EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO       Investors May Contact:
      Keith Style
     

Vice President, Finance and

Investor Relations

      (212) 885-2520
      investor@asburyauto.com
      Reporters May Contact:
     

Stephanie Lowenthal

      RF|Binder Partners
      (212) 994-7619
      Stephanie.Lowenthal@RFBinder.com

Asbury Automotive Group Reports Fourth Quarter and

Full Year 2007 Financial Results

New York, NY, February 21, 2008 – Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007.

Adjusted income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $12.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to $14.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of last year. These results have been adjusted for non-core items, as disclosed in the attached tables, including a $0.03 per diluted share increase to our reserves during the quarter for legal claims arising in, and before, the year 2003, and a $0.03 per dilutive share net benefit from non-core items in prior year’s quarter. Income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $11.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared with $15.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, a year ago. Net income for the quarter totaled $11.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $12.0 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of last year.

President and CEO, Charles R. Oglesby, said, “Asbury faced a very challenging environment for vehicle sales – both new and used – in the fourth quarter, with notable softness in our key Florida markets. Our service businesses again performed well, as fixed operations delivered same-store revenue growth of 4% and F&I income reached a record level of $1,057 per vehicle retailed. We also made significant progress during the quarter in adjusting expenses to the current market conditions, by reducing our advertising, staffing levels and used vehicle inventories.”

Income from continuing operations, adjusted for non-core items, for the year increased 5% to $69.5 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, from $66.2 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, in 2006 (refer to attached tables for reconciliation of non-core items). For the year, income from continuing operations was $54.3 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, compared with $67.1 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, in 2006. Net income for the year totaled $51.0 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to $60.7 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, last year.

Mr. Oglesby continued, “For the full year, diluted earnings per share, excluding non-core items, increased 8%, a solid performance in view of the retail environment. We achieved significant cost savings from our debt refinancing early in the year, and began implementing a new dealership technology platform that will reduce expenses and drive efficiency gains in the years ahead. We also successfully stepped up our acquisition program, acquiring dealerships with approximately $350 million in annualized revenues – well above our target of $200 million.”

J. Gordon Smith, Senior Vice President and CFO, commented on the Company’s outlook for 2008, adding, “While retail market conditions are likely to remain difficult throughout 2008, we believe our expense reductions have positioned us well. We are establishing an initial guidance range for 2008 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of between $1.80 and $2.00. This guidance is based on a range for U.S. new vehicle unit sales of between 15.3 million and 15.5 million for the full year, as well as a projected decline in our same store used unit volumes of between 5% and 8%.”


On January 31, 2008, Asbury’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share of the Company’s outstanding common stock payable on February 29, 2008, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 8, 2008.

Asbury will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results this morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto http://www.asburyauto.com or http://www.ccbn.com. In addition, a live audio of the call will be accessible to the public by calling (877) 852-6573 (domestic), or (719) 325-4805 (international); no access code is necessary. Callers should dial in approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the call begins.

About Asbury Automotive Group

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (“Asbury”), headquartered in New York City, is one of the largest automobile retailers in the U.S. Built through a combination of organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions, Asbury currently operates 89 retail auto stores, encompassing 121 franchises for the sale and servicing of 35 different brands of American, European and Asian automobiles. Asbury offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to goals, plans, earnings projections, acquisition performance and guidance regarding the Company’s financial position, results of operations, market position, potential future acquisitions and business strategy, specifically our expectations of (i) the future effects of our new technology platform, (ii) next year’s range for U.S. light vehicle unit sales and (iii) our 2008 same-store used vehicle units sales. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve significant risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market factors, the Company’s relationships with vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers, risks associated with the Company’s indebtedness, risks related to potential future acquisitions, risks related to competition in the automotive retail and service industries, general economic conditions both nationally and locally, governmental regulations, legislation and the Company’s ability to execute certain operational strategies and implement new technologies. There can be no guarantees that the Company’s plans for future operations will be successfully implemented or that they will prove to be commercially successful or that the Company will be able to continue paying dividends in the future at the current rate or at all. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

