The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reflect the consolidated accounts of the parent company, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company” in these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

On November 12, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Brazil Agreement”) with Original Holdings S.A. (“Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Brazil Agreement, Buyer agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company’s Brazilian operations (the “Brazil Disposal Group”) for approximately BRL 510.0 million in cash (the “Brazil Disposal”). On July 1, 2022, the Company completed the Brazil Disposal. The Brazil Disposal Group met the criteria to be reported as held for sale and discontinued operations. Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Brazil Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations (the “Brazil Discontinued Operations”) for all periods presented. The Brazil Disposal Group was previously included in the Brazil segment. Effective as of the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company is aligned into two reportable segments: U.S. and U.K. Refer to Note 20. Segment Information for additional information on the Company’s segments.

Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these Consolidated Financial Statements reflect continuing operations only. Certain prior-period amounts, primarily related to the Brazil Discontinued Operations, have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes to conform to current-period presentation. Refer to Note 4. Discontinued Operations and Other Divestitures for additional information on the Brazil Discontinued Operations.

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes may not compute due to rounding. All computations have been calculated using unrounded amounts for all periods presented. These Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly state, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the periods presented.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded an out-of-period adjustment of $10.6 million resulting in an increase to Selling, general and administrative expenses and Additional paid-in capital to correct stock-based compensation for awards granted in prior years to retirement eligible employees not recognized timely due to the incorrect treatment of a non-substantive service condition. The impact to the year ended December 31, 2020, was a decrease to net income of $9.7 million resulting in a decrease to diluted earnings per common share of $0.53. The effect of this adjustment on any previously reported period was not material based on a quantitative and qualitative evaluation.

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Management analyzes the Company’s estimates based on historical experience and other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, however, actual results could differ materially from such estimates. The significant estimates made by management in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements including, but not limited to, inventory valuation adjustments, reserves for future chargebacks on finance, insurance and VSC fees, self-insured property and casualty insurance exposure, the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the valuation of goodwill and intangible franchise rights, and reserves for potential litigation.

New and used retail vehicles are carried at the lower of specific cost or net realizable value. Specific cost consists of the amount paid to acquire the vehicle, plus the cost of reconditioning, equipment addition and transportation. In determining the lower of specific cost or net realizable value of new and used vehicles, the Company considers historical loss experience and current market trends.

Parts and accessories inventories are valued at lower of cost or net realizable value and determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company incurs shipping costs in connection with selling parts to customers which is included in Cost of Sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Certain manufacturers offer vehicle rebates, in the form of purchase discounts, once applicable incentive targets are met. Incentive targets typically consist of volume incentives to order and/or sell certain models and/or volumes of inventory over designated periods of time. The Company also receives dealer rebates and incentive payments on parts purchases from the automobile manufacturers on new vehicle retail sales. Additionally, the Company receives interest assistance from certain automobile manufacturers that is reflected as a vehicle purchase price discount. The rebates, interest assistance and other dealer incentives reduce inventory costs in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as a reduction to Cost of Sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as the vehicles are sold.

Property and equipment, recorded at cost, is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets to estimated salvage values. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the lesser of the estimated term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset.

Property and equipment estimated useful lives are as follows:


						Estimated Useful Lives in Years



Buildings and leasehold improvements						25 to 50

Machinery and dealership equipment						7 to 20
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures						3 to 20
Company vehicles						3 to 5

Expenditures for major additions or improvements, which improve or extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Minor replacements and routine maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the assets, are expensed as incurred. Disposals are removed at cost less accumulated depreciation, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company performs an impairment analysis on long-lived assets used in operations when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. This review consists of comparing the carrying amount of the asset group with its expected future undiscounted cash flows. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on currently available information and reasonable and supportable assumptions. If the asset group’s carrying amount exceeds its future undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is measured as the amount by which its carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Refer to Note 10. Property and Equipment, Net for further discussion. The fair value of property is typically based on a third-party appraisal which requires adjustments to market-based valuation inputs to reflect the different characteristics between the property being measured and comparable properties, which are considered level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy described further in Note 7. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.

Business acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the Company measures and recognizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The operating results of entities acquired are included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations from the date of acquisition. For material acquisitions, the Company typically utilizes third-party experts to determine the fair values of property acquired.

The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations are estimated using various assumptions. The most significant assumptions, and those requiring the most judgment, involve the estimated fair values of property and intangible franchise rights.

If the initial accounting for a business combination has not been concluded by the end of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurs, an estimate will be recorded and disclosure of those open areas will be provided. The Company will record any material adjustments to the initial estimates based on new information obtained that would have existed as of the date of the acquisition within a year of the acquisition date.

Goodwill represents the excess, at the date of acquisition, of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company is organized into two geographic regions, the U.S. region and the U.K. region. The Company has determined that each region represents a reporting unit for the purpose of assessing goodwill for impairment.

In addition to goodwill, the Company recognizes, at the dealership level, separately identifiable intangible assets for rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers. Most of the Company’s franchise agreements continue indefinitely. The Company believes that these agreements can be renewed without substantial cost based on the history with the manufacturer. As such, the Company’s intangible assets for rights under franchise agreements are considered non-amortizing indefinite lived intangible assets, expected to contribute to cash flows of the Company for an indefinite period of time.

The Company is subject to income taxes at the federal level and in 17 states in the U.S., as well as in the U.K., each of which has unique tax calculations. As the amount of income generated in each jurisdiction varies from period to period, the Company’s effective tax rate can vary based on the proportion of taxable income generated in each jurisdiction.

The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the underlying assets are realized or liabilities are settled. A valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has recognized deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, that it believes will be realized, based primarily on the assumption of future taxable income. Refer to Note 15. Income Taxes for further discussion.

The Company holds derivative financial instruments consisting of interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges. Refer to the discussion of the Company’s accounting policies relating to its derivative financial instruments, including fair value measurements, in Note 7. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.

The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and totaled $76.5 million, $65.8 million and $49.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company receives advertising assistance from certain automobile manufacturers, which the Company is required to spend on qualified advertising and which is subject to audit and chargeback by the manufacturer. The assistance is accounted for as a reduction to SG&A expenses as earned and amounted to $17.4 million, $14.9 million and $13.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

With respect to all new vehicle floorplan borrowings, the vehicle manufacturers draft the funds directly from the Company’s credit facilities with no cash flow to or from the Company. With respect to borrowings for used vehicle financing in the U.S., the Company finances up to 85% of the value of the used vehicle inventory and the borrowed funds flow from the lender directly to the Company. In the U.K., the Company chooses which used vehicles to finance and the borrowings flow directly to the Company from the lender.

Excluding the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the Company’s syndicated lending group under the Revolving Credit Facility as defined in Note 13. Floorplan Notes Payable, all borrowings from, and repayments to, lenders affiliated with the vehicle manufacturers are presented within Cash Flows from Operating Activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. All borrowings from, and repayments to, the Company’s credit facilities (including the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the Revolving Credit Facility) are presented within Cash Flows from Financing Activities.

The functional currency for the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries is GBP. All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into USD using period-end exchange rates and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates during the respective period. The gains and losses resulting from translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity.