As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2001 Registration No. 333- ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ---------- GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 76-0506313 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 950 ECHO LANE, SUITE 100 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) ---------- GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (Full title of the plan) B. B. HOLLINGSWORTH, JR. CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 950 ECHO LANE, SUITE 100 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024 (Name and address of agent for service) (713) 647-5700 (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copy to: John S. Watson Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 2300 First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Houston, Texas 77002-6760 (713) 758-2222 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE <Table> <Caption> ================================================================================================================== PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE PER AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED (1) SHARE(2) OFFERING PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share(3) 500,000 shares $30.26 $15,130,000 $3,616.07 ================================================================================================================== </Table> (1) Under General Instruction E of Form S-8, this registration statement registers an additional 500,000 shares of common stock to be issued under the Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). A registration statement (File No. 333-42165) was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 1997 covering 200,000 shares of common stock to be issued under the Plan, and a registration statement (File No. 333-70043) was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 1998 covering 800,000 shares of common stock to be issued under the Plan. (2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the average of the high and low prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange on December 20, 2001 ($30.26 per share). (3) Each share of common stock includes Rights under our Rights Agreement, which Rights are attached to and trade with our common stock. ================================================================================ PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT Pursuant to the requirements of General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-42165) of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (the "Company") and the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-70043) of the Company are hereby incorporated by reference herein, including each of the documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and including each of the documents filed as Exhibits to such Registration Statement. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. 4.1 Second Amendment to Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 5.1 Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP. 23.2 Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement). SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on the 21st day of December, 2001. GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. By: /s/ B. B. HOLLINGSWORTH, JR. ------------------------------- B. B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints B. B. Hollingsworth, Jr. and Scott L. Thompson or any of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the 21st day of December, 2001. <Table> <Caption> SIGNATURE TITLE --------- ----- /s/ B. B. HOLLINGSWORTH, JR. Chairman, President and - ------------------------------------------ Chief Executive Officer and Director B. B. Hollingsworth, Jr. (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ SCOTT L. THOMPSON Senior Vice President - ------------------------------------------ Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Scott L. Thompson (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ ROBERT E. HOWARD II Director - ------------------------------------------ Robert E. Howard II /s/ JOHN L. ADAMS Director - ------------------------------------------ John L. Adams /s/ JOHN H. DUNCAN Director - ------------------------------------------ John H. Duncan /s/ BENNETT E. BIDWELL Director - ------------------------------------------ Bennett E. Bidwell /s/ KEVIN H. WHALEN Director - ------------------------------------------ Kevin H. Whalen /s/ MAX P. WATSON, JR. Director - ------------------------------------------ Max P. Watson, Jr. </Table> INDEX TO EXHIBITS <Table> <Caption> EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION - ------- ----------- 4.1 Second Amendment to Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 5.1 Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP. 23.3 Consent of Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement). </Table>