Strategic Partner for Buy/Sell Transactions
We Support the Deal. We Partner on the Real Estate.
David Melton supports dealer principals and buyers navigating M&A transactions and buy/sell deals from every angle. While most firms represent sellers or chase listings, our role is different — we serve as a strategic partner throughout the transaction, supporting dealer principals with both the business and real estate components, depending on what the deal requires. Sometimes the engagement is real estate only. Sometimes it's both.
With 40+ years of operational and real estate expertise in automotive retail, we understand the full complexity of dealership transactions — from OEM approvals to capital deployment strategy. We are not an advisor who places the deal with someone else's capital. We are the partner who shows up at closing ready to acquire the real estate and structure it for long-term performance.
What M&A Support Means in a Dealership Transaction
As your M&A support partner, we bring our own capital to the table — not a seller's agenda, not a third-party investor. Whether you are acquiring a single store, entering a new franchise, or executing a multi-store platform deal, our role is to ensure every component of the transaction is carefully underwritten, properly structured, and executed as a true partnership — delivering the best long-term outcome for both buyer and seller.
Our Real Estate Acquisition Support Includes:
Our M&A Support Includes:
Direct acquisition of the real estate component at or near closing
Sale-leaseback structuring to lower the buyer's capital investment at closing
Bifurcation of operations and real estate to maximize seller proceeds
Coordination with attorneys, CPAs, lenders, and OEM approval teams
Transaction support across both the operating business and real estate component — structured around what the deal requires
Learn More
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The best dealership M&A opportunities rarely begin with a public listing. At David Melton, we leverage 40+ years of national industry relationships to surface buy/sell and real estate partnership opportunities — including many that never reach a broker's desk. Whether the transaction is a single-store acquisition, a new franchise entry, or a multi-store platform, we evaluate the real estate independently and come to the table as a principal partner with direct capital.
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Supporting a dealership M&A or buy/sell transaction involves more than agreeing on price. It requires underwriting the property independently, structuring the leaseback terms, meeting manufacturer approval standards, and coordinating across legal, financial, and operational teams. David Melton manages the transaction throughout — coordinating across business, real estate, legal, and financial teams depending on what the deal requires.
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With decades of operational experience and firsthand real estate investment expertise, David Melton brings a unique partnership perspective to every M&A and buy/sell transaction. He understands not only how to acquire and structure the real estate — but how those decisions affect the operating business long after closing.
Our Advantages:
40+ years of automotive real estate and operational expertise
We are the buyer — principal capital, not placement or brokerage
Off-market access through 40+ years of national industry relationships
Deep understanding of OEM requirements and manufacturer approval processes
Integrated sale-leaseback structuring that lowers buyer capital at closing
Completely confidential — every engagement handled with full discretion
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David Melton partnership extends beyond the immediate transaction — it is about positioning the dealer for long-term strategic growth and enterprise value. Real estate decisions made during a purchase or sale have lasting consequences for capital structure, lease obligations, and operational flexibility.
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If you are considering expanding your dealership portfolio through an M&A transaction or buy/sell deal, having a dedicated partner at the table can mean the difference between overpaying for a deal and structuring one that performs for decades. David Melton partners with buyers and sellers personally — bringing confidentiality, precision, and a long-term perspective to every transaction.