[Tables Follow]


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
    For the Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

REVENUES:

        

New vehicle

   $ 802,006     $ 833,513     $ 3,385,225     $ 3,425,074  

Used vehicle

     326,405       335,702       1,462,920       1,443,899  

Parts, service and collision repair

     178,720       164,417       702,633       670,520  

Finance and insurance, net

     39,066       37,707       162,189       154,894  
                                

Total revenues

     1,346,197       1,371,339       5,712,967       5,694,387  
                                

COST OF SALES:

        

New vehicle

     746,392       772,667       3,145,107       3,182,337  

Used vehicle

     301,611       304,717       1,338,924       1,310,852  

Parts, service and collision repair

     87,836       80,199       339,492       330,420  
                                

Total cost of sales

     1,135,839       1,157,583       4,823,523       4,823,609  
                                

GROSS PROFIT

     210,358       213,756       889,444       870,778  

OPERATING EXPENSES:

        

Selling, general and administrative

     (168,025 )     (165,812 )     (685,632 )     (663,856 )

Depreciation and amortization

     (5,526 )     (5,069 )     (21,492 )     (20,061 )

Other operating income (expense), net

     1,231       2,765       (958 )     1,485  
                                

Income from operations

     38,038       45,640       181,362       188,346  

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

        

Floor plan interest expense

     (10,445 )     (10,868 )     (43,107 )     (40,533 )

Other interest expense

     (9,207 )     (10,917 )     (39,245 )     (44,185 )

Interest income

     429       1,841       4,336       5,111  

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —         (230 )     (18,523 )     (1,144 )
                                

Total other expense, net

     (19,223 )     (20,174 )     (96,539 )     (80,751 )
                                

Income before income taxes

     18,815       25,466       84,823       107,595  

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     7,326       9,709       30,537       40,506  
                                

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     11,489       15,757       54,286       67,089  

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, net of tax

     (536 )     (3,744 )     (3,331 )     (6,340 )
                                

NET INCOME

   $ 10,953     $ 12,013     $ 50,955     $ 60,749  
                                

BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.36     $ 0.47     $ 1.67     $ 2.02  

Discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.11 )     (0.10 )     (0.19 )
                                

Net income

   $ 0.35     $ 0.36     $ 1.57     $ 1.83  
                                

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.36     $ 0.46     $ 1.63     $ 1.97  

Discontinued operations

     (0.02 )     (0.11 )     (0.10 )     (0.19 )
                                

Net income

   $ 0.34     $ 0.35     $ 1.53     $ 1.78  
                                

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

        

Basic

     31,599       33,486       32,463       33,187  
                                

Diluted

     32,243       34,194       33,340       34,067  
                                


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Selected Data

(Dollars in thousands, except per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

 

     As reported for the
Three Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007           2006                    

RETAIL VEHICLES SOLD:

            

New retail units - light vehicles

     23,208     62.8 %     22,703     58.8 %     505     2.2 %

New retail units - heavy trucks

     669     1.8 %     1,504     3.9 %     (835 )   (55.5 )%
                        

Total new retail units

     23,877     64.6 %     24,207     62.7 %     (330 )   (1.4 )%

Used retail units

     13,089     35.4 %     14,423     37.3 %     (1,334 )   (9.2 )%
                        

Total retail units

     36,966     100.0 %     38,630     100.0 %     (1,664 )   (4.3 )%
                        

NEW UNITS SOLD (INCLUDING FLEET)

     25,315         25,882         (567 )   (2.2 )%

REVENUE:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 728,232     54.1 %   $ 714,783     52.1 %   $ 13,449     1.9 %

New retail - heavy trucks

     41,751     3.1 %     85,368     6.2 %     (43,617 )   (51.1 )%
                        

Total new retail

     769,983     57.2 %     800,151     58.3 %     (30,168 )   (3.8 )%

Used retail

     244,768     18.1 %     257,776     18.9 %     (13,008 )   (5.0 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     178,720     13.3 %     164,417     12.0 %     14,303     8.7 %

