Landers-McLarty-Johnson? (Whispers)

Look for news of a capital infusion/ownership shift in the Landers-McLarty Auto Group.

We’re told that Bob Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, will become a 51 percent stakeholder in the auto group.

Landers-McLarty owns 12 dealerships dotted across the Midwest and South. The deal won’t involve dealerships owned separately by the Steve Landers family and the Mack McLarty family.

The move represents another diversification of investments made by Johnson since the $2.3 billion sale of BET Holdings to Viacom Inc. in 2001.

He is the principal owner of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA expansion franchise that began play three years ago. At last report, Johnson serves on the boards of directors at US Airways, General Mills and Hilton Hotels.