Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,”“our”, “Group 1” or “the Company”the “Company” are intended to mean the business and operations of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form(this “Form 10-K”) includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our strategy, future operating performance, future liquidity and availability of financing, capital allocation, the completion of future acquisitions and divestitures, business trends in the retail automotive industry and changes in regulations. When used in this Form 10-K, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and beliefs as of the date of this Form 10-K concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable when and as made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risks set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors.Factors of this Form 10-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no responsibility and expressly disclaim any duty, to update any such statements, whether as a result of new information, new developments or otherwise, or to publicly release the result of any revision of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made, except asto the extent required by law.

The following chart presents total revenues and gross profit contribution from our operations by new vehicles, used vehicles, parts and service and F&I for the year ended December 31, 20222023 (“Current Year”):

The following chart presents our diversity of new vehicle unit sales by manufacturer for the Current Year:

The following table shows our new vehicle unit sales geographic mix for the Current Year and our franchise count as of December 31, 2022:2023:

Our business strategy is built uponon our commitment to maximize the return on investment for our stockholders.stockholders sustainably. We intend to execute our business strategy, underpinned by staying close to our core competencies and focusing on threethe following four key initiatives, each as further described below:components:

At Group 1, growing and improving our operations is fundamental to future success, driven by the success of these initiatives, is our determination to be great partners to those around us, including but not limited to our customers, employees, vendors, OEM partners, philanthropic partnersfollowing key activities:

In 2021 and 2022,to 2023, the retail automotive industry experienced multiple merger and acquisition transactions aimed at further consolidation of the industry.transactions. Despite this increase in merger and acquisition activity, the industry remains fragmented to a significant degree. We believe there will continue to be opportunity for consolidation within the industry. Consistent with our acquisition activity completed in 2021, 2022 and 2022,2023, we intend to pursue growth opportunities in 2023, specifically focusing on brands and dealerships that will provide attractive returns to our dealership portfolio.

Refer to Note 3. Acquisitions and Note 4. Discontinued Operations and Other Divestitures within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements within this Form 10-K, for additional information regarding our acquisitions and dispositions.

TeamworkOperations optimization includes leveraging our dealership’s full potential and Collaborationlocal scale advantage to improve operational efficiency. This includes focusing on operational excellence at each dealership and other facilities, including, but not limited to, standardization of key common processes and taking advantage of shareable business resources. We believe our operations optimization efforts will provide a strategic advantage by structurally lowering our operating costs.

Our customers drive what we do each day, and we seek to identifyprovide them with an industry-leading customer experience, both physically in our stores and implement operational improvements withindigitally. With our dealerships by leveragingexpansive portfolio of brands and service capabilities across significant geographical areas, we believe we can service the uniqueneeds of each and varying experiencesevery member of our U.S. and U.K. automotive retailers.customers’ families. To drive the leading customer experience we endeavor to:

As new and collaboration,innovative tools become available, we are sharing these best-in-class standard practices acrossseek to quickly adopt those that provide a mutual benefit to our U.S.customers and U.K. operations.

With a focus on the aftersales impact on the customer journey, we have and will continue to increase customer retention through more convenient service hours, training of our service advisors, selling service contracts with vehicle sales and customer relationship management software that allows us to provide targeted marketing to our customers.

To help our workforce feel heard and supported, we solicit employee feedback through multiple channels. We leverage our intracompany communication platform, the Meta-based Workplace app, to bring our teams together digitally and provide our leadership team the ability to engage in more frequent, direct communication with our employees. Our online service appointment platformmanagement team routinely visits our stores, meeting with and centralized call centers havesoliciting feedback from employees at all levels. The results of the annual engagement survey and employee discussions inform our overall human capital management methods and other growth strategies.

We recognize the importance of providing support for our employees’ physical, mental and financial wellness. Our market competitive pay and benefits packages include paid family leave, flexible work schedules and a comprehensive health and wellness program. We offer medical, dental and vision insurance plans for employees and dependents, 401(k) matching and an employee stock purchase plan. In select locations, Group 1 also improvedoffers commuter benefits that save employees commuting costs through subsidized public transportation and parking fees. We continue to modify our benefits to maintain competitiveness and to better suit the needs of our diverse employees.

The automotive retail industry is highly competitive across all our service lines. Consumers have a number of choices when deciding where and how to (i) purchase and/or lease a new or used vehicle as well as select related vehicle financing and insurance products; (ii) purchase related parts and accessories; and (iii) procure vehicle maintenance and repair services.

In the new vehicle market, our dealerships compete with other franchised dealerships in their market areas, as well as auto brokers, leasing companies and internet companies that provide referrals to, or broker vehicle sales with, other dealerships or customers. Our principal new vehicle dealer competitors also have franchise agreements with the various vehicle manufacturers and, as such, generally have access to new vehicles on the same terms as we do. We do not have any cost advantage in purchasing new vehicles from vehicle manufacturers, and our current franchise agreements do not grant us the exclusive right to sell a manufacturer’s product within a given geographic area. Several companies are currently manufacturing EVs for sale primarily through the internet, under a direct to consumerdirect-to-consumer model, without using the traditional dealer-network or are considering such a strategy, including some of our manufacturerOEM partners. Certain of our vehicle manufacturers in the U.K. recently transitioned or have announced plans to explore an agency model for selling new vehicles. Under an agency model, our franchised dealerships receive a fee for facilitating the sale of a new vehicle to a customer but no longer record the vehicle sales price as revenue, record vehicles in inventory or incur floorplan interest expense, as has been historical practice. The agency model, if adopted by other manufacturers, would reduce revenues.

In the used vehicle market, our dealerships compete both in their local market and nationally with other franchised dealers, large multi-location used vehicle retailers, local independent used vehicle dealers, automobile rental agencies and private parties for the supply and resale of used vehicles.