Finance and insurance, net

     39,066     2.9 %     37,707     2.7 %     1,359     3.6 %
                        

Total retail revenue

     1,232,537         1,260,051         (27,514 )   (2.2 )%

Fleet

     32,023     2.4 %     33,362     2.4 %     (1,339 )   (4.0 )%

Wholesale

     81,637     6.1 %     77,926     5.7 %     3,711     4.8 %
                        

Total revenue

   $ 1,346,197     100.0 %   $ 1,371,339     100.0 %   $ (25,142 )   (1.8 )%
                        

GROSS PROFIT

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 52,816     25.1 %   $ 56,227     26.3 %   $ (3,411 )   (6.1 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     2,247     1.1 %     3,666     1.7 %     (1,419 )   (38.7 )%
                        

Total new retail

     55,063     26.2 %     59,893     28.0 %     (4,830 )   (8.1 )%

Used retail

     26,325     12.5 %     31,140     14.6 %     (4,815 )   (15.5 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     90,884     43.1 %     84,218     39.5 %     6,666     7.9 %

Finance and insurance, net

     39,066     18.6 %     37,707     17.6 %     1,359     3.6 %
                        

Total retail gross profit

     211,338         212,958         (1,620 )   (0.8 )%

Fleet

     551     0.3 %     952     0.4 %     (401 )   (42.1 )%

Wholesale

     (1,531 )   (0.7 )%     (154 )   (0.1 )%     (1,377 )   (894.2 )%
                        

Total gross profit

   $ 210,358     100.0 %   $ 213,756     100.0 %   $ (3,398 )   (1.6 )%
                        

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 166,142       $ 165,812       $ 330     0.2 %

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit

     79.0 %       77.6 %       1.4 %   1.8 %

REVENUE PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 31,378       $ 31,484       $ (106 )   (0.3 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     62,408         56,761         5,647     9.9 %

Used retail

     18,700         17,873         827     4.6 %

GROSS PROFIT PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 2,276       $ 2,477       $ (201 )   (8.1 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     3,359         2,438         921     37.8 %

Used retail

     2,011         2,159         (148 )   (6.9 )%

Finance and insurance, net

     1,057         976         81     8.3 %


     As reported for the
Three Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:

        

New retail - light vehicles

   7.3 %   7.9 %   (0.6 )%   (7.6 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

   5.4 %   4.3 %   1.1 %   25.6 %

Used retail

   10.8 %   12.1 %   (1.3 )%   (10.7 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

   50.9 %   51.2 %   (0.3 )%   (0.6 )%


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Selected Data

(Dollars in thousands, except per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Same Store for the
Three Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007           2006                    

RETAIL VEHICLES SOLD:

            

New retail units - light vehicles

     22,010     62.4 %     22,703     58.8 %     (693 )   (3.1 )%

New retail units - heavy trucks

     669     2.0 %     1,504     3.9 %     (835 )   (55.5 )%
                        

Total new retail units

     22,679     64.4 %     24,207     62.7 %     (1,528 )   (6.3 )%

Used retail units

     12,604     35.6 %     14,423     37.3 %     (1,819 )   (12.6 )%
                        

Total retail units

     35,283     100.0 %     38,630     100.0 %     (3,347 )   (8.7 )%
                        

NEW UNITS SOLD (INCLUDING FLEET)

     24,117         25,882         (1,765 )   (6.8 )%

REVENUE:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 687,851     53.7 %   $ 714,783     52.1 %   $ (26,932 )   (3.8 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     41,751     3.3 %     85,368     6.2 %     (43,617 )   (51.1 )%
                        

Total new retail

     729,602     57.0 %     800,151     58.3 %     (70,549 )   (8.8 )%

Used retail

     235,109     18.3 %     257,776     18.9 %     (22,667 )   (8.8 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     170,364     13.3 %     164,417     12.0 %     5,947     3.6 %

