DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We are one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, operating 97 new vehicle franchises (83 dealership locations) in 17 metropolitan markets within nine states as of September 30, 2018. Our stores offer an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; parts and service, which includes repair and maintenance services, replacement parts and collision repair services; and finance and insurance products. As of September 30, 2018, we offered 29 brands of new vehicles and our new vehicle revenue brand mix consisted of 48% imports, 32% luxury, and 20% domestic brands. We also operated 25 collision repair centers that serve customers in our local markets.

Our retail network is made up of dealerships operating primarily under the following locally-branded dealership groups:


•	Coggin dealerships operating primarily in Jacksonville, Fort Pierce and Orlando, Florida;


•	Courtesy dealerships operating in Tampa, Florida;


•	Crown dealerships operating in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia;


•	Gray-Daniels dealerships operating in the Jackson, Mississippi area;


•	Hare dealerships operating in the Indianapolis, Indiana area;


•	McDavid dealerships operating in metropolitan Austin, Dallas and Houston, Texas;


•	Nalley dealerships operating in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia; and


•	Plaza dealerships operating in metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri.

Our operating results are generally subject to changes in the economic environment as well as seasonal variations. Historically, we have generated more revenue and operating income in the second, third, and fourth quarters than in the first quarter of the calendar year. Generally, the seasonal variations in our operations are caused by factors related to weather conditions, changes in manufacturer incentive programs, model changeovers and consumer buying patterns, among other things.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and reflect the consolidated accounts of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2018, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, have been included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period, or any full year period. Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed quarterly and the effects of any revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Significant estimates made in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include, but are not limited to, those relating to inventory valuation reserves, variable consideration and constraint considerations related to retro-commission arrangements, reserves for chargebacks against revenue recognized from the sale of finance and insurance products, reserves for insurance programs, certain assumptions related to intangible and long-lived assets, and reserves for certain legal or similar proceedings relating to our business operations.

Contracts-In-Transit

Contracts-in-transit represent receivables from third-party finance companies for the portion of new and used vehicle purchase price financed by customers through sources arranged by us.

Revenue Recognition

The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent amendments issued thereafter (collectively "ASC 606"), on January 1, 2018. Refer to Note 2 for additional information related to the Company’s adoption of ASC 606.

Income Taxes

We use the liability method to account for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis using currently enacted tax rates. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act"). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including, but not limited to, a reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%.

The staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") on December 22, 2017, which provides guidance on accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from December 22, 2017, the Tax Act enactment date, for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"). In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but the company is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Notice 2018-68 (the "Notice"), which clarified a number of changes made to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) by the Tax Act . While the Notice is not comprehensive and promises additional guidance is forthcoming, we determined a reasonable estimate could be made and recorded $0.6 million of additional income tax expense as a provisional adjustment to the deferred tax assets for certain components of share-based compensation during the three months ending September 30, 2018. We will complete our accounting for the Tax Act in 2018 after we have considered additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, state tax authorities and other standard-setting bodies, and we have gathered and analyzed additional data relative to our calculations. This may result in adjustments to our provisional amounts, which would impact our provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate in the period the adjustments are made.

We remeasured certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%. However, we are still analyzing certain aspects of the Tax Act and refining our calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances and impact future taxable income.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period. For all periods presented, there were no adjustments to the numerator necessary to compute diluted earnings per share.

Assets Held for Sale and Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Sale

Certain amounts have been classified as Assets Held for Sale in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale include assets and liabilities associated with pending dealership disposals, real estate not currently used in our operations that we are actively marketing to sell, and any related mortgage notes payable, if applicable. Classification as held for sale begins on the date that we have met all of the criteria for classification as held for sale.

At the time of classifying assets as held for sale, we compare the carrying value of these assets to estimates of fair value to assess for impairment. We compare the carrying value to estimates of fair value utilizing the assistance of third-party broker opinions of value and third-party desktop appraisals to assist in our fair value estimates related to real estate properties.

Statements of Cash Flows

Borrowings and repayments of floor plan notes payable to a lender unaffiliated with the manufacturer from which we purchase a particular new vehicle ("Non-Trade") and all floor plan notes payable relating to pre-owned vehicles (together referred to as "Floor Plan Notes Payable—Non-Trade") are classified as financing activities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, with borrowings reflected separately from repayments. The net change in floor plan notes payable to a lender affiliated with the manufacturer from which we purchase a particular new vehicle (collectively referred to as "Floor Plan Notes Payable—Trade") is classified as an operating activity on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Borrowings of floor plan notes payable associated with inventory acquired in connection with all acquisitions and repayments made in connection with all divestitures are classified as financing activities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Cash flows related to floor plan notes payable included in operating activities differ from cash flows related to floor plan notes payable included in financing activities only to the extent that the former are payable to a lender affiliated with the manufacturer from which we purchased the related inventory, while the latter are payable to a lender not affiliated with the manufacturer from which we purchased the related inventory.

Loaner vehicles account for a significant portion of Other Current Assets. We acquire loaner vehicles either with available cash or through borrowing from either our manufacturer affiliated lenders or through our senior secured credit agreement with Bank of America, as administrative agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto (the "2016 Senior Credit Facility"). Loaner vehicles are initially used by our service department for a short period of time (typically six to twelve months) before we seek to sell them. Therefore, we classify the acquisition of loaner vehicles in Other Current Assets and the borrowings and repayments of loaner vehicle notes payable in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Loaner vehicles are depreciated over the service period to their estimated value. At the end of the loaner service period, loaner vehicles are transferred from Other Current Assets to used vehicle inventory. These transfers are reflected as non-cash transfers between Other Current Assets and Inventories in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The amendments in this update address several specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update were effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and include retrospective application. The Company adopted this update during the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The amendments in this update clarify the definition of a business in order to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update were to be applied prospectively and were effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this update during the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new standard, and its related amendments, will supersede the existing lease accounting guidance and become effective for us on January 1, 2019. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model ("ROU") that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with the classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition reflected in the income statement. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing either as of the effective date or as of the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements at the date of adoption. We expect to elect the effective date method as our date of initial application. As a result, financial information and disclosures will not be updated under the new standard for periods ending prior to January 1, 2019.

While we are still evaluating the impact of this new standard, we expect this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements due to the recognition of ROU assets and liabilities for real estate and equipment leases on our consolidated balance sheet. We have established an implementation team to assess the impact of the new standard as well as the changes in processes and related controls to implement this standard. We are currently finalizing our assessment of our lease arrangements as well as the practical expedients and accounting policy elections provided by the new standard. We expect to elect the package of practical expedients to use in transition, which permits us not to reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification and lease classification. In addition, we expect to elect the short-term lease exemption for all leases that qualify as well as the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all leases other than real estate leases.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This update is intended to simplify hedge accounting by better aligning how an entity’s risk management activities and hedging relationships are presented in its financial statements and simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in certain situations. This update expands and refines hedge accounting for both non-financial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. This update will become effective for us on January 1, 2019; however, early adoption is permitted. For cash flow hedges existing at the adoption date, this update requires adoption on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. The amendments to presentation guidance and disclosure requirements are required to be adopted prospectively. We are currently evaluating this update and the significance of any impact this update may have to our consolidated financial statements.