We believe the principal competitive factors in the parts and service business are the quality of customer service, timeliness of service, the use of factory-approved replacement parts, familiarity with a manufacturer’s brands and models, location, price, the availability and competence of technicians, and the availability of training programs to enhance such expertise. In the parts and service market, our dealerships compete with other franchised dealers to perform warranty maintenance and repairs, conduct manufacturer recall services and sell factory replacement parts. Our dealerships also compete with other automobile dealers, franchised and independent service center chains and independent repair shops for non-warranty repair and maintenance business. In addition, our dealerships sell replacement and aftermarket parts both locally and nationally in competition with franchised and independent retail and wholesale parts outlets. A number of regional or national chains offer selected parts and services at prices that may be lower than ours. Our collision centers compete with other large, multi-location companies, as well as local, independent, collision service operations.

We believe the principal competitive factors in the F&I business are convenience, interest rates, product availability and affordability, product knowledge, and flexibility in contract length.length and ease of consumer understanding. We face competition in arranging financing for our customers’ vehicle purchases from a broad range of unaffiliated third-party financial institutions. Many financial institutions now offer their own menu of F&I products, providing an alternative to our product offering, which may reduce our profits from the sale of these products through reduced penetration.

Each of our U.S. dealerships operates under one or more franchise agreements with vehicle manufacturers (oror authorized distributors).distributors. The franchise agreements grant the franchised automobile dealership a non-exclusive right to sell the manufacturer’s or distributor’s brand of vehicles and offer related parts and service within a specified market area. These franchise agreements also grant franchised dealerships the right to use the manufacturer’s or distributor’s trademarks in connection with their operations, and impose numerous operational requirements and restrictions relating to, among other things, inventory levels, working capital levels, the sales process, sales performance requirements, customer satisfaction standards, marketing and branding, facility standards and signage, personnel, changes in management, change in control and monthly financial reporting.

Most of our dealerships’ franchise agreements continue indefinitely and those with definite terms are renewed or superseded by a new agreement. Each of our franchise agreements may be terminated or not renewed by the manufacturer for a variety of reasons, including unapproved changes of ownership or management and performance deficiencies in such areas as sales volume, sales effectiveness and customer satisfaction. In most cases, manufacturers have renewed the franchises upon expiration so long as the dealership is in compliance with the terms of the agreement. From time to time, certain manufacturers may assert sales and customer satisfaction performance requirements under the terms of our framework or franchise agreements. We diligently work with theseour manufacturers to address any performance issues.

Our dealership service departments perform vehicle repairs and service for customers under manufacturer warranties. We are reimbursed for thethose repairs and service directly fromby the manufacturer. Some manufacturers offer rebates to new vehicle customers, thatwhich we are required, under specific program rules, to adequately document, support and collect. In addition, some manufacturers provide us with incentives to order and/or sell certain models and/or volumes of inventory over designated periods of time. Under the terms of our dealership franchise agreements, the respective manufacturers are able to perform warranty, incentive and rebate audits and charge us back for unsupported or non-qualifying warranty repairs, rebates or incentives.

In addition to the individual dealership franchise agreements discussed above, we have entered into framework agreements in the U.S. with most major vehicle manufacturers and distributors. These agreements impose a number of restrictions on our operations, including our ability to make acquisitions and obtain financing, and on our management. These agreements also imposecontain change of control provisions related to the ownership of our common stock. For a discussion of these restrictions and the risks related to our relationships with vehicle manufacturers, please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors.

We operate in a highly regulated industry. A number of laws and regulations applicable to automotive companies affect our business and conduct, including, but not limited to our sales, operations, financing, insurance, advertising and employment practices. These laws and regulations include state franchise laws and regulations, consumer protection laws and other extensive laws and regulations applicable to new and used motor vehicle dealers. Additionally, in every jurisdiction in which we operate, we must obtain various permits and licenses in order to conduct our businesses.business.

In general, the U.S. jurisdictions in which we operate have automotive dealership franchise laws, providingwhich generally provide that notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, it is unlawful for a manufacturer or distributor to terminate or not renew a franchise unless “good cause” exists. ItAs a result, it generally is difficult, outside of bankruptcy, for a manufacturer or distributor to terminate, or not renew, a franchise under these laws, which were designed to protect dealers.

The U.K. generally does not have automotive dealership franchise laws and, as a result, our U.K. dealerships operate without these types of specific protections. However, similar protections may be available as a matter of general U.K. contractual law. In addition, our U.K. dealerships are subject to U.K. antitrust rules prohibiting certain restrictions on the sale of new vehicles and spare parts and on the provision of repairs and maintenance. As a matter of 2020 EU law,For instance, authorized dealers are generally able to, subject to manufacturer facility requirements, relocate or add additional facilities, throughout the EU, offer multiple brands in the same facility, allow the operation of service facilities independent of new car sales facilities and ease restrictions on cross supplies (including on transfers of dealerships) between existing authorized dealers within the EU. However, certain restrictions on dealerships may be permissible, providedunder the conditions set out in the relevant EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations are met. TheRegulation, which was retained in U.K. formally exitedlaw following U.K.’s exit from the EU on January 31, 2020, and the EU and the U.K. reached an agreementcertain restrictions on dealerships are permissible in principle as set out in the EU-U.K. Agreement, which became provisionally applicable on January 1, 2021. The EU-U.K. Agreement commits the parties to maintaining antitrust/competition law based on the common principles underlying the respective competition frameworks, and envisages cooperation and coordination between the U.K. and EU competition authorities. Similarly, as of January 1, 2021, the relevant EU Block Exemption Regulations remain in effect under domestic U.K. law, as amended in accordance with the U.K. competition framework.franchise agreements provided certain conditions are met. In JulyOctober 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority of the U.K. published proposed recommendations to introduce an updated U.K. equivalent broadly similar to the EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations currently in effect, but these may be further amended, revoked or extended by subsequentRegulations. The U.K. law.Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation is applicable until May 31, 2029.