Finance and insurance, net

     37,633     2.9 %     37,707     2.7 %     (74 )   (0.2 )%
                        

Total retail revenue

     1,172,708         1,260,051         (87,343 )   (6.9 )%

Fleet

     32,024     2.5 %     33,362     2.4 %     (1,338 )   (4.0 )%

Wholesale

     76,353     6.0 %     77,926     5.7 %     (1,573 )   (2.0 )%
                        

Total revenue

   $ 1,281,085     100.0 %   $ 1,371,339     100.0 %   $ (90,254 )   (6.6 )%
                        

GROSS PROFIT

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 49,591     24.7 %   $ 56,227     26.3 %   $ (6,636 )   (11.8 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     2,247     1.1 %     3,666     1.7 %     (1,419 )   (38.7 )%
                        

Total new retail

     51,838     25.8 %     59,893     28.0 %     (8,055 )   (13.4 )%

Used retail

     25,284     12.6 %     31,140     14.6 %     (5,856 )   (18.8 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     86,654     43.2 %     84,218     39.5 %     2,436     2.9 %

Finance and insurance, net

     37,633     18.8 %     37,707     17.6 %     (74 )   (0.2 )%
                        

Total retail gross profit

     201,409         212,958         (11,549 )   (5.4 )%

Fleet

     552     0.3 %     952     0.4 %     (400 )   (42.0 )%

Wholesale

     (1,417 )   (0.7 )%     (154 )   (0.1 )%     (1,263 )   (820.1 )%
                        

Total gross profit

   $ 200,544     100.0 %   $ 213,756     100.0 %   $ (13,212 )   (6.2 )%
                        

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 158,271       $ 165,812       $ (7,541 )   (4.5 )%

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit

     78.9 %       77.6 %       1.3 %   1.7 %

REVENUE PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 31,252       $ 31,484       $ (232 )   (0.7 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     62,408         56,761         5,647     9.9 %

Used retail

     18,654         17,873         781     4.4 %

GROSS PROFIT PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 2,253       $ 2,477       $ (224 )   (9.0 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     3,359         2,438         921     37.8 %

Used retail

     2,006         2,159         (153 )   (7.1 )%


     Same Store for the
Three Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

Finance and insurance, net

   1,067     976     91     9.3 %

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:

        

New retail - light vehicles

   7.2 %   7.9 %   (0.7 )%   (8.9 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

   5.4 %   4.3 %   1.1 %   25.6 %

Used retail

   10.8 %   12.1 %   (1.3 )%   (10.7 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

   50.9 %   51.2 %   (0.3 )%   (0.6 )%


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Selected Data

(Dollars in thousands, except per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

 

     As reported for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007           2006                    

RETAIL VEHICLES SOLD:

            

New retail units - light vehicles

     98,246     60.4 %     97,534     59.0 %     712     0.7 %

New retail units - heavy trucks

     3,625     2.2 %     5,566     3.4 %     (1,941 )   (34.9 )%
                        

Total new retail units

     101,871     62.6 %     103,100     62.4 %     (1,229 )   (1.2 )%

Used retail units

     60,764     37.4 %     62,132     37.6 %     (1,368 )   (2.2 )%
                        

Total retail units

     162,635     100.0 %     165,232     100.0 %     (2,597 )   (1.6 )%
                        

NEW UNITS SOLD (INCLUDING FLEET)

     109,627         110,601         (974 )   (0.9 )%

REVENUE:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 3,006,306     52.6 %   $ 2,945,950     51.7 %   $ 60,356     2.0 %

New retail - heavy trucks

     216,374     3.8 %     333,283     5.9 %     (116,909 )   (35.1 )%
                        

Total new retail

     3,222,680     56.4 %     3,279,233     57.6 %     (56,553 )   (1.7 )%

Used retail

     1,113,828     19.6 %     1,108,474     19.4 %     5,354     0.5 %

Parts, service and collision repair

     702,633     12.3 %     670,520     11.8 %     32,113     4.8 %

Finance and insurance, net

     162,189     2.8 %     154,894     2.7 %     7,295     4.7 %
                        

Total retail revenue

     5,201,330         5,213,121         (11,791 )   (0.2 )%

Fleet

     162,545     2.8 %     145,841     2.6 %     16,704     11.5 %

Wholesale

     349,092     6.1 %     335,425     5.9 %     13,667     4.1 %
                        

Total revenue

   $ 5,712,967     100.0 %   $ 5,694,387     100.0 %   $ 18,580     0.3 %
                        

GROSS PROFIT

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 226,738     25.5 %   $ 225,371     25.9 %   $ 1,367     0.6 %

New retail - heavy trucks

     10,263     1.2 %     13,336     1.5 %     (3,073 )   (23.0 )%
                        

Total new retail

     237,001     26.7 %     238,707     27.4 %     (1,706 )   (0.7 )%

Used retail

     126,625     14.2 %     134,117     15.4 %     (7,492 )   (5.6 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     363,141     40.8 %     340,100     39.0 %     23,041     6.8 %

Finance and insurance, net

     162,189     18.2 %     154,894     17.8 %     7,295     4.7 %
                        

Total retail gross profit

     888,956         867,818         21,138     2.4 %

Fleet

     3,117     0.4 %     4,030     0.5 %     (913 )   (22.7 )%

Wholesale

     (2,629 )   (0.3 )%     (1,070 )   (0.1 )%     (1,559 )   (145.7 )%
                        

Total gross profit

   $ 889,444     100.0 %   $ 870,778     100.0 %   $ 18,666     2.1 %
                        

Adjusted gross profit

   $ 889,444       $ 867,378       $ 22,066     21.2 %

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 683,121       $ 663,856       $ 19,265     2.9 %

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit

     76.8 %       76.5 %       0.3 %   0.4 %

REVENUE PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 30,600       $ 30,204       $ 396     1.3 %

New retail - heavy trucks

     59,689         59,878         (189 )   (0.3 )%

Used retail

     18,330         17,841         489     2.7 %

GROSS PROFIT PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 2,308       $ 2,311       $ (3 )   (0.1 )%


     As reported for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
   Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007          2006                   

New retail - heavy trucks

   2,831        2,396        435     18.2 %

Used retail

   2,084        2,159        (75 )   (3.5 )%

Finance and insurance, net

   997        937        60     6.4 %

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:

              

New retail - light vehicles

   7.5 %      7.7 %      (0.2 )%   (2.6 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

   4.7 %      4.0 %      0.7 %   17.5 %

Used retail

   11.4 %      12.1 %      (0.7 )%   (5.8 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

   51.7 %      50.7 %      1.0 %   2.0 %


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Selected Data

(Dollars in thousands, except per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Same Store for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007           2006                    

RETAIL VEHICLES SOLD:

            

New retail units - light vehicles

     96,138     60.3 %     97,534     59.0 %     (1,396 )   (1.4 )%

New retail units - heavy trucks

     3,625     2.3 %     5,566     3.4 %     (1,941 )   (34.9 )%
                        

Total new retail units

     99,763     62.6 %     103,100     62.4 %     (3,337 )   (3.2 )%

Used retail units

     59,685     37.4 %     62,132     37.6 %     (2,447 )   (3.9 )%
                        

Total retail units

     159,448     100.0 %     165,232     100.0 %     (5,784 )   (3.5 )%
                        

NEW UNITS SOLD (INCLUDING FLEET)

     107,519         110,601         (3,082 )   (2.8 )%

REVENUE:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 2,937,685     52.5 %   $ 2,945,950     51.7 %   $ (8,265 )   (0.3 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     216,374     3.9 %     333,283     5.9 %     (116,909 )   (35.1 )%
                        

Total new retail

     3,154,059     56.4 %     3,279,233     57.6 %     (125,174 )   (3.8 )%

Used retail

     1,093,358     19.4 %     1,108,474     19.4 %     (15,116 )   (1.4 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     688,680     12.3 %     670,520     11.8 %     18,160     2.7 %

