Autobytel acquires Advanced Mobile

Autobytel Inc., (USA) the company dedicated to helping consumers and automotive dealers connect online, has announced it has acquired Advanced Mobile, LLC, a provider of innovative mobile communications services designed specifically for the automotive industry.

As a result of the acquisition, Autobytel will offer auto manufacturers and dealers the ability to connect with consumers using a preferred method of text communication via a secure platform that protects consumers’ privacy. In addition, Autobytel will offer dealers a comprehensive suite of mobile products, including mobile apps, mobile websites, Send2Phone capabilities and text message marketing.

Founded in 2006 and based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Advanced Mobile serves the automotive industry with a full range of advanced mobile technologies. These technologies facilitate communication between dealers and car buyers on smart phones and tablets at the time, place and in a manner preferred by consumers. This advanced platform will be the core of a wide array of mobile services Autobytel offers to its dealer and manufacturer customers, and will also be available to consumers through Autobytel’s websites.

Since 1995 when Autobytel pioneered the automotive Internet, the company has grown to become a leading provider of new and used car leads and marketing services for dealers and manufacturers nationwide. The company’s flagship website, Autobytel.com, is one of the nation’s leading online resources to help people research, shop for, buy, sell and own a car.

Jeffrey Coats, President and Chief Executive Officer of Autobytel

“We led the way nearly 20 years ago when we invented online car buying, and we now intend to lead the way in mobile,” said Jeffrey Coats, President and Chief Executive Officer of Autobytel Inc. “Last year, more than 326 million U.S. wireless subscribers sent more than 2 trillion text messages, or more than 171 billion per month. We believe that the explosive growth in smart phone and tablet use represents significant mobile communications opportunities, especially for the automotive industry, which has been searching for ways to safely and legally utilize mobile technologies. This acquisition enables us to offer the industry the mobile resources it requires to successfully communicate with car buyers in a preferred manner.

“We expect the technology and team built by Advanced Mobile to be an important asset to Autobytel and to its dealer and manufacturer customers, allowing them to capitalize on the new frontier of mobile,” Coats said. “Adding these new and innovative mobile technologies to the high-quality leads we deliver to customers—internally generated leads that convert to sales at roughly three times the estimated industry average—will help manufacturers and dealers sell more cars, more efficiently.”

“We created Advanced Mobile to help clients cultivate a mobile eco-system to drive their businesses forward,” said Bret J. Dunlap, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Mobile. “We believe that our extensive suite of products and industry experience is highly valuable to auto dealers and manufacturers who are seeking the greatest possible returns for their marketing investments. Our goal of helping clients sell more cars is completely aligned with Autobytel’s, and we look forward to continuing to help our customers realize the full benefits of mobile technology.”

The initial consideration for the acquisition was $2.5 million in cash. In addition, Advanced Mobile may earn up to an additional $1.5 million in contingent payments based on the revenue and gross profit performance of the acquired business over a three-year period commencing January 1, 2014.

Dunlap will join Autobytel as Senior Vice President, Mobile. As an inducement for joining the company, Dunlap was granted an option to acquire 88,641 shares of Autobytel common stock at an exercise price of $7.17 per share. The option will initially vest based on the revenue and gross profit performance of the acquired business over the next three years and then on Dunlap’s time of service with Autobytel.

B. Riley & Co., LLC acted as Autobytel’s exclusive financial advisor for this transaction.

About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc., an online leader offering consumer leads and marketing resources to car dealers and manufacturers and providing consumers with the information they need to purchase new and used cars, pioneered the automotive Internet when it launched its flagship website, www.autobytel.com, in 1995. Autobytel continues to offer innovative products and services to help consumers buy, and auto dealers and manufacturers sell, more used and new cars. Autobytel has helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online. Through its flagship website, network of automotive sites and respected online affiliates, Autobytel continues its dedication to innovating the industry’s highest quality Internet programs to provide consumers with a comprehensive and positive automotive research and purchasing experience, and auto dealers, dealer groups and auto manufacturers with some of the industry’s most productive and cost-effective customer referral and marketing programs.

Source: Autobytel