EX-5.1 2 d909790dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

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Tel 713.758.2222 Fax 713.758.2346

Exhibit 5.1

May 14, 2015

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

800 Gessner

Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77024

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on the date hereof by the Company and the Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of (1) the offer and exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) by the Company of $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Old Notes”) for a new series of notes in like principal amount and bearing substantially identical terms (the “New Notes”) and (2) guarantees of the New Notes by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”).

The Old Notes were issued, and the New Notes will be issued, under an Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2014, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Indenture”). The Exchange Offer will be conducted on such terms and conditions as are set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement to which this opinion letter is an exhibit.

We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Indenture, (iii) the opinions of each of (a) Porter Hedges, L.L.P., special counsel to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the State of Oklahoma, (b) Venable LLP, to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the States of California and Maryland, (c) Foulston Siefkin LLP, special counsel to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the State of Kansas, (d) Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., special counsel to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the State of South Carolina, each dated November 21, 2014 and (e) Woodburn and Wedge, special counsel to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the State of Nevada, dated May 14, 2015, and each provided in connection with the Registration Statement, and (iv) such other certificates, statutes and other instruments and documents as we considered appropriate for purposes of the opinion expressed below. In connection with the opinion expressed below, we have assumed that the Registration Statement, and any amendments

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

Abu Dhabi Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston London

Moscow New York Palo Alto Riyadh San Francisco Tokyo Washington

   

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.  May 14, 2015  Page 2

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thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective and the New Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner described in the Registration Statement.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, when the New Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, (i) such New Notes will be legally issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and (ii) the Guarantees will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except in each case under such clauses (i) and (ii) as such enforcement is subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

We express no opinion concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indenture that purport to waive or not give effect to the rights to notices, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law or (ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.

The foregoing opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of Delaware, including without limitation the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of Texas and the laws of the State of New York, in each case including the applicable statutory provisions to these laws, the rules and regulations underlying such provisions, and the applicable judicial and regulatory determinations interpreting these laws. We express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.

We hereby consent to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

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Tel 713.758.2222 Fax 713.758.2346

Exhibit 5.1

SCHEDULE I

 

Guarantor

    State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization

Advantagecars.com, Inc.

    Delaware

Amarillo Motors-F, Inc.

    Delaware

Baron Development Company, LLC

    Kansas

Baron Leasehold, LLC

    Kansas

Bob Howard Automotive-East, Inc.

    Oklahoma

Bob Howard Chevrolet, Inc.

    Oklahoma

Bob Howard Dodge, Inc.

    Oklahoma

Bob Howard Motors, Inc.

    Oklahoma

Bob Howard Nissan, Inc.

    Oklahoma

Bohn Holdings, Inc.

    Delaware

Bohn Holdings, LLC

    Delaware

Bohn-FII, LLC

    Delaware

Chaperral Dodge, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-N, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-NII, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-S, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-SB, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-SU, LLC

    Delaware

Danvers-T, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-TII, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-TIII, Inc.

    Delaware

Danvers-TL, Inc.

    Delaware

FMM, Inc.

    California

G1R Florida, LLC

    Delaware

G1R Mass, LLC

    Delaware

GPI AL-N, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI AL-SB, LLC

    Delaware

GPI CA-DMII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI CA-F, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI CA-NIII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI CA-SH, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI CA-SV, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI CA-TII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI CC, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI FL-A, LLC

    Nevada

GPI FL-H, LLC

    Delaware

GPI FL-VW, LLC

    Delaware

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

Abu Dhabi Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston London

Moscow New York Palo Alto Riyadh San Francisco Tokyo Washington

      

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.  May 14, 2015  Page 4

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Guarantor

    State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization

GPI FL-VWII, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA Holdings, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI GA Liquidation, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-CGM, LLC

    Nevada

GPI GA-DM, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-F, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-FII, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-FIII, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-FM, LLC

    Nevada

GPI GA-FV, LLC

    Nevada

GPI GA-SU, LLC

    Nevada

GPI GA-T, LLC

    Delaware

GPI GA-TII, LLC

    Nevada

GPI KS Motors, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI KS-SB, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI KS-SH, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI KS-SK, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI LA-FII, LLC

