FA Play

NEW YORK, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. , one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Income from continuing operations for the first quarter was $11.2 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $15.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in last year’s quarter. Last year’s results have been adjusted for non-core items, as disclosed in the attached tables, including $0.32 per diluted share in charges related to a debt refinancing and $0.05 per share related to the retirement of the Company’s previous CEO. Including these items, income from continuing operations in last year’s first quarter was $2.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. Net income for the first quarter totaled $10.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared with $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in last year’s quarter, including the non-core items discussed above.
President and CEO Charles R. Oglesby said, “Our performance for the quarter reflected a soft environment for vehicle sales, especially in Florida and California, as well as weather conditions during March in several of our markets that disrupted our operations, particularly in parts and service. However, our expense reduction initiatives delivered in excess of plan, partially offsetting our lower gross profit and keeping us on target with our previous guidance range for 2008 diluted earnings per share of $1.80 to $2.00.”
J. Gordon Smith, Senior Vice President and CFO, added, “We made further progress during the first quarter in aligning expenses with our reduced gross profit levels. Same-store personnel and advertising costs were down 6% and 15%, respectively, from a year ago. While the near-term outlook for vehicle sales is clearly challenging, we believe that our expense reductions have put Asbury in a good position to weather the storm.”
Mr. Oglesby concluded, “Despite the current weakness in the new vehicle market, the longer term demographic trends continue to be favorable for Asbury. Census data shows that the population in 17 of our 22 local markets, representing 83% of our total revenue, grew faster than the national average in 2007. And, during the first quarter of 2008, U.S. vehicle sales continued to migrate towards mid-line import brands, which now make up 60% of Asbury’s new vehicle retail sales. We remain committed to our long-term strategy, building on our foundation of strong brands and growing markets through selective acquisitions, and continuing to return capital to our shareholders through our dividend.”
Asbury will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter results this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto or . In addition, a live audio of the call will be accessible to the public by calling (888) 632-5023 (domestic), or (913) 312-0656 (international); no access code is necessary. Callers should dial in approximately 5-10 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 90 retail auto stores, encompassing 122 franchises for the sale and servicing of 36 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 guidance, acquisition performance and projections regarding the Company’s financial position, results of operations, market position, potential future acquisitions and business strategy. 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 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. 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 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.
Investors May Contact:
Keith R. Style
V.P.-Finance and Investor Relations
(212) 885-2530

Reporters May Contact:
Stephanie Lowenthal
RF|Binder Partners
(212) 994-7619

[Tables Follow]

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
REVENUES:
New vehicle $737.2 $815.1
Used vehicle 326.1 373.6
Parts and service 183.5 173.2
finance and insurance, net 38.6 38.2
Total revenues 1,285.4 1,400.1

COST OF SALES:
New vehicle 688.7 756.1
Used vehicle 297.7 337.8
Parts and service 90.3 84.2
Total cost of sales 1,076.7 1,178.1
GROSS PROFIT 208.7 222.0

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative 168.3 171.7
Depreciation and amortization 5.5 5.3
Other operating expense (income), net (0.3) 2.7
Income from operations 35.2 42.3

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Floor plan interest expense (9.1) (11.1)
Other interest expense (9.1) (11.8)
Interest income 1.0 2.0
Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt - (17.7)
Total other expense, net (17.2) (38.6)
Income before income taxes 18.0 3.7

INCOME TAX EXPENSE 6.8 1.4
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 11.2 2.3

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, net of tax (0.7) (1.9)
NET INCOME $10.5 $0.4

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic-
Continuing operations $0.35 $0.07
Discontinued operations (0.02) (0.06)
Net Income $0.33 $0.01

Diluted-
Continuing operations $0.35 $0.07
Discontinued operations (0.02) (0.06)
Net Income $0.33 $0.01

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic 31.8 33.3
Diluted 32.3 34.2

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Selected Data
(Dollars in millions, except per vehicle data)
(Unaudited)

As Reported for the
Three Months Ended March 31, Increase %
2008 2007 (Decrease) Change
VEHICLES SOLD:
New retail units -
light vehicles 21,910 23,020 (1,110) (5%)
New retail units -
heavy trucks 607 1,017 (410) (40%)
Total new retail
units 22,517 24,037 (1,520) (6%)
Fleet units 1,631 2,575 (944) (37%)
Total new units 24,148 26,612 (2,464) (9%)

