UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

Commission File Number: 1-13461

 

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

800 Gessner, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77024

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(713) 647-5700

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

As of November 4, 2008, the registrant had 23,310,159 shares of common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1  BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION:

 

Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, through its subsidiaries, is a leading operator in the automotive retailing industry with operations in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas in the United States and in the towns of Brighton, Hailsham and Worthing in the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”). Through their dealerships, these subsidiaries sell new and used cars and light trucks; arrange related financing, and sell vehicle service and insurance contracts; provide maintenance and repair services; and sell replacement parts. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Group 1” in these Notes.

 

As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s retail network consisted of the following three regions (with the number of dealerships they comprised): (i) Eastern (40 dealerships in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and South Carolina); (ii) Central (46 dealerships in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas); and (iii) Western (11 dealerships in California). Each region is managed by a regional vice president who reports directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the overall performance of their regions, as well as for overseeing the market directors and dealership general managers that report to them. In addition, the Company’s international operations consist of three dealerships in the U.K., which are managed locally with direct reporting responsibilities to the Company’s corporate management team.

 

 

Basis of Presentation

 

All acquisitions of dealerships completed during the periods presented have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and their results of operations are included from the effective dates of the closings of the acquisitions. The allocations of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are assigned and recorded based on estimates of fair value. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Interim Financial Information

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the financial statements. Due to seasonality and other factors, the results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that will be realized for the entire fiscal year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (“2007 Form 10-K”).

 

Reclassifications

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company disposed of certain operations that qualified for discontinued operations accounting treatment. In order to reflect these operations as discontinued, the necessary reclassifications have been made to the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, as well as the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. In addition, the Company has made reclassifications to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007, which was derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet included in the Company’s 2007 Form 10-K.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Statements of Cash Flows

 

With respect to all new vehicle floorplan borrowings, vehicle manufacturers draft the Company’s credit facilities directly with no cash flow to or from the Company. With respect to borrowings for used vehicle financing, the Company chooses which vehicles to finance and the funds flow directly to the Company from the lender. All borrowings from, and repayments to, lenders affiliated with the vehicle manufacturers (excluding the cash flows from or to affiliated lenders participating in our syndicated lending group) are presented within Cash Flows from Operating Activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and all borrowings from, and repayments to, the syndicated lending group under the revolving credit facility (including the cash flows from or to affiliated lenders participating in the facility) are presented within Cash Flows from Financing Activities.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess, at the date of acquisition, of the purchase price of businesses acquired over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company performs the annual impairment assessment of goodwill by reporting unit at the end of each calendar year using a fair-value based, two-step test, and performs an impairment assessment more frequently if events or circumstances occur at a reporting unit between annual assessments that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. As of September 30, 2008, the Company defined its reporting units as each of its three regions and the U.K.

 

In evaluating goodwill for impairment, the Company compares the carrying value of the net assets of each reporting unit to its respective fair value. This represents the first step of the impairment test. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its net assets, the Company is then required to proceed to step two of the impairment test. The second step involves allocating the calculated fair value to all of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the reporting unit as if the calculated fair value was the purchase price of the business combination. This allocation could result in assigning value to intangible assets not previously recorded separately from goodwill prior to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”), which could result in less implied residual value assigned to goodwill. The Company then compares the value of the implied goodwill resulting from this second step to the carrying value of the goodwill in the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment charge equal to the difference is recorded.

 

In completing step one of the impairment analysis, the Company uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit. Included in this analysis are assumptions regarding revenue growth rates, future gross margin estimates, future selling, general and administrative expense rates and the Company’s weighted average cost of capital. The Company also estimates residual values at the end of the forecast period and future capital expenditure requirements. Based upon indicators discussed in more detail in Note 5, the Company performed an impairment assessment in the third quarter of 2008. At September 30, 2008, the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value of its net assets (step one of the impairment test). As a result, the Company was not required to conduct the second step of the impairment test described above. However, if in future periods, the Company determines the carrying amount of its net assets exceeds the respective fair value as a result of step one, the Company believes that the application of the second step of the impairment test could result in a material impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s).

 

Intangible Franchise Rights

 

The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers, which are recorded at an individual dealership level. The Company expects these franchise agreements to continue for an indefinite period and, when these agreements do not have indefinite terms, the Company believes that renewal of these agreements can be obtained without substantial cost. As such, the Company believes that its franchise agreements will contribute to cash flows for an indefinite period and, therefore, the carrying amount of the franchise rights are not amortized.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

In performing its impairment assessments, the Company tests the carrying value of each individual franchise right that has been recorded by using a direct value method, discounted cash flow model as required by SFAS 141 and Emerging Issues Task Force No. D-108, “Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other Than Goodwill” (“EITF D-108”). Included in this “direct” analysis are assumptions, at a dealership level, regarding which cash flow streams are directly attributable to each dealership’s franchise rights, revenue growth rates, future gross margins and future selling, general and administrative expenses. Using an estimated weighted average cost of capital, estimated residual values at the end of the forecast period and future capital expenditure requirements, the Company calculates the fair value of each dealership’s franchise rights after considering estimated values for tangible assets, working capital and workforce.