We are subject to numerous laws and regulations designed to protect the information of clients, customers, employees and other third parties that we collect and maintain. Some of the more significant regulations that we are required to comply with include the EU’sU.K.’s General Data Protection Regulation (“U.K. GDPR”) and, the California Consumer Privacy Act, (“CCPA”as amended and enhanced effective January 1, 2023 by the California Privacy Rights Act (as so amended, the “CCPA”), and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Safeguards Rule. These regulations provide for various data protection requirements related to protection of customer’s personally identifiable information, notice requirements related to data breaches and obligations to inform a consumer, at or before collection, of the purpose and intended use of the collection, and to delete a consumer’s personal information upon request. If an EU or non-EU organization violates the U.K. GDPR, the organization can be fined up to 4% of annual global turnover or 20 million euros, whichever is greater. Our dealerships in California are required to comply with the CCPA, which became effective in January 2020. The CCPA also allows the California Attorney General to bring actions against non-compliant businesses with fines of $2,500 per violation or, if intentional, up to $7,500 per violation.violation and permits a private right of action for certain violations of laws. The FTC Safeguards Rule contains procedural, technical and personnel requirements that financial institutions, including dealers, must satisfy to meet their information security obligations.

Our business activities in the U.S. and the U.K. are subject to stringent federal, regional, state and local laws, regulations and other controls governing specific health and safety criteria to address worker protection, the release of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. Our operations involve the use, handling and storage of materials such as motor oil and filters, transmission fluids, antifreeze, refrigerants, paints, thinners, batteries, cleaning products, lubricants, degreasing agents, tires and fuel. We contract for recycling and/or disposal of used fluids, filters and other waste materials generated by our operations.

These laws, regulations and controls may impose numerous obligations on our operations including the acquisition of permits to conduct regulated activities, the imposition of restrictions on where or how to manage or dispose of used products and wastes, the incurrenceincurring of capital expenditures to limit or prevent releases of such material, and the imposition of substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations or attributable to former operations. For example, in the U.S., most of our dealerships utilize storage tanks that are subject to testing, containment, upgrading and removal regulations under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, analogous state statutes and their implementing regulations. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and permits may result in the assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory remedial and corrective action obligations or increase of capital expenditures, restrictions, delays and cancellations in permitting or in the performance or expansion of projects and the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing some or all of our operations in affected areas. Additionally, certain environmental laws may result in imposition of joint and several strict liability, which could cause us to become liable as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties. For instance, an accidental release from one of our storage tanks could subject us to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations.

Properties that we now or have in the past owned or leased in the U.S. are subject to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and similar state statutes. These statutes can impose strict and joint and several liability for cleanup costs on those that are considered to have contributed to the release of a hazardous substance, including for historic spills that occurred prior to our ownership of our properties even if we did not know of, or did not cause the release of such hazardous substances. We also are subject to the Clean Water Act, analogous state statutes, and their implementing regulations which, among other things, prohibit discharges of pollutants into regulated waters without permits, require containment of potential discharges of oil or hazardous substances, and require preparation of spill contingency plans. Air emissions from some of our operations, such as vehicle painting, may be subject to the federal Clean Air Act and analogous laws. Laws and regulations protecting the environment are complex and generally become more stringent over time, which may result in increased costs for future environmental compliance and remediation. Comparable laws and regulations have been enacted in the U.K. Certain health and safety standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and related state agencies also apply to our operations.

The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere globally. As a result, numerous proposals have been made and could continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government, in locations affecting our business, to monitor and limit existing emissions of greenhouse gas (“GHG”), as well as to restrict or eliminate such future emissions. Gas and diesel-powered automobiles are one source of GHG emissions and in the recent past, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), together with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), implemented GHG emissions limits on vehicles manufactured for operation in the U.S. On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order recommitting the United States to participation in the Paris Agreement, which is a United Nations-sponsored, non-binding agreement for nations to limit their GHG emissions through individually-determinedindividually determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. The U.K. is similarly committed to the Paris Agreement, and the U.K. announced in late 2020 that it plans to ban sales of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles after 2030.2035. Similar planned bans have been announced in California, New Mexico, Massachusetts and New York. Additional regulation of GHG emissions from the vehicles could increase the cost of the vehicles sold to us. Government bans or restrictions on certain vehicle types could impact the mix of vehicles that we offer for sale. Consumer concerns regarding climate change could also alter consumer preferences and adversely affect our ability to market and sell vehicles. These developments could increase our costs of operation as well as reduce our volume of business.

Vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. are also subject to regulations by the EPA and the NHTSA that establish corporate average fuel economy (“CAFE”) standards applicable to light-duty vehicles. These agencies have finalized more stringent standards for both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles and for increased fuel economy for vehicles in upcoming model years. California and other states have indicated they would pursue more stringent CAFE and GHG standards than required by current EPA and NHTSA standards. Comparable laws and regulations have been enacted in the U.K, including updated standards for cars, vans and heavy-duty trucks for upcoming model years. Our OEMs require lead time to prepare new vehicle models and more stringent regulations could result in increased costs and time constraints or result in our OEMs deciding to increase production targets of EVs in anticipation of such regulations. These developments could also significantly increase our costs of operation as well as reduce our volume of business. For additional information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors within this Form 10-K.

Our operations expose us to the risk of various liabilities, including:

The automotive retailing business is also subject to substantial risk of real and personal property loss as a result of significant concentration of real and personal property values at dealership locations. Under self-insurance programs, we retain various levels of risk associated with aggregate loss limits and per claim deductibles. In certain cases, we insure costs in excess of our retained risk under various contracts with third-party insurance carriers. Although we believe our insurance coverage is adequate, we cannot assurebe assured that we will not be exposed to uninsured losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We are also subject to potential premium cost fluctuations and changes in loss retention limits with the annual renewal of these programs.

For further discussion, refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors, within this Form 10-K.

In 2022, we launched the Meta-based Workplace app, an all-in-one communication platform that keeps our employees across the U.S. and U.K. up-to-dateup to date on the latest company news and brings our teams together digitally. The platform offers our executive team the ability to engage in direct and more frequent, real-time communication with our employees. The features of the platform include targeted announcement capabilities, company documents like policies, guidelines and benefits plans, and quick access to employee and department directories. We believe that working together is critical to prepare for coming opportunities and changes affecting us internally and externally.

We routinely create and offer a variety ofdepartment or job-specific training courses and professional development opportunities to employees based on job categories, including a management training program and a technician training program.meet employees’ needs. In addition to job specific courses, we also offer leadership training. Employees have opportunities for various certification levels based on training completed and tenure. We have also developed a management training program and a technician training program to attract talent to the automotive industry. In addition to providing career growth pathways for employees, annually our Board of Directors reviews management’s succession planning for key positions throughout the organization.

We maintain a DEI council that is chaired by our Chief Diversity Officer. The council’s mission is to foster a diverse and inclusive culture where employees of all backgrounds are respected, valued and developed. We enhance employee engagement in DEI by offering training, recruitment and career path development where a sense of belonging is apparent throughout the organization. The council has four primary areas of focus: Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Community Building and Women in the Workplace. The council consists of a diverse group of employees, providing representation across the organization. Each area has an employee chairperson, as well as an executive sponsor. In addition, employees participate in on-goingvarious diversity and inclusion training programs which were specifically developed for the Company.

We are committed towards a more sustainable future by working to improve various aspects of our business in the ESG areas most relevant to us, our stakeholders and our industry. With oversight from our Board of Directors,Beginning in 2021 we performed a thorough review of our business operations pertaining to: hiring practices, equal pay, promotional practices, health and safety, health insurance, community impact and environmental impact. Building off this analysis, we performed a second assessment in 2022.

Our commitment to sustainability includes reducingcenters on seeking to reduce waste and our impact on the environment and doing our share to contribute to a healthier planet.collective environmental impact. We look for opportunities to reduce our energy consumption, eliminate waste and accommodate the growing EV market.

The widespread adoption of EVs has accelerated in recent years. We are continuously workingcertified in EV service and repair. We have equipped our facilities with our OEM partners and third-party construction consultants to enhance the buying experience in our facilities.

Our Board of Directors has four standing committees to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities: the Audit Committee, the Compensation &and Human Resources Committee, the Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee and the Finance/Risk Management Committee.

Our Governance and& Corporate Responsibility Committee advises the Board of Directors on appropriate corporate governance guidelines and has direct oversight of our ESG policies and practices. Other Board of Directors’ committees also play a role in ESG, having oversight responsibilities across areas such asESG: our Finance/Risk Management Committee oversees our Enterprise Risk Management processes and cybersecurity matters, our Compensation & Human Resources Committee oversees human capital management and health &and safety matters and corporate risk management. In addition,our Audit Committee oversees financial reporting, legal and regulatory compliance risks. Additionally, our management team and cross-functional subject matter experts are responsible for the implementation of our ESG strategy, initiatives and communications.

We believe the composition ofTo improve business performance, better serve our Board of Directorscustomers and communities and enhance our competitive advantage, Group 1 is critical tofocused on hiring and developing a talented, diverse workforce. This starts with our success.Board. As the CompanyGroup 1 continues to evolve, so do the perspectives, skills and experiences that the Board of Directors seeks in its director nominees. Since 2016, we have welcomed five new independent directors, eachWe believe the composition of whom brings extensive experience and fresh perspectivesour Board is critical to enrich the Board of Directors’ dialogue and enhance its ability to effectively oversee our business. One-thirdsuccess. As such, one-third of our directors are women, all of whom serve as committee chairs, and two of our members are non-U.S. citizens.chairs.

Much of our Board of Directors’ oversight work is delegated to various committees, which meet regularly and report back to the full Board. All committees have significant roles in carrying out the risk oversight function. Each committee is comprised entirely of independent directors (except the Finance/Risk Management Committee) and oversees risks associated with its respective area of responsibility.

At the corporate level, we established a Safety and Risk Steering Committee, which reviews the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management system, including a review of policies and profiles of financial and non-financial risks.

We track and identify new and emerging risks, and to the extent they affect or could potentially affect our business, we develop action plans with assigned sponsors to address and mitigate that risk. We use an internal process to help identify if we have enough controls in place to properly manage each risk.

Our operating results are generally subject to seasonal variations, as well as changes in the economic environment. In the U.S., we generally experience higher volumes of vehicle sales and service in the second and third calendar quarters of each year. In addition, in some regions of the U.S., vehicle purchases decline during the winter months due to inclement weather. In the U.K., the first and third quarters tend to be stronger, driven by the vehicle license plate change months of March and September. Other factors unrelated to seasonality, such as changes in economic conditions, manufacturer incentive programs, supply issues, seasonal weather events and/or changes in foreign currency exchange rates may exaggerate seasonal or cause counter-seasonal fluctuations in our revenues and operating income. 

TheA shortage of new vehicle supply in 2022 and much of 2023, led by a global semiconductor and other parts shortage, as well as the current risinghigh inflation and increasinghigh interest rate environment, has and could continue to leadrates led to a deviation from historical seasonal variations. As a result, historical seasonal variation patterns may not be an appropriate indicator of current and future trends in seasonal variations.

References to the Company'sCompany’s website in this Form 10-K are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be deemed, an incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the website, and such information should not be considered part of this Form 10-K.

The following risks have had or in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The automotive retail industry, and especially new vehicle unit sales, is influenced by general economic conditions, particularly consumer confidence, the level of personal discretionary spending, interest rates, exchange rates, fuel prices, technology and business model changes, supply conditions, consumer transportation preferences, unemployment rates and credit availability. Consumer spending can be materially and adversely impacted by periods of economic uncertainty or by consumer concern about manufacturer viability.

RisingSustained inflation, increased energy costs and a prolonged recession could adversely impact our operations, the operations of our suppliers and customer demand for our vehicles and services. Continued interest rate increases or the maintenance of interest rates at current levels could have a material adverse impact on our interest expense and ability to obtain financing through the debt markets, as well as consumers’ ability to obtain financing for the purchase of new and used vehicles. Refer to Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for additional analysis regarding our interest rate sensitivity.

During the Current Year, closures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank and their placement into receivership with the FDIC created bank-specific and broader financial institution liquidity risk concerns. The Russian invasion of UkraineFDIC, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the retaliatory measures imposed byU.S. Department of the U.S., U.K., EUTreasury jointly announced that depositors at Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank would have access to their funds, even those in excess of the standard FDIC insurance limits.

Although we are not a party to any transactions with Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank or any other countriesfinancial institution currently in receivership, we maintain cash and floorplan offset balances at banks and third-party financial institutions in excess of FDIC insurance limits. If any of our lenders or counterparties to any of our financial instruments were to be placed into receivership or become insolvent, our ability to access our capital and liquidity and process transactions could be impaired and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition. In addition, if any of our suppliers, customers or other parties with whom we conduct business are unable to access funds or lending arrangements with relevant financial institutions, such parties’ ability to pay their obligations to us or to enter into new arrangements with us could be adversely affected. In the responsesevent of Russia to such measures have caused significant disruptions to domestic and foreign economies.

We rely on the positive cash flow we generate from our operations and our access to the credit and capital markets to fund our operations, growth strategy, and return of cash to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Changes in the credit and capital markets, including market disruptions, limited liquidity and interest rate fluctuations, may increase the cost of financing or restrict our access to these potential sources of future liquidity. Our continued access to liquidity sources on favorable terms depends on multiple factors, including our operating performance and credit ratings. Our debt securities currently are rated just below investment-grade and a downgrade of this rating likely would negatively impact our access to the debt markets and increase our cost of borrowing. Disruptions in the debt markets or any downgrade of our credit ratings could adversely affect our operations and financial condition and our ability to finance acquisitions or return cash to our shareholders. We can make no assurances that our ability to obtain additional financing through the debt markets will not be adversely affected by economic conditions or that we will be able to maintain or improve our current credit ratings.

Our common stock is traded publicly, and various securities analysts follow our financial results and frequently issue reports on the Company which include information about our historical financial results as well as their estimates of our future performance. These estimates are based on their own opinions and are often different from management’s estimates or expectations of our business. If our operating results are below the estimates or expectations of public market analysts and the expectations of our investors, our stock price could decline.decline, adversely affecting, among other things, our access to capital and investor confidence in management and those charged with governance.

The success of our dealerships is dependent on vehicle manufacturers whom we rely exclusively on for our new vehicle inventory. Our ability to sell new vehicles is dependent on a vehicle manufacturer’s ability to produce and allocate to our dealerships an attractive, high quality and desirable product mix at the right time in order to satisfy customer demand.     

Manufacturers generally support their franchisees by providing direct financial assistance in various areas, including, among others, incentives, floorplan assistance and advertising assistance. A discontinuation or change in our manufacturers’ warranty and incentive programs could adversely affect our business. Manufacturers also provide product warranties and, in some cases, service contracts to customers. Our dealerships perform warranty and service contract work for vehicles under manufacturer product warranties and service contracts and we bill the manufacturer directly as opposed to invoicing the customer. In addition, we rely on manufacturers for various financing programs, OEM replacement parts, training, up-to-date product design, development of advertising materials and programs and other items necessary for the success of our dealerships.

Vehicle manufacturers may be adversely impacted by economic downturns or recessions, significant declines in the sales of their new vehicles, increases in interest rates, adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates, declines in their credit ratings, reductions in access to capital or credit, labor strikes or similar disruptions (including within their major suppliers), supply shortages, rising raw material costs, rising employee benefit costs, adverse publicity that may reduce consumer demand for their products, including due to bankruptcy, product defects, litigation, ability to keep up with technology and business model changes, poor product mix or unappealing vehicle design, governmental laws and regulations, natural disasters or other adverse events. In particular, all of our OEMs are investing material amounts to develop electric and autonomous vehicles. These investments could cause financial strain on our OEMs or fail to deliver attractive vehicles for customers which could lead to adverse impacts on our business. The OEMs have been and could continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact ondisruptions to the economy, lower than anticipated EV adoption, delays in increasing factory production, labor negotiations, parts shortages, including semiconductor chips, and other disruptions. These and other risks could materially adversely affect the financial condition of any manufacturer and impact its ability to profitably design, market, produce or distribute new vehicles, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

During the Current Year, the majority of our manufacturers’ production continued at reduced levels as a result of global semiconductor and other parts shortages. Despite recent improvements in production by certain manufacturers driving an improvement in vehicles days’ supply, our new vehicle inventory continues to be impacted compared to historical levels. Our new vehicle days’ supply of inventory was approximately 2437 days as of the Current Year,December 31, 2023, as compared to 1224 days and 5312 days for the years ended December 31, 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively. It is impossible to predict with certainty the duration of the production issues or when normalized production will resume at these manufacturers. If our manufacturers’ production remains at current reduced levels or in some cases continues to decline, diminishing our ability to meet the immediate needs of our customers, the production shortage could have a material adverse impact on our financial and operating results.

Additionally, many U.S. manufacturers of vehicles, parts and supplies are dependent on imported products and raw materials in their production. Any significant increase in existing tariffs on such goods and raw materials, or implementation of new tariffs, could adversely affect our profits on the vehicles we sell.

We are dependent on our relationships with manufacturers, which exercise a great degree of influence over our operations through the franchise agreements. Our franchise agreements may be terminated or not renewed by the manufacturer for a variety of reasons, including any unapproved changes of ownership or management, sales and customer satisfaction performance deficiencies and other material breaches of the franchise agreements. Manufacturers may also have a right of first refusal if we seek to sell dealerships. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that the terms of any renewals will be as favorable to us as our current agreements. Although we are generally protected by automotive dealership franchise laws requiring “good cause” be shown for such termination, if such an instance occurs, we cannot guarantee that the termination of the franchise will not be successful.

