Haig Partners LLC, a prominent advisory firm specializing in the buy-sell transactions of auto dealerships, has successfully served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the owners of Advantage Toyota and Ball Toyota in their sale to Victory Automotive Group (“Victory”). Advantage Toyota, now renamed Victory Toyota of Barboursville, was owned by Shawn Ball and his brother David Ball, while Ball Toyota, now Victory Toyota of Charleston, was owned solely by Shawn Ball. Victory Automotive Group, led by Jeff Cappo and his sons Eric and Mike Cappo, is based in Canton, MI.
Advantage Toyota has long been a standout dealership, selling more new vehicles than any other dealership in West Virginia. Over the past year, the dealership sold more than 2,000 vehicles and is among the highest-volume dealerships in the Central Atlantic Toyota Region. The dealerships combined operated on approximately 15 acres, with 97,500 square feet of space dedicated to showroom, service, and storage.
The Ball brothers’ journey in the automotive industry reflects a classic American success story. Shawn’s career began humbly—working for a used vehicle wholesaler, performing menial tasks such as washing and transporting cars. His father, concerned about his future, arranged for an interview with the U.S. Postal Service, urging Shawn to pursue a more stable career. However, Shawn chose to strike out on his own in the used vehicle wholesale business, ultimately building a substantial company that supplied vehicles to dealerships across West Virginia. By living modestly and saving every penny, Shawn was able to invest in L&S Toyota, a small dealership that he transformed into a highly profitable operation. The success of L&S Toyota enabled Shawn to acquire Advantage Toyota.
Meanwhile, David Ball, who had worked in the coal mines of West Virginia for over a decade, joined Shawn in the auto retail business. Together, they built Advantage Toyota into the highest-volume dealership in the region. This success caught the attention of Toyota, which asked Shawn to acquire Toyota of Charleston, a struggling dealership at the time. After the acquisition, David Ball took an ownership position at Advantage Toyota, helping to further elevate the dealership’s standing. Now retired, David has passed the reins to Shawn, who continues to own L&S Toyota, planning to pass it on to the next generation.
Shawn Ball expressed his satisfaction with the sale, stating, “I’m happy for my brother who can now enjoy his retirement, and I’m happy for myself since now I can spend more time with my family and other interests, such as supporting Marshall University and focusing on my farm. And I feel fortunate that I get to remain in the Toyota family since we still own one Toyota dealership, which we are keeping for the next generation. When I began to think about selling the dealerships, I researched Haig Partners. I liked what I saw about them and later learned that they have an excellent reputation in the Toyota dealer community. It is well-earned. They knew how to describe our dealerships and led a sales process that brought us an impressive buyer. Selling dealerships is not easy, and I’d like to thank Alan Haig, Derek Garber, and Erik Haig for guiding us to an outcome that we are all happy with. Finally, I’d like to congratulate the Cappo family at Victory Automotive. They have a very talented team here, and I know they will do well with these stores.”
Victory Automotive Group, which ranked #19 on the 2023 Automotive News Top 150 dealership group list, generated $2.3 billion in revenue by selling approximately 50,000 new and used vehicles. With the purchase of Victory Toyota of Barboursville and Victory Toyota of Charleston, Victory now owns 55 dealerships across 11 states. Jeff Cappo, President of Victory Automotive Group, said, “We are excited to be purchasing two more Toyota dealerships, a brand offering customers many quality vehicles that provide excellent value. These dealerships are a great fit with our strategy of growing with leading brands across the U.S.”
Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners, expressed pride in facilitating the Ball brothers’ transaction. “We were honored to help Shawn and David Ball achieve their goals. Their story is an inspiring one, and we are thrilled to have played a role in it. We want aspiring dealers to hear about this success and work to achieve their own dreams in the challenging auto retail industry. We also congratulate the Cappo family and Victory Automotive Group on acquiring two more Toyota dealerships, following the acquisition of Weiss Toyota just last month. Toyota dealerships continue to be highly sought after due to their strong profitability and diverse business model,” said Haig. Haig Partners has advised on the sale of six Toyota dealerships in 2024 alone, demonstrating the continued strength of the Toyota brand in the marketplace.
Haig Partners has been involved in the purchase or sale of 39 Toyota stores nationwide, along with 90 dealerships in the Mid-Atlantic region. The firm is on track to sell around 60 dealerships in 2024, marking a record year with the highest prices ever paid for numerous franchises. As Haig Partners celebrates its 10th anniversary as trusted buy-sell advisors, it continues to prioritize delivering exceptional outcomes for clients, recognizing that each transaction represents not just a business deal but the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and vision.
For more information or to have a confidential conversation about buying or selling a dealership, contact Alan Haig at [email protected] or (954) 646-8921.