    Delaware

GPI LA-SH, LLC

    Delaware

GPI MD-SB, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI MS-H, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI MS-N, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI MS-SK, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI NH-T, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI NH-TL, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI NJ-HA, LLC

(f/k/a NJ-HA, Inc., a Delaware Corporation)

    Nevada

GPI NJ-HII, LLC

(f/k/a NJ-HII, Inc., a Delaware Corporation)

    Nevada

GPI NJ-SB, LLC

(f/k/a NJ-SB, Inc., a Delaware Corporation)

    Nevada

GPI NY Holdings, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI NY-DM, LLC

    Nevada

GPI NY-FV, LLC

    Nevada

GPI NY-SB, LLC

    Nevada

GPI OK-HII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI OK-SH, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI SAC-T, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI SC, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI SC Holdings, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI SC-A, LLC

    Delaware

GPI SC-SB, LLC

    Delaware

GPI SC-SBII, LLC

    Delaware

GPI SC-T, LLC

    Delaware

GPI SD-DC, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-ARGMIII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-DMII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-EPGM, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.  May 14, 2015  Page 5

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Guarantor

    State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization

GPI TX-F, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-FII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-HGM, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-HGMII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-NVI, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-SBII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-SBIII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-SHII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-SK, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-SKII, Inc.

    Nevada

GPI TX-SV, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-SVII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI TX-SVIII, Inc.

    Delaware

GPI, Ltd.

    Texas

Group 1 Associates Holdings, LLC

    Delaware

Group 1 Associates, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 FL Holdings, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 Funding, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-DC, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-F, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-GM, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-H, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-N, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-S, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 Holdings-T, L.L.C.

    Delaware

Group 1 LP Interests-DC, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 Realty, Inc.

    Delaware

Harvey Ford, LLC

    Delaware

Harvey GM, LLC

    Delaware

Harvey Operations-T, LLC

    Delaware

Howard-DCIII, LLC

    Delaware

Howard-GM II, Inc.

    Delaware

Howard-GM, Inc.

    Delaware

Howard-H, Inc.

    Delaware

Howard-HA, Inc.

    Delaware

Howard-SB, Inc.

    Delaware

Ira Automotive Group, LLC

    Delaware

Ivory Auto Properties of South Carolina, LLC

    South Carolina

Key Ford, LLC

    Delaware

Kutz-N, Inc.

    Delaware

Lubbock Motors, Inc.

    Delaware

Lubbock Motors-F, Inc.

    Delaware

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.  May 14, 2015  Page 6

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Guarantor

    State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization

Lubbock Motors-GM, Inc.

    Delaware

Lubbock Motors-S, Inc.

    Delaware

Lubbock Motors-SH, Inc.

    Delaware

Lubbock Motors-T, Inc.

    Delaware

Maxwell Ford, Inc.

    Delaware

Maxwell-GMII, Inc.

    Delaware

Maxwell-N, Inc.

    Delaware

Maxwell-NII, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-F, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-H, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-HA, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-N, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-SB, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-T, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-TII, Inc.

    Delaware

McCall-TL, Inc.

    Delaware

Mike Smith Automotive-H, Inc.

    Delaware

Mike Smith Automotive-N, Inc.

    Texas

Mike Smith Autoplaza, Inc.

    Texas

Mike Smith Autoplex Dodge, Inc.

    Texas

Mike Smith Autoplex, Inc.

    Texas

Mike Smith Autoplex-German Imports, Inc.

    Texas

Mike Smith Imports, Inc.

    Texas

Millbro, Inc.

    California

Miller Automotive Group, Inc.

    California

Miller Family Company, Inc.

    California

Miller Infiniti, Inc.

    California

Miller Nissan, Inc.

    California

Miller-DM, Inc.

    Delaware

NJ-DM, Inc.

    Delaware

NJ-H, Inc.

    Delaware

NJ-HAII, Inc.

    Delaware

NJ-SV, Inc.

    Delaware

Rockwall Automotive-DCD, Ltd.

    Texas

Rockwall Automotive-F, Inc.

    Delaware

Tate CG, L.L.C.

    Maryland