 

Based upon potential impairment indicators identified, the Company performed an impairment assessment in the third quarter of 2008. Those indicators and the resulting impairment charge are discussed in more detail in Note 5.

 

Income Taxes

 

Currently, the Company operates in 15 states in the U.S. and three cities in the U.K. Each of these tax jurisdictions has unique tax rates and payment calculations. As the amount of income generated in each jurisdiction varies from period to period, the Company’s estimated effective tax rate can vary based on the proportion of taxable income generated in each jurisdiction.

 

The effective income tax rate of 36.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2008 differed from the federal statutory rate of 35.0% due primarily to the taxes provided for the taxable state jurisdictions in which the Company operates and changes in the recoverability assumptions of certain state net operating losses in determining the tax benefit for the pretax loss from continuing operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the effective income tax rate of 40.6% of pretax income from continuing operations differed from the federal statutory rate of 35.0% also due primarily to the taxes provided for the taxable state jurisdictions in which the Company operates and changes in the recoverability assumptions of certain state net operating losses.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company’s effective tax rate related to continuing operations decreased to 36.5% from 37.7% for the same period in 2007. The decrease is primarily due to changes in certain state tax rates, the mix of pretax income from continuing operations from the taxable state jurisdictions in which the Company operates and changes in the recoverability assumptions of certain state net operating losses in determining the tax benefit for the pretax loss from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company’s effective tax rate related to continuing operations increased to 40.6% from 35.8% for the same period a year ago. The increase is primarily due to the benefit received from tax-deductible goodwill associated with a dealership disposition in 2007, as well as, changes in certain state tax rates in 2008, the mix of pretax income from continuing operations from the taxable state jurisdictions in which the Company operates and changes in the recoverability assumptions of certain state net operating losses during 2008.

 

The Company’s option grants include options that qualify as incentive stock options for income tax purposes. The treatment of the potential tax deduction, if any, related to incentive stock options may cause variability in the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods. In the period in which compensation cost related to incentive stock options is recorded in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), a corresponding tax benefit is not recorded, as based on the design of these incentive stock options, the Company is not expected to receive a tax deduction related to such incentive stock options when exercised. However, if upon exercise the incentive stock options fail to continue to meet the qualifications for treatment as incentive stock options, the Company may be eligible for certain tax deductions in subsequent periods. In those cases, the Company would record a tax benefit for the lower of the actual income tax deduction or the amount of the corresponding cumulative stock compensation cost recorded in the financial statements for the particular options multiplied by the statutory tax rate.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109” (“FIN 48”). This statement clarifies the criteria that an individual tax position must satisfy for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in a company’s financial statements. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order to be recognized in the financial statements (See Note 6 for additional information). No cumulative adjustment was required to effect the adoption of FIN 48.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment when evidence exists that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. This consists of comparing the carrying amount of the asset with its expected future undiscounted cash flows without interest costs. If the asset carrying amount is less than such cash flow estimate, then it is required to be written down to its fair value. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on currently available information and reasonable and supportable assumptions.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The functional currency for the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the Pound Sterling. The financial statements of all of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with SFAS No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation.” All assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates during the respective period. The U.S. dollar results that arise from the translation of all assets and liabilities are included in the cumulative currency translation adjustments in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) of Stockholders’ Equity.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

On October 10, 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position SFAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active”, (“SFAS 157-3”), which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157, in a market that is not active and provides guidance in determining the fair value of financial assets when the market for that financial asset is not active. The application of SFAS 157-3 was effective upon issuance. SFAS 157-3 permits the use of broker quotes when performing the valuation of financial assets, however, requires management to utilize considerable judgment when market circumstances surrounding such quotes are based upon inactive market price quotes or trading activity levels which may not reflect the true value of market transactions. The Company has adopted SFAS 157-3 and determined it did not have a material effect on its current valuation methods and did not affect the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements, for all of its financial assets and liabilities. The statement does not require new fair value measurements, but (i) emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability and (ii) provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy for classification of financial assets or liabilities based upon measurement inputs. SFAS 157 applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. See Note 9 for additional information regarding the application of SFAS 157 and further details regarding fair value measurement of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2008.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

In November 2007, the FASB deferred for one year the implementation of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities. At this time, the Company does not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and financial liabilities will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 expands the use of fair value accounting but does not affect existing standards, which require assets or liabilities to be carried at fair value. Under SFAS 159, a company may elect to use a fair value to measure accounts and loans receivable, available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, equity method investments, accounts payable, guarantees and issued debt. The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008 and elected not to measure any of its currently eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”), which significantly changes the accounting for business acquisitions both during the period of the acquisition and in subsequent periods. The more significant changes in the accounting for acquisitions that could impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations are:

 

 

SFAS 141 (R) is effective on a prospective basis for all business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual period subsequent to December 31, 2008, with an exception related to the accounting for valuation allowances on deferred taxes and acquired contingencies related to acquisitions completed before the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS 141(R) on its financial statements.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 161”), an amendment of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”), which requires disclosures of the objectives of derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments and activities under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and disclosure of the affects of such instruments and related hedged items on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The statement encourages but does not require comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial application. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the future adoption of SFAS 161 will have on the disclosures contained within its consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position SFAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142-3”), which amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142. SFAS 142-3 enhances the guidance over the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under Statement No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FASB Statement No. 141, “Business Combinations.” SFAS 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. The measurement provision of this standard will apply only to

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

intangible assets acquired after the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on its processes for determining and evaluating the useful life of its intangible assets.

 

In May 2008, the FASB finalized FSP APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments that may be Settled in Cash upon Conversion” (“APB 14-1”), which specifies the accounting for certain convertible debt instruments, including the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 (“2.25% Convertible Notes”). For convertible debt instruments that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon conversion, APB 14-1 requires an entity to separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The adoption of APB 14-1 for the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Notes will require the equity component of the 2.25% Convertible Notes to be initially included in the paid-in-capital section of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and the value of the equity component to be treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the 2.25% Convertible Notes. Higher interest expense will result by recognizing the accretion of the discounted carrying value of the 2.25% Convertible Notes to their face amount as interest expense over the expected term of the 2.25% Convertible Notes using an effective interest rate method of amortization. APB 14-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. APB 14-1 is not permitted to be adopted early and will be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company continues to evaluate the impact that the adoption of APB 14-1 will have on its financial position and results of operations, but has preliminarily estimated that the Company’s Other Long-Term Debt will be initially reduced by approximately $110.0 million with a corresponding increase in Additional Paid In Capital, which will be amortized as an accretion to the value of the 2.25% Convertible Notes, thereby increasing the Company’s Other Interest Expense by an average of approximately $11.0 million per year, before income taxes, through the estimated redemption of the 2.25% Convertible Notes.

 

In June 2008, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF No. 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (“EITF No. 03-6-1”). EITF No. 03-6-1 clarifies that when instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting, the impact of the shares should be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share (“EPS”) under the two-class method described in SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” EITF No. 03-6-1 further specifies that the objective of EPS is to measure the performance of an entity over the reporting period. The consensus states all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends, which participate in undistributed earnings with common shareholders, should be included in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS. EITF No. 03-6-1 is to be applied retrospectively to all prior-period EPS data presented for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of EITF 03-6-1 on the Company’s financial statements, but at this time, does not expect that the adoption will have a material impact.

 

 

The Company provides compensation benefits to employees and non-employee directors pursuant to its 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended, and 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

 

2007 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

In March 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted an amendment and restatement of the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan to, among other things, (i) rename the plan as the “Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan” (the “Incentive Plan”), (ii) increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan from 5.5 million to 6.5 million shares and (iii) extend the duration of the plan from March 9, 2014 to March 8, 2017. The Incentive Plan reserves shares of common stock for grants of options (including options qualified as incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and options that are non-qualified) at the fair value of each stock option as of the date of grant and, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

awards, bonus stock and phantom stock awards at the market price at the date of grant to directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2008, there were 1,747,470 shares available under the Incentive Plan for future grants of these awards.

 

Stock Option Awards

 

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company has not issued stock option awards since November 2005. The following summary presents information regarding outstanding options as of September 30, 2008, and the changes during nine months then ended:

 

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

Beginning in 2005, the Company began granting directors and certain employees, at no cost to the recipient, restricted stock awards or, at their election, phantom stock awards, pursuant to the Company’s 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended. Restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the date of grant, but are restricted from disposition for periods ranging from six months to five years. The phantom stock awards will settle in shares of common stock upon the termination of the grantees’ employment or directorship and have vesting periods also ranging from six months to five years. Performance awards are considered outstanding at the date of grant, but are restricted from disposition based on time and the achievement of certain performance criteria established by the Company. In the event the employee or director terminates his or her employment or directorship with the Company prior to the lapse of the restrictions, the shares, in most cases, will be forfeited to the Company.

 

A summary of these awards as of September 30, 2008, and the changes during the nine months then ended, is as follows:

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

In September 1997, the Company adopted the Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Purchase Plan”). The Purchase Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 2.5 million shares of common stock and provides that no options to purchase shares may be granted under the Purchase Plan after March 6, 2016. As of September 30, 2008, there were 334,407 shares remaining available for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company issued 154,989 and 105,938 shares, respectively, of common stock to employees participating in the Purchase Plan.

 

All Stock-Based Payment Arrangements

 

Total stock-based compensation cost was $1.5 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $4.9 million and $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Total income tax benefit recognized for stock-based compensation arrangements was $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $1.3 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Cash received from restricted stock awards vested and Purchase Plan purchases was $2.8 million and $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Additional paid-in capital was reduced by $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for the effect of tax deductions for options exercised and vesting of restricted shares that were less than the associated book expense previously recognized. Comparatively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, additional paid-in capital was increased by $0.2 million for the effect of tax deductions for options exercised and vesting of restricted shares that were in excess of the book expense previously recognized.

 

 

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding (excluding dilutive securities). Diluted EPS is computed including the impact of all potentially dilutive securities. The following table sets forth the calculation of EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Any options with an exercise price in excess of the average market price of the Company’s common stock, during the periods presented, are not considered when calculating the dilutive effect of stock options for diluted earnings per share calculations. The weighted average number of stock-based awards not included in the calculation of the dilutive effect of stock-based awards were $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The Company will be required to include the dilutive effect, if applicable, of the net shares issuable under its 2.25% Convertible Notes and the warrants sold in connection with the 2.25% Convertible Notes. Since the average price of the Company’s common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, was less than $59.43, no net shares were issuable under the 2.25% Convertible Notes or the warrants.

 

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded the following asset impairment charges, all of which are reflected in Asset Impairments in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations:

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

SFAS 142 requires an annual impairment analysis to be performed on all indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company’s annual assessment date is in the fourth quarter of each year. Depending on the outlook for the economy at the time of the assessment, as well as the outlook for the automotive retailing industry and the Company’s ongoing operating results, additional impairments may be recognized when the Company performs its annual assessment.

 

 

As discussed in Note 2, the Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. No cumulative adjustment was required to effect the adoption of FIN 48. As of September 30, 2008, approximately $0.4 million of tax benefits, including $0.1 million of interest, remained unrecognized. The Company recognized $0.3 million of tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, which were unrecognized as of December 31, 2007, based on the expiration of the relevant statute of limitations. All of the tax benefits unrecognized as of September 30, 2008, could potentially be recognized in the next 12 months based upon resolution with the relevant tax authorities or statute expirations.

 

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and income taxes in numerous states. In addition, the Company is subject to income tax in the U.K., as a result of its dealership acquisitions in March 2007. Taxable years 2003 and subsequent remain open for examination by the Company’s major taxing jurisdictions.

 

Consistent with prior practices, the Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

 

 

The Company has a $1.35 billion revolving syndicated credit arrangement with 22 financial institutions, including three manufacturer-affiliated finance companies (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Company also has a $300.0 million floorplan financing arrangement with Ford Motor Credit Company (the “FMCC Facility”), a $235.0 million real estate credit facility (the “Mortgage Facility”) for financing of real estate expansion, as well as, arrangements with several other automobile manufacturers for financing of a portion of its rental vehicle inventory. Within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Floorplan Notes Payable — Credit Facility reflects amounts payable for the purchase of specific new, used and rental vehicle inventory (with the exception of new and rental vehicle purchases financed through lenders affiliated with the respective manufacturer) whereby financing is provided by the Revolving Credit Facility. Floorplan Notes Payable — Manufacturer Affiliates reflects amounts payable for the purchase of specific new vehicles whereby financing is provided by the FMCC Facility and the financing of rental vehicle inventory with several other manufacturers. Payments on the floorplan notes payable are generally due as the vehicles are sold. As a result, these obligations are reflected on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as Current Liabilities.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

Effective March 19, 2007, the Company amended and restated the Revolving Credit Facility to provide a total borrowing capacity of $1.35 billion for five years. The Company can expand the facility to its maximum commitment of $1.85 billion, subject to participating lender approval. This facility consists of two tranches: $1.0 billion for vehicle inventory floorplan financing (the “Floorplan Line”) and $350.0 million for working capital,

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

including acquisitions (the “Acquisition Line”). Up to half of the Acquisition Line can be borrowed in either Euros or Pound Sterling. The capacity under these two tranches can be re-designated within the overall $1.35 billion commitment, subject to the original limits of $1.0 billion and $350.0 million. The Acquisition Line bears interest at the London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin that ranges from 150 to 225 basis points, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio. The Floorplan Line bears interest at rates equal to LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points for new vehicle inventory and LIBOR plus 97.5 basis points for used vehicle inventory. In conjunction with the amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company capitalized $2.3 million of related costs that are being amortized over the term of the facility. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee on the unused portion of the Acquisition Line, as well as the Floorplan Line. The first $37.5 million of available funds on the Acquisition Line carry a 0.20% per annum commitment fee, while the balance of the available funds carry a commitment fee ranging from 0.35% to 0.50% per annum, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio. The Floorplan Line requires a 0.20% commitment fee on the unused portion.