Finance and insurance, net

     159,531     2.9 %     154,894     2.7 %     4,637     3.0 %
                        

Total retail revenue

     5,095,628         5,213,121         (117,493 )   (2.3 )%

Fleet

     162,545     2.9 %     145,841     2.6 %     16,704     11.5 %

Wholesale

     339,234     6.1 %     335,425     5.9 %     3,809     1.1 %
                        

Total revenue

   $ 5,597,407     100.0 %   $ 5,694,387     100.0 %   $ (96,980 )   (1.7 )%
                        

GROSS PROFIT

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 221,333     25.4 %   $ 225,371     25.9 %   $ (4,038 )   (1.8 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

     10,263     1.2 %     13,336     1.5 %     (3,073 )   (23.0 )%
                        

Total new retail

     231,596     26.6 %     238,707     27.4 %     (7,111 )   (3.0 )%

Used retail

     124,424     14.3 %     134,117     15.4 %     (9,693 )   (7.2 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

     355,709     40.7 %     340,100     39.0 %     15,609     4.6 %

Finance and insurance, net

     159,531     18.3 %     154,894     17.8 %     4,637     3.0 %
                        

Total retail gross profit

     871,260         867,818         3,442     0.4 %

Fleet

     3,117     0.4 %     4,030     0.5 %     (913 )   (22.7 )%

Wholesale

     (2,487 )   (0.3 )%     (1,070 )   (0.1 )%     (1,417 )   (132.4 )%
                        

Total gross profit

   $ 871,890     100.0 %   $ 870,778     100.0 %   $ 1,112     0.1 %
                        

Adjusted gross profit

   $ 871,890       $ 867,378       $ 4,512     0.5 %

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 668,575       $ 663,856       $ 4,719     0.7 %

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit

     76.7 %       76.5 %       0.2 %   0.3 %

REVENUE PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 30,557       $ 30,204       $ 353     1.2 %

New retail - heavy trucks

     59,689         59,878         (189 )   (0.3 )%

Used retail

     18,319         17,841         478     2.7 %

GROSS PROFIT PER VEHICLE RETAILED:

            

New retail - light vehicles

   $ 2,302       $ 2,311       $ (9 )   (0.4 )%


     Same Store for the
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
   Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007          2006                   

New retail - heavy trucks

   2,831        2,396        435     18.2 %

Used retail

   2,085        2,159        (74 )   (3.4 )%

Finance and insurance, net

   1,001        937        64     6.8 %

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:

              

New retail - light vehicles

   7.5 %      7.7 %      (0.2 )%   (2.6 )%

New retail - heavy trucks

   4.7 %      4.0 %      0.7 %   17.5 %

Used retail

   11.4 %      12.1 %      (0.7 )%   (5.8 )%

Parts, service and collision repair

   51.7 %      50.7 %      1.0 %   2.0 %


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Selected Data

(dollars in thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 53,354    $ 129,170

Inventories

     769,992      775,313

Total current assets

     1,192,422      1,293,064

Floor plan notes payable

     673,951      700,777

Total current liabilities

     871,667      881,055

CAPITALIZATION:

     

Long-term debt (including current portion)

   $ 475,587    $ 455,875

Stockholders’ equity

     584,225      611,833
             

Total

   $ 1,059,812    $ 1,067,708
             


ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, except vehicle and per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

The following operating performance measures (i) dealership generated F&I gross profit PVR, (ii) adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit and (iii) adjusted income from continuing operations, are not measures of operating performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered as an alternative or substitute for GAAP profitability measures such as cash provided by operating activities, F&I gross profit PVR, SG&A as percentage of gross profit and income from continuing operations. These non-GAAP operating performance measures have material limitations and as a result should be evaluated in conjunction with the directly comparable GAAP measure. One limitation is that these non-GAAP measures are not defined by GAAP and our definition of each measure may differ from and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Other limitations of these non-GAAP measures are discussed below. Investors should not consider the non-GAAP measures in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP.

