Cliff Banks - The Banks Report

Direct-to-Consumer Model “A Disaster Waiting to Happen” for Automakers

April 17, 2022 — A direct-to-consumer sales model appears to be a non-starter for Toyota as sales chief Bob Carter calls it “a disaster waiting to happen.” Carter provided his perspective on a wide range of topics during an on-stage interview with Jason Stein, president of Motormindz, at the NADA/J.D. Power Automotive Forum in New… Continue Reading

Cliff Banks - The Banks Report

Cars.com to Acquire Vehicle Valuation & Appraisal Company

February 8, 2022 — Cars.com announced this morning it is acquiring the assets of Accu-Trade, Galves Market Data, and MADE Logistics from founder Robert Hollenshead. Terms of the transaction, which should close within the next month, include an initial cash payment of $65 million with another expected $63 million earnout payment based on certain financial… Continue Reading

Rodo Lands Big Investors as Investment in Auto Digital Retailing Remains Hot

Rodo Lands Big Investors as Investment in Auto Digital Retailing Remains Hot

(Photo Source: Shutterstock, Photographer: Jaguar PS) July 28, 2021 — Hollywood actor and noted comedian Kevin Hart sees the upside in automotive digital retailing and has decided to ride along with a group of investors putting $18 million into Rodo, a mobile app that lets customers lease, purchase, or sell a vehicle online. Hart’s investment… Continue Reading

Layoffs at DealerSocket, Omnitracs Further Evidence Vista Equity is Preparing an IPO for Solera

Layoffs at DealerSocket, Omnitracs Further Evidence Vista Equity is Preparing an IPO for Solera

July 21, 2021 — Following a scuttled SPAC attempt earlier this year for portfolio company Solera Holdings, Vista Equity Partners now is planning for an initial public offering later this year or early next year. The original strategy called for partnering with special purpose acquisition company Apollo Growth Strategic Capital, which had raised $817 million…

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Cliff Banks - The Banks Report

J.D. Power’s Purchase of Darwin Shows a Sector Moving Into Acquisition Phase

July 7, 2021 — After more than $200 million being invested in automotive digital retailing firms the last few years, two large strategic transactions in June signaled the sector has entered the acquisition/consolidation phase. A third deal, set to be announced this morning, pushes the total amount spent on purchases of firms offering digital retailing…

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CDK Global, Authenticom Settle Data Access Lawsuits

CDK Global, Authenticom Settle Data Access Lawsuits

October 30, 2020 — Earlier this week, CDK Global and Authenticom settled their lawsuits that were part of several data access-related lawsuits that were consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) in federal court in Illinois’ Northern District. From February 2017 to February 2019 as many as seven vendors and 25 dealerships filed lawsuits against either…

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Thoma Bravo Adds Two New Firms to the Growing J.D. Power Empire

Thoma Bravo Adds Two New Firms to the Growing J.D. Power Empire

August 7, 2020 — Since May 2019, Private equity firm Thoma Bravo has engaged in an acquisition spree in the automotive space compiling a group of five companies providing data and software services to automakers and dealers. In the last 15 months, Thoma Bravo has acquired Autodata Solutions (ChromeData), J.D. Power and Associates, Trilogy Automotive,…

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Legal and Legislative Update on the Ongoing War for DMS Data Access

Legal and Legislative Update on the Ongoing War for DMS Data Access

August 5, 2020 — A recent judicial ruling may be the most promising sign yet that third-party technology vendors will soon be free of alleged expensive and restrictive data access policies enacted by CDK Global and Reynolds and Reynolds. On July 24, a judge in Arizona’s District Court ruled against a motion filed by Reynolds…

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