Kerrigan Advisors Represents Omaha’s Beardmore Auto Group in Sale to Morrie’s Automotive Group
OMAHA, Neb.--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide, represented Beardmore Auto Group in the sale of Beardmore Subaru, Beardmore Chevrolet and Beardmore Hyundai dealerships in Bellevue, Nebraska, to Minnesota-based Morrie’s Automotive Group, the 74 th largest dealership group in the US. This transaction marks Kerrigan Advisors’ 326 th dealership sold since inception and its second prominent Omaha transaction since 2022. Over the past 12 months, the firm has transacted in nearly one dozen states, representing $3 billion in dealership revenue sold.
We are thankful for the opportunity to represent the Hamilton family in this once-in-a-generation transaction
Founded in 1919, Beardmore Auto Group has been in business in Kansas and Nebraska for over 100 years, and served the Omaha market for 60 years, and now commands 35% of the local auto retail market in the Bellevue area of Omaha. Carey (Beardmore) Hamilton, a fourth-generation automotive retailer, and Brian Hamilton have led the group through a multi-generational ownership legacy that started with Carey’s grandfather, Maurice "Moe" Beardmore. The group is recognized for the "Beardmore Experience" focused on the highest level of customer service and is well known in the Bellevue community for philanthropy and service. The Hamiltons were recently honored with the Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award by the University of Nebraska at Kearney in recognition of their community leadership and impact.
Morrie’s Automotive Group, founded in 1965, now operates more than 30 dealerships across the Midwest. This acquisition marks its entry into the Nebraska market and the group’s continued expansion throughout the Midwest region, where the group is one of the top auto groups retailing over 46,000 vehicles and generating revenue of more than $1.8 billion in 2025.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to represent the Hamilton family in this once-in-a-generation transaction,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “Beardmore’s impressive history and dominant position in its local market, premier real estate and strong franchise mix generated significant buyer interest for their group. Identifying the right Midwestern partner to steward Beardmore into their next chapter was a priority for the Hamilton family, and Kerrigan Advisors was proud to guide that transition after over a century of dedication and hard work in the Omaha market.”
“It is bittersweet to transition a business that has been in our family for four generations,” said Carey Hamilton. “Honoring our family’s legacy and ensuring our employees and community were well served post-sale were incredibly important to us. We wanted an advisor who would keep these personal goals at the forefront while identifying the right owner for Beardmore’s next chapter. Kerrigan Advisors guided us through the sale process with discipline and integrity and helped us transition the dealerships to another growing Midwestern group aligned with our long-term vision. Throughout the sale process, the whole Kerrigan Advisors team went above and beyond to make sure this incredibly important transaction came to fruition.”
“We are deeply grateful to our employees, the Omaha community and the auto retail industry for their support over the decades,” added Brian Hamilton, who served on the NADA Board of Directors on behalf of Nebraska new franchised dealers for 15 years. “It has been an honor to be part of this amazing industry and to serve in leadership roles representing Nebraska dealers on the national level. We are proud of what our team has built and excited to see our family’s dealerships continue to grow and thrive under new ownership with Morrie’s Automotive Group. Thank you to Kerrigan Advisors, particularly Erin Kerrigan and Chris Gempton, for identifying the ideal buyer for our business and shepherding the sale of our family’s business and legacy. We could not have done it without them.”
Subaru, Chevrolet, and Hyundai are among the industry’s strongest-performing non-luxury franchises. In Kerrigan Advisors’ 2025 Dealer Survey, respondents reported strong valuation expectations for these franchises in 2026. Of dealers surveyed, the vast majority expected the valuations to increase or remain the same in 2026 (86% for Chevrolet, 85% for Subaru and 75% for Hyundai). Additionally, Subaru and Chevrolet rank among the most trusted non-luxury franchises in the industry and Chevrolet saw the highest level of improvement in trust and valuation of most franchises in the 2025 survey.
Omaha is one of the Midwest’s most attractive non-luxury auto markets. Since 2019, the Omaha MSA’s population has grown 50% faster than the US average, surpassing one million residents in 2024. The city was ranked the #1 Best City to Move to in 2024, #9 Best City for Young Professionals and #16 Best Startup City, supported by business operating costs approximately 12% below the national average. Non-luxury brands dominate Omaha’s new car auto retail market, garnering 89% overall market share in the MSA – 9% higher than the US average – with Chevrolet, Subaru and Hyundai ranking #3, #5, and #8, respectively, in the MSA.
“The Omaha buy/sell market continues to demonstrate strong momentum,” said Chris Gempton, Senior Vice President at Kerrigan Advisors. “High-performing non-luxury franchises in growth markets with strong regional market share are attracting significant buyer interest. We congratulate the Hamilton family and Morrie’s Automotive Group on a successful transaction.”
“We greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with Kerrigan Advisors on this transaction,” said Lance Iserman, CEO of Morrie’s Automotive Group. “Their team distinguished themselves in their active management of every stage of the sale process, from letter of intent negotiation through due diligence and OEM approvals. Kerrigan Advisors ensured a seamless and efficient transaction achieving a successful outcome for their client and us as the buyer.”
Greg Humphries of Shutts & Bowen LLP served as legal counsel to Beardmore. Stephen Dietrich of Holland & Knight LLP served as legal counsel to Morrie’s.
About Kerrigan Advisors
Kerrigan Advisors is the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has led the industry with the sale of over 325 dealerships generating more than $10 billion in client proceeds, including two of the largest transactions in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury and Leith Automotive to Holman. The firm advises the industry’s leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Led by a team of veteran industry experts with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, accounting, finance and real estate, Kerrigan Advisors is the only firm in auto retail exclusively dedicated to sell-side advisory, providing its clients with the assurance of a conflict-free approach.
Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples, and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download a preview of the report, click here. The firm also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To read the 2025 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. To read the 2025 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.