We evaluate our F&I performance on a PVR basis by dividing our total F&I gross profit by the number of retail vehicles sold during the period. During 2003, we renegotiated a contract with one of our third-party F&I product providers, which resulted in the recognition of income that was not attributable to retail vehicles sold during the year. We believe that dealership generated F&I, which excludes the additional revenue derived from contracts negotiated by our corporate office, provides a measure of our F&I operating performance as used by management to operate the business. However, this non-GAAP measure has material limitations although we believe the recognition of corporate generated F&I gross profit is infrequent and that we do not expect to recognize corporate generated F&I gross profit in the future, we cannot assure you that we will not recognize similar amounts of F&I gross profit in the future.

 

     As Reported for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
    Same Store for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
 
     2007    2006     2007    2006  

RECONCILIATION OF FINANCE AND INSURANCE GROSS PROFIT TO DEALERSHIP GENERATED FINANCE AND INSURANCE GROSS PROFIT:

          

Finance and insurance, net

   $ 162,189    $ 154,894     $ 159,531    $ 154,894  

Less: corporate generated finance and insurance

     —        (1,685 )     —        (1,685 )

Less: corporate generated finance and insurance gain

     —        (3,400 )     —        (3,400 )
                              

Dealership generated finance and insurance, net

   $ 162,189    $ 149,809     $ 159,531    $ 149,809  
                              

RETAIL VEHICLES SOLD:

          

New retail units

     101,871      103,100       99,763      103,100  

Used retail units

     60,764      62,132       59,685      62,132  
                              

Total retail units

     162,635      165,232       159,448      165,232  
                              

Finance and insurance PVR, net

   $ 997    $ 937     $ 1,001    $ 937  
                              

Dealership generated finance and insurance PVR, net

   $ 997    $ 907     $ 1,001    $ 907  
                              


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding NON-GAAP Financial Information

(In thousands, except vehicle and per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

Our operations during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 were impacted by legal settlements expense associated with cases pending prior to 2001. Our operations during the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 were impacted by the sale of our remaining interest in a pool of extended service contracts. We believe that an alternative comparison, as used by management to compare actual results to forecasted results, of our SG&A as a percentage of adjusted gross profit can be made by adjusting for these items based on the fact that we believe these items are not core dealership operating items and should not be considered when forecasting our future results.

 

     As Reported for the Three
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

SG&A expenses

   $ 168,025     $ 165,812     $ 2,213     1 %

Legal settlements expense

     (1,883 )     —        
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 166,142     $ 165,812     $ 330     —    
                    

Gross profit

   $ 210,358     $ 213,756     $ (3,398 )   (2 )%
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit

     79.0 %     77.6 %     1.4 %   1.8 %
                    

 

     Same Store for the Three
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

SG&A expenses

   $ 160,154     $ 165,812     $ (5,658 )   (3 )%

Legal settlements expense

     (1,883 )     —        
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 158,271     $ 165,812     $ (7,541 )   (5 )%
                    

Gross profit

   $ 200,544     $ 213,756     $ (13,212 )   (6 )%
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit

     78.9 %     77.6 %     1.3 %   1.7 %
                    

 

     As Reported for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

SG&A expenses

   $ 685,632     $ 663,856     $ 21,776     3 %

Legal settlements expense

     (2,511 )     —        
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 683,121     $ 663,856     $ 19,265     3 %
                    

Gross profit

   $ 889,444     $ 870,778      

Corporate generated F&I gain

     —         (3,400 )    
                    

Adjusted gross profit

   $ 889,444     $ 867,378     $ 22,066     3 %
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit

     76.8 %     76.5 %     0.3 %   0.4 %
                    


     Same Store for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007     2006              

SG&A expenses

   $ 671,086     $ 663,856     $ 7,230     1 %

Legal settlements expense

     (2,511 )     —        
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses

   $ 668,575     $ 663,856     $ 4,719     1 %
                    

Gross profit

   $ 871,890     $ 870,778      

Corporate generated F&I gain

     —         (3,400 )    
                    

Adjusted gross profit

   $ 871,890     $ 867,378       4,512     1 %
                    

Adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of adjusted gross profit

     76.7 %     76.5 %     0.2 %   0.3 %
                    


Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding NON-GAAP Financial Information