A manufacturer may also limit the number of its dealerships that we may own overall or the number that we may own in a particular geographic area. Delays in obtaining, or failing to obtain, manufacturer approvals and franchise agreements for dealership acquisitions could adversely affect our acquisition program. From time to time, we have not met all of the manufacturers’ requirements to make acquisitions and have received requests from manufacturers to dispose of certain of our dealerships. In the event one or more of our manufacturers sought to prohibit future acquisitions or imposed requirements to dispose of one or more of our dealerships, our acquisition and growth strategy could be adversely affected. Moreover, our franchise agreements do not give us the exclusive right to sell a manufacturer’s product within a given geographic area. Subject to state laws in the U.S. that are generally designed to protect dealers, a manufacturer may grant another dealer a franchise to start a new dealership near one of our locations, or an existing dealership may move its dealership to a location that would more directly compete against us. The location of new dealerships near our existing dealerships could have a material and adverse effect on our operations and reduce the profitability of our existing dealerships. Furthermore, if current manufacturers or future manufacturers are not required to conduct their business in accordance with state franchise laws and thereby circumvent the current dealer-network to sell directly to the customer, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

The automotive retail industry is highly competitive. Within our markets we are subject to competition from franchised automotive dealerships and other businesses as it relates to new and used vehicles, F&I, and parts and service, as well as acquisitions.service. The internet has become a significant part of the advertising and sales process in our industry. Customers are using the internet to compare prices for new and used vehicles, automotive repair and maintenance services, finance and insurance products and other automotive products. If we are unable to effectively use the internet to attract customers to our own online channels, such as our AcceleRide® platform, and mobile applications, and, in turn, to our stores, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. The growing use of social media by consumers increases the speed and extent that information and opinions can be shared, and negative posts or comments on social media about the Company or any of our dealerships could damage our reputation and brand names, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We also face competition in arranging financing for our customers’ vehicle purchases from a broad range of financial institutions. Additionally, we do not have any cost advantage in purchasing new vehicles from vehicle manufacturers, and our franchise agreements do not grant us the exclusive right to sell a manufacturer’s product within a given geographic area. Subject to state laws in the U.S. that are generally designed to protect dealers, a manufacturer may grant another dealer a franchise to start a new dealership near one of our locations, or an existing dealership may move its dealership to a location that would more directly compete against us. The location of new dealerships near our existing dealerships could have a material and adverse effect on our operations and reduce the profitability of our existing dealerships. Increased competition can adversely impact our sales volumes and margins as well as our ability to acquire dealerships.

Please see Item 1. Business — Competition for further discussion of competition in our industry.

Volatile fuel prices have affected and may continue to affect consumer preferences in connection with the purchase of our vehicles. Rising fuel prices result in consumers being less likely to purchase larger, more expensive vehicles, such as sports utility vehicles or luxury automobiles, and more likely to purchase smaller, less expensive and more fuel efficientfuel-efficient vehicles. Conversely, lower fuel prices could have the opposite effect. Sudden changes in customer preferences make maintenance of an optimal mix of large and small vehicle inventory a challenge. Further increases or sharp declines in fuel prices could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

With a potential increase in demand by consumers for EVs, and government support for such actions, certain manufacturers have also announced increasedplans to increase production focus on the manufacture of fuel efficientfuel-efficient vehicles and EVs. As more EVs potentially enter the market, and internal combustion or diesel engine vehicle production is reduced, it will be necessary to adapt to such changes by selling and servicing these units effectively in order to meet consumer demands and support the profitability of our dealerships. We may not be able to accurately predict, prepare for and respond to new kinds of technological innovations with respect to EV and other technologies that minimize emissions. If maintenance costs of EVs were to substantially decrease, this could have a material adverse effect on our parts and service revenues. If consumer demand increases for fuel efficient vehicles or EVs and our manufacturers are not able to adapt and produce vehicles that meet the customer demands or we are unable to align with the manufacturers of these vehicles, such events could adversely affect our new and used vehicle sales volumes, parts and service revenues and our results of operations.

Growth in our revenues and earnings partially depends on our ability to acquire new dealerships and successfully integrate those dealerships into our existing operations. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify and acquire dealerships in the future. In addition, we cannot guarantee that any acquisitions will be successful or on terms and conditions consistent with past acquisitions. Restrictions imposed by our manufacturers, as well as covenants contained in our debt instruments, may directly or indirectly limit our ability to acquire additional dealerships. IncreasedAs competition for acquisitions increases that may develop, which could result in fewer acquisition opportunities available to us and/or higher acquisition prices, and some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than us.

In addition, managing and integrating additional dealerships into our existing mix of dealerships may result in substantial costs, diversion of our management’s attention, delays or other operational or financial problems. Acquisitionsacquisitions involve a number of special risks, including, among other things:

If any of these factors limits our ability to integrate acquired dealerships into our operations successfully or on a timely basis, our expectations regarding future results of operations, including certain run-rate revenue and expense synergies expected to result from acquisitions, might not be met. As a result, we may not be able to realize the expected benefits that we seek to achieve from the acquisitions. In addition, we may be required to spend additional time or money on integration that otherwise would be spent on the development and expansion of our business, including efforts to further expand our product portfolio.

Vehicle technology advancements are occurring at an accelerating pace. These include driver assist functionality, autonomous vehicle development and rideshare and vehicle co-ownership business models. Many in the automotive industry believe that in the near future vehicles will be available to the automotive consumer at low usage costs, which may entice many vehicle owners, particularly in larger, highly populated areas, to abandon individual car ownership in favor of multiple co-ownership ride-sharing opportunities. Increased popularity in the ride-sharing subscription business model could adversely affect our new and used vehicle sales volumes, parts and service revenues and results of operations.

In the ordinary course of business, we receive significant PII about our customers and our employees. A security incident to obtain such information could be caused by malicious insiders and third parties using sophisticated, targeted methods to circumvent firewalls, encryption and other security defenses, including hacking, fraud, trickery, or other forms of deception. Although many companies across many industries are affected by malicious efforts to obtain access to PII, the automotive dealership industry has been a particular target of identity thieves. The techniques used by cyber attackers change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. We have implemented security measures that are designed to detect and protect against cyberattacks.

