions. They will be joined by a leading automotive attorney who will give his perspective on how buyers and sellers can protect themselves from surprises from OEM requirements.

Panelists: Mark Iuppenlatz of Group 1, George Karolis of Asbury Automotive, Franklin McLarty of RML Automotive, Raul Rodriguez of AutoNation, and Aaron Jacoby of Arent Fox LLP.

Auto retail has attracted new types of investors that are looking to acquire dealerships. Executives from a family office and a private equity firm will discuss the dealership groups they are building and how they can provide attractive options to dealers thinking about growth or exiting the industry.

Panelists: Scott Earthy, Managing Partner of Fremont Private Holdings, and Rick Ford, President of RFJ Auto Partners.

Several dealers who have sold their businesses in the past year discuss the reasons for their sale and provide insights for other dealers considering a sale transaction.

Panelists: Bill Buckingham of Mike Davidson Ford of Jacksonville, Charlie Fenwick of Valley Motors of Baltimore, and Charlie Tomm of Brumos Automotive.