DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — Diversified automotive company JM Family Enterprises Inc. is celebrating 40 years of success. Emerging from Jim Moran's vision and leadership of ten associates into a $12.2 billion corporation with nearly 5,000 associates, JM Family has achieved significant growth that has continuously ranked it as one of the largest private companies in the U.S.

Jim Moran, who passed away in 2007, founded the company in 1968, the same year he signed an agreement in Japan on October 26 establishing Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC as the exclusive Toyota distributor in five southeastern states. Moran evolved JM Family into businesses similar to departments within a dealership. Subsidiaries include: Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC, World Omni Financial Corp., JM&A Group, JM Lexus and JMsolutions.

"We stand today 40 years strong because of Jim Moran and his good old-fashioned belief in hard work and innovative business practices," said Colin Brown, president and CEO of JM Family. "Having the best products and services to sell, a solid reputation and associates who are extremely talented and loyal, JM Family is positioned for even greater success in the future."

JM Family is currently ranked No. 22 on Forbes list of largest private companies in the U.S; No. 23 by FORTUNE magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S., its 10th consecutive year on the list and one of only 11 companies to have ranked for 10 years; No. 7 on Computerworld's list of "100 Best Places to Work in IT."

Southeast Toyota was established in 1968 is the world's largest independent distributor of Toyota and Scion vehicles. The company began with 42 Toyota dealerships in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North and South Carolina, it now has 172 dealers in the five southeastern states. It has sold nearly 7 million vehicles and approximately $8 billion in parts. It remains the No. 1 Toyota private distributor in the world and the No. 1 selling nameplate in the Southeast.

World Omni was established in 1981, as a diversified financial services company which provides financial products and services to consumers, dealers and lenders. The company originated nearly two million consumer loans and leases totaling approximately $30 billion. The company maintained its Standard & Poor's STRONG rating since 2004, the highest rating possible for a consumer finance, automobile loan and lease servicer. Subsidiary DataScan Technologies is experiencing significant growth and expanding into Asia, Canada, Mexico and Western Europe.

JM&A Group was established in 1978, and is one of the largest independent insurance and extended warranty groups of companies in the U.S. servicing more than 2,800 dealerships. The company sold over 19 million vehicle-related service and maintenance contracts, had $167 million in total claims paid and $1.4 billion in invested reserves. The company also expanded into Puerto Rico, is looking at additional business acquisitions and considering other markets outside the U.S., including Panama and Chile.

JMsolutions was established in 2005 as a dealer-focused technology products and services company. The company has over 2,500 dealership clients nationwide utilizing a variety of software solutions. Through its AAX used vehicle inventory management system, dealers appraised 1.8 million vehicles, purchased 2 million vehicles and generated $1 billion in profits. The company recently expanded into Canada.

JM Lexus was established in 1988, as the largest volume Lexus dealership in the world. The dealership earned Elite of Lexus distinction for 11 consecutive years. It has sold more than 108,000 new and pre-owned vehicles. Its state of the art, world class service facility has serviced 1.3 million vehicles.