Despite these measures and any additional measures we may implement or adopt in the future, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, have been and are vulnerable to security breaches, computer viruses, lost or misplaced data, programming errors, scams, ransomware, burglary, human errors, acts of vandalism, misdirected wire transfers or other events. If an unauthorized party is successful in obtaining trade secrets, PII, confidential, or otherwise protected information of our dealerships or our customers or in disrupting our operations through a cyberattack, the attack could result in loss of revenue, increase costs of doing business, negatively affect customer satisfaction and loyalty, and expose us to negative publicity. In addition, security breaches and other security incidents could expose us to a risk of loss or exposure of this information, which could result in potential liability, investigations, regulatory fines, penalties for violation of applicable laws or regulations, costs related to remediation or the payment of ransom, and litigation including individual claims or consumer class actions, administrative, and civil or criminal investigations or actions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, we are subject to numerous laws and regulations designed to protect the information of clients, customers, employees and other third parties that we collect and maintain. See Item 1. Business — Governmental Regulations for information on our risks related to compliance with such laws and regulations.

The operation of automobile dealerships is subject to a broad variety of risks. While we have insurance on our real property, comprehensive coverage for our vehicle inventory, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, employee dishonesty coverage, cybersecurity breach insurance, employment practices liability insurance, pollution coverage and errors and omissions insurance in connection with vehicle sales and financing activities, we are self-insured for a portion of our potential liabilities. We purchase insurance policies for worker’s compensation, liability, auto physical damage, property, pollution, employee medical benefits and other risks consisting of large deductibles and/or self-insured retentions.

In certain instances, our insurance may not fully cover an insured loss depending on the magnitude and nature of the claim. Additionally, changes in the cost of insurance or the availability of insurance in the future could substantially increase our costs to maintain our current level of coverage or could cause us to reduce our insurance coverage and increase the portion of our risks that we self-insure.

The insurance companies that underwrite our insurance require that we secure certain of our obligations for self-insured exposures with collateral. Our collateral requirements are set by the insurance companies and, to date, have been satisfied by posting surety bonds, letters of credit and/or cash deposits. Our collateral requirements may change from time to time based on, among other things, our total insured exposure and the related self-insured retention assumed under the policies. We are subject to potential premium cost fluctuations with the annual renewal of these programs.

Some of our dealerships are concentrated in states and regions in the U.S. and U.K., in which actual or threatened natural disasters and severe weather events (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, snowstorms, flooding, tornados, and hail storms)hailstorms) have in the past, and may in the future, disrupt our dealership operations. A disruption in our operations maycan adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition to business interruption, the automotive retailing business is subject to substantial risk of property loss due to the significant concentration of property value at dealership locations. Natural disasters and severe weather events have in the past, and may in the future, impair the value of our dealership property.property and other assets. Although we have, subject to certain limitations and exclusions, substantial insurance, including business interruption insurance, we may be exposed to uninsured losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, should we suffer significant losses in a short period of time, we run the risk that our premiums and/or deductibles could increase, which could adversely affect our business.

We have operations in the U.K. and as a result, we face political and economic risks and uncertainties with respect to our international operations. These risks may include, but are not limited to:

New laws and regulations at the state and federal level may be enacted which could materially adversely impact our business. For example, in 2022,December 2023, the FTC proposedadopted new regulations for automotive dealers that would prohibit a wide range of current industry-accepted sales practices with regard to sales and advertising of our vehicles and products, require an extensive series of both oral and written disclosures to be made at the initial contact in regard to the sale price of vehicles, financial terms and voluntary protection products, mandate the posting of certain pricing and other information on dealer websites, and impose burdensome recordkeeping requirements. Failurerequirements (the “CARS Rule”). While litigation has stayed the implementation of the CARS Rule, if implemented our failure to adhere to these new policies could subject the Company to significant monetary and other penalties or require us to make adjustments to our products and services, any or all of which could result in lost revenues, increased expenses and substantial adverse publicity. These changes, if adopted as proposed, may lead to additional transaction times for the sale of vehicles, complicate the transaction process, decrease customer satisfaction, and impose recordkeeping burdens on our employees, among other effects. If these regulations were to be enacted, it could have an adverse effect on our business and profitability. Future legislation and regulations and changes in existing legislation and regulations, or interpretations thereof, could cause additional expenditures, tax liabilities, restrictions and delays in connection with our current business as well as future projects, the extent of which cannot be predicted.

A number of laws and regulations applicable to automotive companies affect our business and conduct, including, but not limited to, our sales, operations, financing, insurance, advertising and employment practices. Other rules such as franchise laws and regulations, consumer protection laws and other extensive laws and regulations apply to new and used motor vehicle dealers. Additionally, in every jurisdiction in which we operate, we must obtain various permits and licenses in order to conduct our businesses.business. From time to time, various regulatory agencies conduct reviews of business practices that impact our industry, like the Financial Conduct Authority’s ongoing industry investigation into customer complaints related to financing transactions, which was extended on January 11, 2024. Any failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil or criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory remedial obligations or the issuance of injunctions limiting or prohibiting our operations.

Refer to Item 1. Business — Governmental Regulations for further discussion of automotive and other laws and regulations impacting our business.

Our business activities in the U.S. and U.K. are subject to stringent federal, regional, state and local laws, regulations and other controls governing specific health and safety criteria to address worker protection, the release of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. These laws, regulations and controls may impose numerous obligations upon our operations including the acquisition of permits to conduct regulated activities, the imposition of restrictions on where or how to manage or dispose of used products and wastes, the occurrence of capital expenditures to limit or prevent releases of such material and the imposition of substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations or attributable to former operations. Our compliance with these regulations may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.

With a potential increase in demand by consumers for EVs, and government support for such actions, we will incur costs and liabilities to sell and service EVs, including, but not limited to, personal protective equipment for employees, capital expenditures for specialized tools and equipment, service shop space and battery storage costs.

