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Lithia Motors 8-K 2005
UNITED STATES FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 26, 2005
Lithia Motors, Inc.
360 E. Jackson Street Registrant's telephone number including area code 541-776-6868
Not applicable
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On April 26, 2005, Lithia Motors, Inc. issued a press release announcing financial results the first quarter 2005. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. Item 8.01 Other Events. On April 26, 2005, Lithia Motors, Inc. issued a press release announcing a cash dividend of $0.08 per share for the first quarter of 2005. Shareholders of record as of May 6, 2005 will receive the dividend that will be payable May 20, 2005. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
EXHIBIT 99.1
LITHIA MOTORS Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE RISE 30% TO A RECORD 52 CENTS PER SHARE Lithia Motors' First-quarter 2005 Highlights for Continuing Operations:
MEDFORD, OREGON, APRIL 26, 2005 (5:00 a.m. PDT) - Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE: LAD) today announced that first quarter 2005 net income from continuing operations increased 31% to $10.0 million from $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2004. Earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding the dilutive effect of the change in accounting for convertible notes, increased 30% to $0.52 as compared to $0.40 in the first quarter of 2004. Including the effect of the accounting change for convertible notes and discontinued operations, earnings per share were $0.48 per fully diluted share. First quarter 2005 sales increased 6% to $670.8 million as compared to $632.8 million in the same period last year. New vehicle sales increased 4%, used vehicle sales increased 7%, parts/service sales increased 11%, and finance/insurance sales increased 10%. Sid DeBoer, Lithia's Chairman and CEO, commented, "In the first quarter, we saw sales growth and margin improvements across all business lines. Our operating margin improved by 80 basis points to a record level of 3.6% for the quarter." The total gross profit margin for the quarter was 17.8%, an improvement of 110 basis points as compared to the same period last year. Sales general & administrative (SG&A) expense, as a percentage of gross profit, improved by 350 basis points as compared to last year. "The benefits of Lithia's operating model are readily apparent. This is the eighth consecutive quarter of total gross margin improvement for the company. In 2004, our SG&A expense as a percentage of total gross profit improved by 160 basis points year-over-year, and we are pleased to see this positive trend continuing in the first quarter of 2005," concluded Mr. DeBoer. Jeffrey B. DeBoer, Senior Vice President and CFO added, "In the first quarter, we completed three acquisitions; a Chrysler and Jeep franchise in Concord, California which was added to our Dodge store in that market, a Chrysler franchise in Eugene, Oregon which was added to our Dodge store in that market and a Chrysler Dodge Jeep store in Omaha, Nebraska. Last week we completed the acquisition of Lithia Chrysler Dodge in Eureka, California. These stores and franchises represent approximately $178 million in annualized revenues." "Our guidance for the second quarter and full-year 2005 is included in the table below. It includes the effect of the recent accounting pronouncements for convertible notes. Previous full-year 2005 guidance included the effect of accounting pronouncements for stock options that was to go into effect in the third quarter of the year and amounted to a five-cent decrease in annual earnings per share. A recent rule adopted by the SEC has delayed the required implementation of FAS 123(R) until the first quarter of 2006. The Company is not intending to implement FAS 123(R) early. Guidance for 2005 has been updated to reflect this delay," concluded Jeffrey B. DeBoer.
In October of 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) ratified Issue No. 04-8, requiring the company to include in its share count in determining diluted earnings per share, the shares potentially issuable to the holders of its $85,000,000 in principle amount 2.875% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2014, even though the holder of such notes cannot convert the notes into common stock except under certain limited circumstances and then only at a conversion price of approximately $37.69 per share. Previously, the shares issuable would only have been included in the calculation of diluted EPS if the holders were then entitled to convert the notes. For purposes of calculating reported diluted EPS for the first quarter ended 2005, Lithia is required to increase its share count by the amount contingently issuable to the noteholders. This resulted in an additional 2.255 million shares for the first quarter of 2005. Adoption of the accounting statement does not affect the cash flow of the company. Also in December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Financial Accounting Standards Statement 123 (revised 2004) ("FAS 123 (R)") that will require that the value of all equity-based compensation arrangements, including stock options and employee stock purchase plans, be accounted for using a "fair value" method. Previously, the Company had accounted for such arrangements under the "intrinsic method" permitted by APB 25. Previously, FASB had determined that the new rules, absent any change, would be effective for the Company commencing with the third quarter of 2005. A recent modification by the SEC has determined that these rules will not be effective until the first quarter of 2006. Company guidance for 2005 has been updated to account for this change. Adoption of this accounting change will not affect the cash flow of the Company. Conference Call Information Lithia Motors will be providing more detailed information on the results for the first quarter 2005 in its conference call scheduled for 11 a.m. PT today. The call can be accessed live by calling 973-582-2700. To listen to a live webcast or hear a replay, log-on to: www.lithia.com - go to Investor Relations - and click on the Live Webcast icon. About Lithia Lithia Motors, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 and Russell 2000 Company that sells 25 brands of new vehicles and operates 88 stores and 174 franchises in 13 states in the Western United States and over the Internet through "Lithia.com-America's Car & Truck Store." Lithia also sells used vehicles; arranges finance, warranty, and credit insurance contracts; and provides vehicle parts, maintenance, and repair services at all of its locations. Lithia retailed 98,331 new and used vehicles and had $2.7 billion in total revenue in 2004. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes forward looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially due to certain risk factors, including without limitation economic conditions, acquisition risk factors and others set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the SEC. Specific risks in this press release include the benefits or strength of Lithia's operating model, anticipated revenues of recently acquired stores and projected second quarter and full-year 2005 earnings per share guidance, and potential changes in accounting standards. Additional Information For additional information on Lithia Motors, contact the Investor Relations Department: (541) 776-6591 or log-on to: www.lithia.com - go to Investor Relations
EXHIBIT 99.2 Lithia Motors Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.08 Per Share for the First Quarter of 2005 MEDFORD, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2005--Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) today announced that the Board of Directors has approved a dividend of $0.08 per share for the first quarter of 2005. Shareholders of record as of May 6, 2005 will receive the dividend that will be payable May 20, 2005.
Lithia Motors, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 and Russell 2000 Company that sells 25 brands of new vehicles and operates 88 stores and 174 franchises in 13 states in the Western United States and over the Internet through "Lithia.com-America's Car & Truck Store." Lithia also sells used vehicles; arranges finance, warranty, and credit insurance contracts; and provides vehicle parts, maintenance, and repair services at all of its locations. Lithia retailed 98,331 new and used vehicles and had $2.7 billion in total revenue in 2004.
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