Manheim Acquires Southwest Florida Auto Auction

 

ATLANTA May 26, 2006; Manheim recently acquired the Southwest Florida
Auto Auction in Fort Myers, Fla., making it Manheim's 89th North
American auction location.  

 

Warren Young, Jr., former general manager of St. Pete Auto Auction in
Clearwater, Fla., has been named general manager of Manheim's Southwest
Florida Auto Auction.     

 

            "Florida is growing at an amazing rate, and this auction
location is an untapped market in the industry," said Young.  "This
auction's potential is huge, and we have had a positive response from
dealers who are elated that we are finally here in the southwest corner
of Florida."

 

            The auction, which began operating under Manheim on May 1,
had been privately owned and operated since 1985.  

 

"This is a huge opportunity for dealers in the area," said Shane Akin,
wholesaler at Thunder Bay Motors, Inc., in Clearwater, Fla.  "I have
done a lot of business with Warren at St. Pete Auto Auction, and he was
instrumental in the success of that auction.  I look forward to
attending these sales and buying vehicles at this new location."

 

            On May 19, Southwest Florida Auto Auction hosted a "party"
sale, with more than 1,000 vehicles registered throughout the week.
More than 400 dealers attended and participated in the event.  The
auction's weekly schedule will include sales on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and
Fridays at 11 a.m.  

 

Southwest Florida Auto Auction is located on 17 acres and has been
upgraded by Manheim with new computers, paperless blocks and Simulcast.


 

"Management is the key to how successful an auction becomes," said Jay
Weiss, owner of Certified Leasing and Sales in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Warren and his staff treated me well, and I plan to continue doing
business with Manheim's Southwest Florida Auto Auction." 

  


About Manheim


 

Manheim is the world's leading provider of automotive remarketing
services.  Through its wholesale auctions and array of technology
products, Manheim impacts every stage of a used vehicle's life cycle,
helping commercial sellers and automobile dealers realize the full value
of their vehicles.  

 

The company's auction services include reconditioning, certification,
inspections, dealer financing, transport, title management and
marshaling, among others.  Manheim is also the leader in remarketing
technology, using its online tools to connect buyers and sellers around
the globe to the world's largest, most comprehensive wholesale
marketplace.  In 2005, Manheim handled nearly 10 million used vehicles -
and sold more than 5 million - representing more than $50 billion in
value.

 

Manheim's subsidiary companies provide value-added remarketing products
and services, including paintless dent removal (Dent Wizard), Auto Body
Repair, and salvage vehicle remarketing (Total Resource Auctions).  

 

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