Used retail units 13,889 16,369 (2,480) (15%)
REVENUE:
New retail -
light vehicles $666.9 51.9% $708.3 50.6% $(41.4) (6%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 36.6 2.8% 58.7 4.2% (22.1) (38%)
Total new retail 703.5 54.7% 767.0 54.8% (63.5) (8%)
Used retail 251.9 19.6% 292.9 20.9% (41.0) (14%)
Parts and service 183.5 14.3% 173.2 12.4% 10.3 6%
finance and
insurance, net 38.6 3.0% 38.2 2.7% 0.4 1%
Total retail
revenue 1,177.5 1,271.3 (93.8) (7%)
Fleet 33.7 2.6% 48.1 3.4% (14.4) (30%)
Wholesale 74.2 5.8% 80.7 5.8% (6.5) (8%)
Total revenue $1,285.4 100.0% $1,400.1 100.0% $(114.7) (8%)
GROSS PROFIT
New retail - light
vehicles $46.3 22.2% $54.7 24.6% $(8.4) (15%)
New retail - heavy
trucks 1.7 0.8% 3.2 1.4% (1.5) (47%)
Total new retail 48.0 23.0% 57.9 26.0% (9.9) (17%)
Used retail 28.8 13.8% 35.3 15.9% (6.5) (18%)
Parts and service 93.2 44.7% 89.0 40.2% 4.2 5%
finance and
insurance, net 38.6 18.5% 38.2 17.2% 0.4 1%
Total retail
gross profit 208.6 220.4 (11.8) (5%)
Fleet 0.5 0.2% 1.1 0.5% (0.6) (55%)
Wholesale (0.4) (0.2%) 0.5 0.2% (0.9) (180%)
Total gross
profit $208.7 100.0% $222.0 100.0% $(13.3) (6%)
SG&A expenses $168.3 $171.7 $(3.4) (2%)
SG&A expenses as a
percentage of gross
profit 80.6% 77.3% 3.3 4%

REVENUE PER VEHICLE
RETAILED:
New retail -
light vehicles $30,438 $30,769 $(331) (1%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 60,297 57,719 2,578 5%
Used retail 18,137 17,894 243 1%

GROSS PROFIT PER
VEHICLE RETAILED:
New retail -
light vehicles $2,113 $2,376 $(263) (11%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 2,801 3,147 (346) (11%)
Used retail 2,074 2,157 (83) (4%)
finance and
insurance, net 1,060 945 115 12%

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:
New retail -
light vehicles 6.9% 7.7% (0.8%) (10%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 4.6% 5.5% (0.9%) (16%)
Used retail 11.4% 12.1% (0.7%) (6%)
Parts and service 50.8% 51.4% (0.6%) (1%)
Total - light
vehicles 16.4% 16.2% 0.2% 1%
Total 16.2% 15.9% 0.3% 2%

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Selected Data
(Dollars in millions, except per vehicle data)
(Unaudited)

Same Store for the
Three Months Ended March 31, Increase %
2008 2007 (Decrease) Change
VEHICLES SOLD:
New retail units -
light vehicles 20,700 23,020 (2,320) (10%)
New retail units -
heavy trucks 607 1,017 (410) (40%)
Total new
retail units 21,307 24,037 (2,730) (11%)
Fleet units 1,619 2,575 (956) (37%)
Total new units 22,926 26,612 (3,686) (14%)

Used retail units 13,362 16,369 (3,007) (18%)
REVENUE:
New retail -
light vehicles $628.4 51.4% $708.3 50.6% $(79.9) (11%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 36.6 3.0% 58.7 4.2% (22.1) (38%)
Total new retail 665.0 54.4% 767.0 54.8% (102.0) (13%)
Used retail 241.6 19.8% 292.9 20.9% (51.3) (18%)
Parts and service 175.2 14.3% 173.2 12.4% 2.0 1%
finance and
insurance, net 37.3 3.0% 38.2 2.7% (0.9) (2%)
Total retail
revenue 1,119.1 1,271.3 (152.2) (12%)
Fleet 33.4 2.7% 48.1 3.4% (14.7) (31%)
Wholesale 70.7 5.8% 80.7 5.8% (10.0) (12%)
Total revenue $1,223.2 100.0% $1,400.1 100.0% $(176.9) (13%)
GROSS PROFIT
New retail -
light vehicles $43.2 21.7% $54.7 24.6% $(11.5) (21%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 1.7 0.9% 3.2 1.4% (1.5) (47%)
Total new retail 44.9 22.6% 57.9 26.0% (13.0) (22%)
Used retail 27.8 14.0% 35.3 15.9% (7.5) (21%)
Parts and service 88.8 44.6% 89.0 40.2% (0.2) -
finance and
insurance, net 37.3 18.8% 38.2 17.2% (0.9) (2%)
Total retail
gross profit 198.8 220.4 (21.6) (10%)
Fleet 0.5 0.2% 1.1 0.5% (0.6) (55%)
Wholesale (0.5) (0.2%) 0.5 0.2% (1.0) (200%)
Total gross
profit $198.8 100.0% $222.0 100.0% $(23.2) (10%)
SG&A expenses $161.0 $171.7 $(10.7) (6%)
SG&A expenses as a
percentage of gross
profit 81.0% 77.3% 3.7 5%

REVENUE PER VEHICLE
RETAILED:
New retail -
light vehicles $30,357 $30,769 $(412) (1%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 60,297 57,719 2,578 4%
Used retail 18,081 17,894 187 1%

GROSS PROFIT PER
VEHICLE RETAILED:
New retail -
light vehicles $2,087 $2,376 $(289) (12%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 2,801 3,147 (346) (11%)
Used retail 2,081 2,157 (76) (4%)
finance and
insurance, net 1,076 945 131 14%

GROSS PROFIT MARGIN:
New retail -
light vehicles 6.9% 7.7% (0.8%) (10%)
New retail -
heavy trucks 4.6% 5.5% (0.9%) (16%)
Used retail 11.5% 12.1% (0.6%) (5%)
Parts and service 50.7% 51.4% (0.7%) (1%)
Total - light
vehicles 16.5% 16.2% 0.3% 2%
Total 16.3% 15.9% 0.4% 3%

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Selected Data
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

March 31, Dec. 31 Increase %
2008 2007 (Decrease) Change

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS:
Cash and cash equivalents $25.7 $53.4 $(27.7) (52%)
New vehicle inventory 653.1 622.6 30.5 5 %
Used vehicle inventory 102.1 101.1 1.0 1 %
Parts inventory 47.8 46.2 1.6 3 %
Total current assets 1,159.5 1,192.4 (32.9) (3%)
Floor plan notes payable 690.0 674.0 16.0 2 %
Total current liabilities 867.1 871.7 (4.6) (1%)

CAPITALIZATION:
Long-term debt (including
current portion) $475.4 $475.6 $(0.2) -
Shareholders’ equity 587.1 584.2 2.9 -
Total $1,062.5 $1,059.8 $2.7 -

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Our income from continuing operations during 2007 was impacted by retirement benefits expenses associated with the retirement of our former CEO and a loss on extinguishment of long-term debt. 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.
The non-GAAP measure “adjusted income from continuing operations” contains material limitations. Although we believe that retirement benefits expense and losses from the extinguishment of long-term debt are infrequent and although we do not expect to recognize these items in the future we cannot assure you that we will not recognize them in the future. In addition, our income from continuing operations may not be comparable with income from continuing operations of other companies to the extent that other companies recognize similar items in income from continuing operations and do not provide disclosure of the amounts. In order to compensate for these limitations we also review the related GAAP measures.
As Reported for the Three
Months Ended March 31, Increase %
2008 2007 (Decrease) Change
Adjusted income from continuing
operations
Net income $10.5 $0.4 $10.1 NM
Discontinued operations, net of tax 0.7 1.9
Income from continuing operations 11.2 2.3 8.9 387%

Retirement benefits expenses, net
of tax - 1.8
Loss on extinguishment of long-term
debt, net of tax - 11.1
Adjusted income from continuing
operations $11.2 $15.2 $(4.0) (26%)

Adjusted earnings per common share
- Diluted
Net income $0.33 $0.01 $0.32 NM
Discontinued operations, net of tax 0.02 0.06
Income from continuing operations 0.35 0.07 $0.28 400%

Adjusting items - 0.37
Adjusted income from continuing
operations $0.35 $0.44 $(0.09) (20%)

Weighted average common shares
outstanding (diluted): 32.3 34.2

ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Select Data - Brand Mix

Brand Mix as a Percent of Light For the Three Months Ended
Vehicle New Retail Unit Sales March 31,
2008 2007

Honda/Acura 35% 33%
Nissan/Infiniti 20% 19%
Toyota/Lexus 15% 14%
Ford 8% 9%
BMW/Mini 6% 4%
General Motors 5% 6%
Mercedes 4% 5%
Chrysler 4% 3%
Other 3% 7%
100% 100%

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.