 

As of September 30, 2008, after considering outstanding balances, the Company had $302.6 million of available floorplan capacity under the Floorplan Line. Included in the $302.6 million available balance under the Floorplan Line is $6.5 million of immediately available funds. The weighted average interest rate on the Floorplan Line was 4.6% as of September 30, 2008. Under the Acquisition Line, the Company had $15.0 million of outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2008. After considering $18.0 million of outstanding letters of credit, there was $317.0 million of available borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2008. The weighted average interest rate on the Acquisition Line was 4.8% as of September 30, 2008. The amount of available borrowings under the Acquisition Line may be limited from time to time based upon certain debt covenants.

 

All of the Company’s domestic dealership-owning subsidiaries are co-borrowers under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of significant covenants that, among other things, restrict the Company’s ability to make disbursements outside of the ordinary course of business, dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments and engage in mergers or consolidations. The Company is also required to comply with specified financial tests and ratios defined in the Revolving Credit Facility, such as fixed-charge coverage, current ratio, leverage, and a minimum net worth requirement, among others. Additionally, under the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company is limited in its ability to make cash dividend payments to its stockholders and to repurchase shares of its outstanding stock, based primarily on the quarterly net income of the Company. As of September 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. The Company’s obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by essentially all of the Company’s domestic personal property (other than equity interests in dealership-owning subsidiaries) including all motor vehicle inventory and proceeds from the disposition of dealership-owning subsidiaries.

 

Effective January 17, 2008, the Company amended the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, increase the limit on both the senior secured leverage and total leverage ratios, as well as to add a borrowing base calculation that governs the amount of borrowings available under the Acquisition Line.

 

FMCC Facility

 

The FMCC Facility provides for the financing of, and is collateralized by, the Company’s entire Ford, Lincoln and Mercury new vehicle inventory. This arrangement provides for $300.0 million of floorplan financing and matures on December 16, 2008. The Company expects to renew the FMCC Facility upon its maturity. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had an outstanding balance of $95.4 million with an available floorplan capacity of $204.6 million. As of September 30, 2008, the interest rate on the FMCC Facility was 6.0%, or Prime plus 100 basis points, before considering the applicable incentives. As of November 1, 2008, based upon terms of the FMCC Facility, the interest rate was increased to Prime plus 150 basis points minus certain incentives. After considering all incentives received during 2008, the total cost to the Company of borrowings under the FMCC Facility approximates what the cost would be under the Floorplan Line. The Company is required to maintain a $1.5 million balance in a restricted money market account as additional collateral under the FMCC Facility. This amount is

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the accompanying 2008 and 2007 Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Mortgage Facility

 

The Mortgage Facility is a five-year term real estate credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. that matures in March 2012. The Mortgage Facility provides a maximum commitment of $235.0 million of financing for real estate expansion and is syndicated with nine financial institutions. The proceeds of the Mortgage Facility are used primarily for acquisitions of real property associated with the Company’s dealerships and other operations. At the Company’s option, any loan under the Mortgage Facility will bear interest at a rate equal to (i) one month LIBOR plus 1.05% or (ii) the Base Rate plus 0.50%. Prior to the maturity of the Mortgage Facility, quarterly principal payments are required of each loan outstanding under the facility at an amount equal to one-eightieth of the original principal amount, with any remaining unpaid principal amount due at the end of the term. As of September 30, 2008, borrowings under the facility totaled $180.4 million, with $9.4 million recorded as a Current Maturity of Long-Term Debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company capitalized $1.3 million of related debt financing costs that are being amortized over the term of the facility.

 

The Mortgage Facility is guaranteed by the Company and essentially all of the existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee or are required to guarantee the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility. So long as no default exists, the Company is entitled to (i) sell any property subject to the facility on fair and reasonable terms in an arm’s length transaction, (ii) remove it from the facility, (iii) repay in full the entire outstanding balance of the loan relating to such sold property, and then (iv) increase the available borrowings under the Mortgage Facility by the amount of such loan repayment. Each loan is secured by real property (and improvements related thereto) specified by the Company and located at or near a vehicle dealership operated by a subsidiary of the Company or otherwise used or to be used by a vehicle dealership operated by a subsidiary of the Company. As of September 30, 2008, available borrowings from the Mortgage Facility totaled $54.6 million.