(In thousands, except vehicle and per vehicle data)

(Unaudited)

Our income from continuing operations during 2007 was impacted by (i) retirement benefits expense associated with the retirement of our former CEO, (ii) expenses related to a secondary offering for which we did not receive any proceeds, (iii) a loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, and (iv) legal settlements expense associated with cases pending since prior to 2001. Our income from continuing operations during 2006 was impacted by (i) the sale of our remaining interest in a pool of extended service contracts, (ii) a gain recognized on the sale of a franchise in which the dealership facility was retained, (iii) our decision to abandon certain strategic projects, (iv) expenses related to the extinguishment of long-term debt and (v) expenses related to two secondary stock offerings. We believe that an alternative comparison of our income from continuing operations, as used by management to compare actual results to forecasted results, can be made by adjusting for these items based on the fact that we believe these items are not core dealership operating items and should not be considered when forecasting our future results.

 

     As Reported for the Three
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007    2006              

Net income

   $ 10,953    $ 12,013     $ (1,060 )   (9 )%

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     536      3,744      
                   

Income from continuing operations

     11,489      15,757       (4,268 )   (27 )%

Gain on sale of franchise, net of tax

     —        (1,565 )    

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, net of tax

        144      

Secondary offering expenses*

     —        227      

Legal settlements expense, net of tax

     1,177       
                   

Adjusted income from continuing operations

   $ 12,666    $ 14,563     $ (1,897 )   (13 )%
                   

Net Income

   $ 0.34    $ 0.35     $ (0.01 )   (3 )%

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     0.02      0.11      
                   

Income from continuing operations

     0.36      0.46       (0.10 )   (22 )%

Adjusting items

     0.03      (0.03 )    
                   

Adjusted income from continuing operations

   $ 0.39    $ 0.43     $ (0.04 )   (9 )%
                   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted):

     32,243      34,194      
                   

 

* Secondary offering expenses are not deductible for tax purposes; therefore, no tax benefit has been reflected.

 

     As Reported for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007    2006              

Net income

   $ 50,955    $ 60,749     $ (9,794 )   (16 )%

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     3,331      6,340      
                   

Income from continuing operations

     54,286      67,089       (12,803 )   (19 )%

Corporate generated F&I gain, net of tax

     —        (2,130 )    

Gain on sale of franchise, net of tax

     —        (1,565 )    

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, net of tax

     11,577      717      

Abandoned strategic project expense, net of tax

     —        1,039      

Secondary offering expenses*

     270      1,073      

Retirement benefits expense, net of tax

     1,844      —        

Legal settlements expense, net of tax

     1,569      —        
                   

Adjusted income from continuing operations

   $ 69,546    $ 66,223     $ 3,323     5 %
                   


     As Reported for the Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %
Change
 
     2007    2006              

Net income

   $ 1.53    $ 1.78     $ (0.25 )   (14 )%

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     0.10      0.19      
                   

Income from continuing operations

     1.63      1.97      

Adjusting items

     0.46      (0.03 )    
                   

Adjusted income from continuing operations

   $ 2.09    $ 1.94     $ 0.15     8 %
                   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted):

     33,340      34,067      
                   

 

* Secondary offering expenses are not deductible for tax purposes; therefore, no tax benefit has been reflected.


Asbury Autogroup

Select Data - Brand Mix

Percent of Light Vehicle New Retail Unit Sales

 

     For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
    For the Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Honda/Acura

   34 %   33 %   34 %   34 %

Nissan/Infiniti

   18 %   18 %   19 %   18 %

Toyota/Lexus

   14 %   16 %   15 %   15 %

Ford

   9 %   9 %   10 %   10 %

General Motors

   6 %   7 %   6 %   7 %

BMW/Mini

   6 %   5 %   5 %   4 %

Mercedes

   5 %   6 %   5 %   5 %

Chrysler

   4 %   4 %   4 %   4 %

Other

   4 %   2 %   2 %   3 %
                        
   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %