The Birchwood Automotive Group, the largest dealership conglomerate in Winnipeg, bought Bob Kozminski's Keystone Ford, one of the best-known vehicle retailers in town, for an undisclosed sum.
The move gives Chipman-owned Birchwood 11 standalone dealerships but its first Ford banner. Steve Chipman, CEO of Birchwood, said he's not done, either.
"We'd like to have 15 dealerships by 2015. We're in growth mode. We've always been pretty loyal to the Winnipeg market. We enjoy the city and what it brings to us and we've always believed we should invest in our own city," he said. Chipman's brother, Mark, is co-owner of the Winnipeg Jets.
The deal also includes Kozminski and his son, Matthew, buying a 50 per cent stake in Birchwood's Jaguar Land Rover Volvo location.
After four decades in the automotive business, Kozminski said it was time to finally retire. (He won't be active in the Jaguar dealership. Matthew Kozminski has already been appointed general manager and will buy out his parents' share by 2017.)
The elder Kozminski said he knew he had to step back when he was looking ahead to the just-completed winter, a time when he usually flies south for a holiday. A moment on a sunny beach may have played a cruical role.
"I decided I didn't want to come back. I wanted to stay in Florida. That tells you it's time to sell," he said.
from Western Investor April 2012