 

The Mortgage Facility contains certain covenants, including financial ratios that must be complied with: fixed charge coverage ratio; senior secured leverage ratio; dispositions of financed properties; ownership of equity interests in a lessor subsidiary; and occupancy or sublease of any financed property. As of September 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all of these covenants. Effective as of January 16, 2008, the Company entered into an amendment to the Mortgage Facility to increase the senior secured leverage ratio.

 

Other Credit Facilities

 

Financing for rental vehicles is typically obtained directly from the automobile manufacturers, excluding rental vehicles financed through the Revolving Credit Facility. These financing arrangements generally require small monthly payments and mature in varying amounts throughout 2008. The weighted average interest rate charged as of September 30, 2008 was 5.8%. Rental vehicles are typically moved to used vehicle inventory when they are removed from rental service and repayment of the borrowing is required at that time.

 

Interest Rate Risk Management Activities

 

The periodic interest rates of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Mortgage Facility are indexed to LIBOR rates plus an associated company credit risk rate. In order to stabilize earnings exposure related to fluctuations in these rates, the Company employs an interest rate hedging strategy, whereby it enters into arrangements with various financial institutional counterparties with investment grade credit ratings, swapping its variable interest rate exposure for a fixed interest rate over the same terms as the Revolving Credit Facility and the Mortgage Facility.

 

The Company accounts for these derivatives under SFAS 133, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments. The Company reflects the current fair value of all derivatives on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. The related gains or losses on these transactions are deferred in stockholders’ equity

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in income in the period in which the related items being hedged are recognized in expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of a derivative contract does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the items being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in income. Monthly contractual settlements of these swap positions are recognized as Floorplan interest expense in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. All of the Company’s interest rate hedges are designated as cash flow hedges.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap that expires in August 2011, with a $50.0 million notional value, effectively locking in a rate of 3.7%. As of September 30, 2008, the Company held interest rate swaps of $550.0 million in notional value with an overall weighted average fixed interest rate of 4.7%. At September 30, 2008, all of the Company’s derivative contracts were determined to be highly effective, and no ineffective portion was recognized in income. Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss at September 30, 2008 and 2007 are unrealized losses, net of income taxes, totaling $11.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively, related to these hedges. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the impact of these interest rate hedges increased floorplan interest expense by $2.8 million and $7.0 million, respectively, and, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, reduced interest expense by $0.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Total floorplan interest expense was $11.2 million and $11.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $35.6 million and $34.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

 

The Company’s property and equipment consists of the following:

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company incurred $130.3 million of capital expenditures, including $54.9 million for land, $34.8 million for existing buildings and $39.7 million for the construction of new or expanded facilities and the purchase of equipment and other fixed assets in the maintenance of the Company’s dealerships and facilities. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company acquired fixed assets of $16.5 million in connection with its dealership acquisitions. The Company financed the purchase of real estate during 2008 by drawing $54.6 million against the Mortgage Facility, based upon the applicable loan to value ratio, and through the execution of additional long-term notes payable of $33.6 million.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

SFAS 157, which the Company prospectively adopted on January 1, 2008, defines fair value as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 requires disclosure of the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date. SFAS 157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy based upon the transparency of inputs utilized in the measurement and valuation of financial assets or liabilities as of the measurement date:

 

 

The Company evaluated its financial assets and liabilities for those that met the criteria of the disclosure requirements and fair value framework of SFAS 157. The Company identified investments in marketable securities and debt instruments and interest rate financial derivative instruments as having met such criteria.

 

Marketable Securities and Debt Instruments

 

The Company accounts for its investments in marketable securities and debt instruments under SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Instruments (as amended),” which established standards of financial accounting and reporting for investments in equity instruments that have readily determinable fair values and for all investments in debt securities. Accordingly, the Company designates these investments as available-for-sale, measures them at fair value and classifies them as either Cash and cash equivalents or Other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets based upon maturity terms and certain contractual restrictions.

 

The Company maintains multiple trust accounts comprised of money market funds with short-term investments in marketable securities, such as U.S. government securities, commercial paper and bankers acceptances, that have maturities of less than three months. The Company determined that the valuation measurement inputs of these marketable securities represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and, accordingly, has classified such investments within Level 1 of the SFAS 157 hierarchy framework.

 

Also within its trust accounts, the Company holds investments in debt instruments, such as government obligations and other fixed income securities. The debt securities are measured based upon quoted market prices utilizing public information, independent external valuations from pricing services or third-party advisors. Accordingly, the Company has concluded the valuation measurement inputs of these debt securities to represent, at their lowest level, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets where there are few transactions for the assets and has categorized such investments within Level 2 of the SFAS 157 hierarchy framework.

