Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2024

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

1-13461

76-0506313

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(Commission
File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

800 Gessner, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77024

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 647-5700

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):


☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 40.14d-2(b))


☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Ticker symbol(s)

Name of exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

GPI

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.¨

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 1, 2024, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, announced that it had closed on the acquisition of Inchcape Retail, a subsidiary of Inchcape plc with 54 dealership locations across the U.K.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

Description

99.1

Press release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc., dated as of August 1, 2024.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Date:

August 1, 2024

By:

/s/ Gillian A. Hobson

Name: Gillian A. Hobson

Title: Senior Vice President

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Group 1 Automotive Announces Closing on Inchcape Retail Automotive Operations

HOUSTON, TX, August 1, 2024 - Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) (“Group 1” or the “Company”), a Fortune 250 automotive retailer with 260 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., today announced that the Company has closed on the acquisition of Inchcape Retail (“IR”) automotive operations with 54 dealership locations across the U.K. These dealerships are expected to generate $2.7 billion in annual revenues bringing 2024 year-to-date total acquired revenues for Group 1 to $3.8 billion.

“This transformative acquisition effectively doubles our U.K. footprint, giving us access to new markets throughout England with a collection of outstanding brands,” said Group 1’s President and Chief Executive Officer Daryl Kenningham. “We are delighted to welcome our new team members as we collaborate to deliver an excellent customer experience.”

With the acquisition of IR’s 54 dealerships, Group 1 has expanded its footprint to key hubs such as the Midlands, the North West of England and Wales, enabling the Company to reach new customers, as well as expand its brand offering in the U.K. The extensive brand portfolio includes Audi, BMW/MINI, Jaguar Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz/smart, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Group 1’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Daniel McHenry added, “Inchcape Retail and its team bring a 50-year reputation to Group 1’s U.K. presence. This strategic acquisition is aligned with our capital allocation strategy, which enables us to identify opportunities that create additional scale and value for our shareholders.”

ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Group 1 owns and operates 260 automotive dealerships, 337 franchises, and 45 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 35 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.

Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations at www.group1corp.com, www.group1auto.com, www.group1collision.com, www.acceleride.com, www.facebook.com/group1auto, and www.twitter.com/group1auto.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding, our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition and our future financial position following such acquisition, as well as guidance regarding the annualized revenues of recently completed acquisitions. These forward-looking statements often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions, on a timely basis, if at all and the risks associated therewith, (h) our ability to realize the benefits expected from proposed acquisitions, including any anticipated cost reductions,(i) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, (j) the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, (k) the impacts of continued inflation and any potential global recession, (l) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate, (m) our ability to successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions, and (n) a material failure in or breach of our vendors' information technology systems and other cybersecurity incidents. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Investor contacts:

Terry Bratton

Manager, Investor Relations

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

ir@group1auto.com

Media contacts:

Pete DeLongchamps

Senior Vice President, Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

pdelongchamps@group1auto.com

Clint Woods

Pierpont Communications, Inc.

713-627-2223

cwoods@piercom.com

Cover	Aug. 01, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Aug. 01, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	Group 1 Automotive, Inc
Entity Central Index Key	0001031203
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	1-13461
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0506313
Entity Address, Address Line One	800 Gessner
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 500
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77024
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	647-5700
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	GPI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false