Additionally, vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. and U.K. are subject to varying guidelines, laws and regulations adopted by their applicable governmental and administrative agencies, which include GHG emissions and CAFE standards in the U.S. Such standards may affect our manufacturers’ ability to produce cost effective vehicles, which may have a material adverse effect on our sales.

Refer to Item 1. Business — Governmental Regulations for further discussion of environmental and regulations impacting our business.

The implementation of new SEC rules and regulations and accounting standards could require certain systems, internal processprocesses and controls and other changes that could increase our operating costs, and result in changes to our financial statements.

U.S. GAAP and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by our management. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or in underlying management assumptions, estimates or judgments could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance. The outcome of such changes could include litigation or regulatory actions which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Management has designed and implemented, and periodically reviews and updates, our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. While we have not experienced a material failure of our internal controls, any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures, or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

None.

For discussion of our legal proceedings, refer to Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies within our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Not Applicable.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GPI.” There were 3634 holders of record of our common stock as of February 10, 2023.5, 2024. A substantially greater number of holders of our common stock are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

Future share repurchases are subject to the business judgment of our Board of Directors, taking into consideration our historical and projected results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, covenant compliance, changes in laws and regulations, current economic environment and other factors considered relevant. As of December 31, 2022,2023, we had $163.4$143.3 million available under our current stock repurchase authorization. Refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations within this Form 10-K for additional information on share repurchases and authorization.

The following graph and table compares the performance of our common stock to the S&P 500 Index and to an industry peer group for our last five fiscal years. The members of the peer group are Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., AutoNation, Inc., Lithia Motors, Inc., Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and Sonic Automotive, Inc. The information contained in the table below was provided by Zack’s Investment Research, Inc.

The returns of each member of the peer group are weighted according to each member’s stock market capitalization. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and the peer group was $100 on the last trading day of December 2017,2018, and that all dividends were reinvested.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Part I, including the matters set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors, and our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Refer to Item 1. Business — General for an overview of our operations. Additionally, refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 20212022 Annual Report on Form 10-K for management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal year 20212022 compared to fiscal year 2020.2021.

Our operating results reflect the combined performance of each of our interrelated business activities. Historically, various facets of our business have been directly or indirectly impacted by a variety of supply/demand factors, including vehicle inventories, consumer confidence, consumer transportation preferences, discretionary spending levels, availability and affordability of consumer credit, new vehicle introductions and innovations, manufacturer incentives, the COVID-19 pandemic, weather patterns, fuel prices, inflation and interest rates. For example, during periods of sustained economic downturn or significant supply/demand imbalances, new vehicle sales may be negatively impacted as consumers tend to shift their purchases to used vehicles. Some consumers may delay their purchasing decisions altogether, electing instead to continue to maintain and repair their existing vehicles. In such cases, however, we believe the new vehicle sales impact on our overall business is mitigated by our ability to offer other products and services, such as used vehicles and parts, as well as maintenance, repair and collision services. In addition, our ability to expediently adjust our cost structure in response to changes in new vehicle sales volumes also tempers any negative impact of such sales volume changes.

The Russia and Ukraine Conflict and other geopolitical conflicts, as well as related international responses, have exacerbated inflationary pressures, including causing increases in the prices for goods and services and global supply chain disruptions, which have resulted and may continue to result in shortages in materials and services. Such shortages have resulted and may continue to result in inflationary cost increases for labor, fuel, materials and services, and could continue to cause costs to increase as well as result in the scarcity of certain materials. In particular, the Russia and Ukraine Conflict further impacted the ability of certain OEMs to produce new vehicles and new vehicle parts, which resulted in continued disruptions to the supply of new and used vehicles in 2022.

Refer to Note 1. Basis of Presentation, Consolidation and Summary of Accounting Policies within our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The preparation of our 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. Below are the accounting policies and estimates that have been determined to be critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations.

We are organized into two geographic regions, the U.S. region and the U.K. region; each region represents a reporting unit for the purpose of assessing goodwill for impairment. In addition to goodwill, we have identifiable intangibles in the form of rights under our franchise agreements with manufacturers, which are recorded at an individual dealership level.

We evaluate goodwill and intangible franchise rights for impairment annually as of October 31, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment has occurred. We have the option of performing a qualitative assessment of impairment to determine whether any further quantitative assessment for impairment is necessary. The option of whether or not to perform a qualitative assessment is made annually and may vary by reporting unit. If we elect to bypass the qualitative assessment or if we determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, a quantitative test would be required.

Refer to Note 12. Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill within our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our intangibles, including fair value assumptions.

The “same store” amounts presented below include the results of dealerships and corporate headquarters for the identical months in each comparative period, commencing with the first full month in which we owned the dealership. Amounts related to divestitures are excluded from each comparative period, ending with the last full month in which we owned the dealership. Same store results provide a measurement of our ability to grow revenues and profitability of our existing stores and also provide a metric for peer group comparisons. For these reasons, same store results allow management to manage and monitor the performance of the business and is also useful to investors.

We evaluate our results of operations on both an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our underlying business and results of operations, consistent with how we evaluate our performance. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our current period reported results for entities reporting in currencies other than USD using comparative period exchange rates rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods. The constant currency performance measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Additionally, we caution investors not to place undue reliance on non-GAAP measures, but also to consider them with the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. Our management also uses constant currency and adjusted net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities in conjunction with U.S. GAAP financial measures to assess our business, including communication with our Board of Directors, investors and industry analysts concerning financial performance. We disclose these non-GAAP measures and the related reconciliations because we believe investors use these metrics in evaluating longer-term period-over-period performance. These metrics also allow investors to better understand and evaluate the information used by management to assess operating performance.

Certain amounts in the financial statements may not compute due to rounding. All computations have been calculated using unrounded amounts for all periods presented.

The following tables summarize our operating results on a reported basis and on a same store basis for the Current Year, as compared to the Prior Year.