 

Interest Rate Derivative Instruments

 

As described in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company utilizes an interest rate hedging strategy in order to stabilize earnings exposure related to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company measures its interest rate derivative instruments utilizing an income approach valuation technique, converting future amounts of cash flows to a single present value in order to obtain a transfer exit price within the bid and ask spread that is most representative of the fair value of its derivative instruments. In measuring fair value, the Company utilizes the option-pricing Black-Scholes present value technique for all of its derivative instruments. This option-pricing technique utilizes a LIBOR forward yield curve, obtained from an independent external service provider, matched

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

to the identical maturity term of the instrument being measured. Observable inputs utilized in the income approach valuation technique incorporate identical contractual notional amounts, fixed coupon rates, periodic terms for interest payments and contract maturity. The Company has determined the valuation measurement inputs of these derivative instruments to maximize the use of observable inputs that market participants would use in pricing similar or identical instruments and market data obtained from independent sources, which is readily observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the derivative instrument. Further, the valuation measurement inputs minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company has classified the derivatives within Level 2 of the SFAS 157 hierarchy framework.

 

The fair value of our short-term investments, debt securities and interest rate derivative instruments as of September 30, 2008 were as follows:

 

 

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, the Company’s dealerships are named in various types of litigation involving customer claims, employment matters, class action claims, purported class action claims, as well as claims involving the manufacturer of automobiles, contractual disputes and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Due to the nature of the automotive retailing business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings or suffer losses that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. In the normal course of business, the Company is required to respond to customer, employee and other third-party complaints. Amounts that have been accrued or paid related to the settlement of litigation are included in Selling, General and Administrative Expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the manufacturers of the vehicles that the Company sells and services have audit rights allowing them to review the validity of amounts claimed for incentive, rebate or warranty-related items and charge the Company back for amounts determined to be invalid rewards under the manufacturers’ programs, subject to the Company’s right to appeal any such decision. Amounts that have been accrued or paid related to the settlement of manufacturer chargebacks of recognized incentives and rebates are included in Cost of Sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, while such amounts for manufacturer chargebacks of recognized warranty-related items are included as a reduction of Revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Through relationships with insurance companies, the Company’s dealerships sold credit insurance policies to its vehicle customers and received payments for these services. Recently, allegations have been made against insurance companies with which the Company does business that they did not have adequate monitoring processes in place and, as a result, failed to remit to policyholders the appropriate amount of unearned premiums when the policy was cancelled in conjunction with early payoffs of the associated loan balance. Some of the Company’s dealerships have received notice from insurance companies advising that they have entered into settlement agreements and indicating that the insurance companies expect the dealerships to return commissions on the dealerships’ portion of the premiums that are required to be refunded to customers. The commissions received on sale of credit insurance products are deferred and recognized as revenue over the life of the policies, in accordance

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

with SFAS No. 60, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises.” As such, a portion of any payout would be offset against deferred revenue, while the remainder would be recognized as a finance and insurance chargeback expense. The Company anticipates paying some amount of claims in the future, though the exact amounts cannot be estimated with any certainty at this time.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of the Company, including class action lawsuits to which the Company is a party. However, the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

Other Matters

 

The Company, acting through its subsidiaries, is the lessee under a number of real estate leases that provide for the use by the Company’s subsidiaries of their respective dealership premises. Pursuant to these leases, the Company’s subsidiaries generally agree to indemnify the lessor and other parties from certain liabilities arising as a result of the use of the leased premises, including environmental liabilities, or a breach of the lease by the lessee. Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into agreements in connection with the sale of assets or businesses in which it agrees to indemnify the purchaser, or other parties, from certain liabilities or costs arising in connection with the assets or business. Also, in the ordinary course of business in connection with purchases or sales of goods and services, the Company enters into agreements that may contain indemnification provisions. In the event that an indemnification claim is asserted, liability would be limited by the terms of the applicable agreement.

