February 2016

APCO Holdings, LLC (APCO), a leading marketer and administrator of aftermarket benefits sold by franchised and independent auto dealers throughout the U.S., today announced that it has acquired 100% of Automotive Development Group, LLC (ADG) from The Zabel Companies, LLC (Zabel). Following the transaction, ADG’s senior management will remain shareholders and the company will continue to be operated as a separate business operation with the current management team remaining in place. Colonnade Securities served as the exclusive financial advisor to ADG and Zabel on this transaction.

“ADG has been an intricate and an important part of APCO and our EasyCare brand’s success since 1992, and they have been our largest independent agency for seven of those years, including the last two. Their biggest asset is their people. Greg English, Brad Tyson, John Hensley and their team deliver outstanding results for the automobile dealerships they work with. They truly focus on helping others succeed, and their service mentality and responsible business practices really fit our APCO core values. We are thrilled to have them be officially a part of our company,” said Larry Dorfman, Chief Executive Officer of APCO. “Working together as full partners, we can leverage all of the capabilities of the companies to deliver more to our customers and shareholders.”

“APCO and EasyCare have been a significant part of our success over the years, and our relationship has gotten stronger as we continue to realize the positive impact we can have on the consumer and dealership experience when we work together,” said Greg English, President of ADG. “With APCO’s vision and resources and our exceptional team of in dealership performance drivers, we know we can really help our current and future dealers achieve more.”

Rich Jones, Vice President of The Zabel Companies, said, “We have enjoyed a terrific partnership with the ADG team over the past couple of years. Greg and the entire team are true professionals who have delivered outstanding results, and we appreciate their efforts. We know this opportunity to become a part of APCO and EasyCare is a great next step and will allow ADG to continue to grow and reach its full potential. We wish them continued success in the future.”

About APCO Holdings, LLC (APCO)

APCO, established in 1984, is a leading marketer and administrator of aftermarket benefits sold by franchised and independent auto dealers throughout the U.S. APCO has expanded its offerings over the last decade to include market leading video e-mail and service customer CRM technology, as well as leading edge training and consulting for dealership sales and finance teams. The company markets its products using the EasyCare and GWC brands, as well as other private label automobile manufacturer brands, through a network of independent agents and an internal salesforce that specialize in consulting with and servicing the automotive dealership markets. EasyCare and GWC Warranty are the only “Motor Trend Recommended Best Buy” brands in the automotive aftermarket. For further information about APCO, see www.gwcwarranty.com and www.easycare.com.

About Automotive Development Group (ADG)

ADG is one of the largest independent agencies in the automotive aftermarket and dealership training industry. The company delivers dealership consulting, automotive sales training, F&I profitability and compliance training, and superior F&I products to dealerships nationwide focusing on passionately helping dealers build a unique car-buying experience one customer at a time. ADG offers EasyCare and GWC benefits from APCO Holdings, LLC, as well as a full suite of other F&I products from other industry leading providers. See more at: http://adgonline.net

About The Zabel Companies (Zabel)

Zabel is a private investment firm dedicated to partnering with management teams to invest in and build private companies. Zabel’s strategy is to work closely with management to steadily grow businesses and to build value for all parties involved.  The Zabel team has a hands-on and collaborative style built through years of working in close partnership with management teams and owners and delivering value-added resources to lower middle market companies.

About Colonnade Securities LLC (Colonnade)

Colonnade is an investment bank focused on mergers and acquisitions in the financial services and business services sectors with extensive experience in auto finance and F&I products and services.  Colonnade is a registered broker/dealer.  For further information about Colonnade and transactions completed in the auto finance and F&I products and services industry, visit www.coladv.com.