Prime sells 10 stores, settles some disputes; Retailer, GPB will focus on Northeast dealerships

The Westwood, Mass., dealership group - the nation's 11th-largest new-vehicle retailer as ranked by Automotive News - and its troubled majority owner GPB Capital Holdings have shed 10 dealerships in recent months, and divestitures of three stores in the Houston market are pending. "Subaru of New England, as distributor, is thrilled and excited to start this new era with Prime Automotive right here in Manchester," Bryan Dumais, vice president of market development for Subaru of New England, said during the event. Prime, in its protest, alleged the distributor said it was terminating because of a change in controlling ownership and management without approval, failure to meet facility standards, failure to comply with a schedule to relocate and build a new store and alleged violations of ethical standards by Prime's majority owner.