 

From time to time, primarily in connection with dealership dispositions, the Company’s subsidiaries assign or sublease to the dealership purchaser the subsidiaries’ interests in any real property leases associated with the dealerships. In general, the Company’s subsidiaries retain responsibility for the performance of certain obligations under the assignments or subleases to the extent that the assignee or sublessee does not perform, whether such performance is required prior to or following the assignment or subletting of the lease. Additionally, the Company and its subsidiaries generally remain subject to the terms of any guarantees made by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the assignments and subleases. Although the Company generally has indemnification rights against the assignee or sublessee in the event of non-performance under the assignments and subleases, and in some cases personal guarantees of the purchaser principal, as well as certain defenses, and the Company presently has no reason to believe that it or its subsidiaries will be called on to perform under any such assigned leases or subleases, the Company estimates that lessee rental payment obligations during the remaining terms of the assignments and subleases were $32.6 million at September 30, 2008. The Company and its subsidiaries also may be called on to perform other obligations under the assignment and subleases, such as environmental remediation of the leased premises or repair of the leased premises upon termination of the lease. However, the Company presently has no reason to believe that it or its subsidiaries will be called on to so perform and such obligations cannot be quantified at this time. The Company’s exposure under the assignments and subleases is difficult to estimate and there can be no assurance that any performance of the Company or its subsidiaries required under the assignments and subleases would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and cash flows.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company repurchased $28.3 million par value of the 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes”) and realized a net gain of approximately $0.9 million.

 

Acquisition Line

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company repaid a net $120.0 million of the amounts outstanding under its Acquisition Line as of December 31, 2007.

 

Mortgage Facility

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company borrowed $54.6 million under its Mortgage Facility to fund the acquisition of real estate related to several dealership facilities.

 

Real Estate Notes

 

In March 2008, the Company executed a series of four note agreements with a third-party financial institution for an aggregate principal of $18.6 million (the “March 2008 Real Estate Notes”), of which one matures in May 2010, and the remaining three mature in June 2010. The March 2008 Real Estate Notes pay interest monthly at various rates ranging from approximately 5.2 to 7.0%. The proceeds from the March 2008 Real Estate Notes were utilized to facilitate the acquisition of a dealership-related building and the associated land. The cumulative outstanding balance of these notes totaled $18.2 million as of September 30, 2008.

 

In June 2008, the Company executed a bridge loan agreement with a third-party financial institution for an aggregate principal of approximately $15.0 million (the “June 2008 Real Estate Note”) that was scheduled to mature in September 2008. The June 2008 Real Estate Note accrued interest monthly at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.5%. The proceeds from the June 2008 Real Estate Note were utilized to facilitate the acquisition of a dealership-related building and the associated land. In July 2008, the Company renegotiated the terms of the June 2008 Real Estate Note to extend the maturity date to July 2010 and amend the annual interest rate to LIBOR plus 1.65%. The outstanding balance of this note as of September 30, 2008 was $14.7 million.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Capital Leases

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company sold and leased back the property and building related to one of its dealership facilities under a long-term lease arrangement with a third-party. In addition, the Company also sold and leased back property and buildings related to one of its dealership facilities under a long-term lease to a party that was formerly related to the Company, based upon contractual commitments entered into when the parties were related. The Company accounted for both of these leases as capital leases, resulting in the recognition of $14.7 million of capital lease assets and obligations, which are included in Property and Equipment and Capital Lease Obligations Related to Real Estate, respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The outstanding balance of these capital leases as of September 30, 2008 was $14.4 million.

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company acquired two automobile dealership franchises located in Austin, Texas, one automobile dealership franchise in Beverly Hills, California and two dealership franchises located in Annapolis, Maryland. Total consideration paid of $46.7 million consisted of $36.9 million to the sellers and $9.8 million to the sellers’ financing sources to pay off outstanding floorplan borrowings, which the Company replaced with borrowings from its Revolving Credit Facility. Of the $36.9 million paid to the sellers, $16.5 million was for land and buildings. The accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2008, includes preliminary allocations of the purchase price for all of the acquired assets and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair market values at the dates of acquisition and, are subject to final adjustment.

 

Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company disposed of 14 automobile dealership franchises for total consideration of $2.9 million and terminated one other franchise. See Note 13 for additional information regarding discontinued operations.

 

 

On June 30, 2008, the Company sold three dealerships, with a total of seven franchises, in Albuquerque, New Mexico (the “Disposed Dealerships”), constituting the Company’s entire dealership holdings in that market. The disposal transaction resulted in a pre-tax loss of $0.7 million. The Disposed Dealerships are presented in the Company’s accompanying financial statements as discontinued operations. Revenues, cost of sales, operating expenses and income taxes attributable to the Disposed Dealerships have been aggregated to a single line in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for all periods presented, as follows:

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Assets and liabilities of the Disposed Dealerships have been segregated from continuing operations and presented as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet for all periods presented, as follows:

 

 

The Company allocates corporate level interest expense to discontinued operations based on the net assets of the discontinued operations.

 

 

The following tables include condensed consolidating financial information as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 for Group 1 Automotive, Inc.’s (as issuer of the 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes) guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries (representing foreign entities). The condensed consolidating financial information includes certain allocations of balance sheet, income statement and cash flow items that are not necessarily indicative of the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of these entities on a stand-alone basis.

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 2008

 

 

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2007