DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We are one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States. As of March 31, 2019 we owned and operated 106 new vehicle franchises (87 dealership locations) representing 30 brands of automobiles and 25 collision repair centers in 17 metropolitan markets within nine states. 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. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our new vehicle revenue brand mix consisted of 47% imports, 33% luxury, and 20% domestic brands.

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 and Estes 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 March 31, 2019, and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, have been included, unless otherwise indicated. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 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, 2018.

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

Refer to Note 2 "Revenue Recognition".

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.

Share Repurchases

Share repurchases may be made from time-to-time in open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions under the authorization approved by the Board of Directors. Periodically, the Company may retire repurchased shares of common stock previously held by the Company as Treasury Shares. In accordance with our accounting policy, we allocate any excess share repurchase price over par value between additional paid-in capital, which is limited to amounts initially recorded for the same issue, and retained earnings.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per 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 a pending dealership disposal, 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

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the new lease accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”). Refer to Note 9 for additional information.

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." ASU 2018-02 allows entities to elect to reclassify the income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company elected to reclassify $0.2 million related to the change in deferred taxes associated with our cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. This reclassification was recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity during the current quarter.

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted 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. 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 and the amendments to presentation guidance and disclosure requirements are required to be adopted prospectively. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"), which requires an entity to assess impairment of its financial instruments based on its estimate of expected credit losses versus the current incurred loss model. The provisions of ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Entities are required to apply these changes through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. We plan to adopt ASU 2016-13 in 2020 and are currently evaluating the expected impact from adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.