DENVER (October 26, 2022)– Holland & Knight advised Franchise Equity Partners (FEP) in its $70 million capital investment in Georgica Auto Holdings, an automotive retail group with 23 franchises in the northeast. The transaction will allow FEP to become a minority shareholder in Georgica, whose dealers account for more than 20,000 new and used vehicle sales annually, totaling more than $1 billion in revenue.
New York-based FEP, an independently operated portfolio company of certain funds and accounts managed by HPS Investment Partners, supplies large-scale franchise owners with capital and in-house financial expertise while allowing them to retain full control of their operations.
FEP Auto Holdings Chairman Mark LaNeve has decades of automaker C-suite experience in North America, while FEP Auto Holdings President Don Reese has a deep background in dealer management, operations and financing.
Holland & Knight Partner Stephen Dietrich and Associate Lacey Croy led the transaction for Franchise Equity Partners. They were assisted by Partner Mark Melton and Associate Ross Tuminello.