UPDATED: Landers Purchases Three Harley-Davidson Dealerships

Little Rock's RLJ-McLarty-LandersAutomotive Partnership is adding a motorcycle franchise to its stable of auto dealerships.

The Little Rock, North Little Rock and Hot Springs properties, operating as Jones Harley-Davidson, were owned by Hickingbotham Investments Inc. The business will be renamed Landers Harley-Davidson.

No details of the transaction were released.

Hickingbotham Investments is controlled by TCBY Yogurt founder Frank Hickingbotham and his sons, Herren and Todd. RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive is led by Robert L. Johnson, Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty and Steve J. Landers.

The transaction marks the first non-automotive deal for the group. At last count, the group owns 26 franchises at 11 dealerships in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama.

"Both Mack and I have a long history of providing top-notch service to customers in central Arkansas," Landers said in a news release. "We're excited to bring that tradition of customer service to the local Harley-Davidson dealerships."

With the three Harley locations, today's transaction marks the eighth property acquired since Johnson entered the ownership picture by purchasing a 51 percent stake in September 2007. The group originally was formed as McLarty-Landers in 2005. Other minority partners include Paul Hart and Franklin McLarty, executive managers at RLJ.

"Both Steve and I have deep Arkansas roots so we're excited to expand our presence in the state with these acquisitions," McLarty said in a news release. "Bob understands the value of branding as well as anyone in business today and knows Harley is the leading motorcycle brand in the country."

In June, RLJ in Branson, Mo., (Tri-Lakes Ford Mercury and Tri-Lakes Dodge Chrysler Jeep) as well as Frank Fletcher's Dodge Chrysler franchise in Bentonville. Earlier this year, the group purchased two dealerships in Huntsville, Ala.-Madison Square Chrysler Jeep Subaru and Huntsville Dodge. also opened a new Nissan dealership in Lee's Summit, Mo.

Johnson, founder of the RLJ Companies and Black Entertainment Television, also is a majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.

Hickingbotham Investments, which also owns Harley dealerships in Nashville, Tenn., Oklahoma City (2) and Edmond, Okla., made its first foray into motorcycles with the 1997 purchase of Jones Harley-Davidson in Arkansas.

The family also owns controlling interests in three luxury auto dealerships in California: Desert European Motorcars in Rancho Mirage, VIP Motor Cars in Palm Springs, Calif., and Newport European Motorcars Ltd. of Newport Beach.

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