Group 1 Automotive Board Approves Share Repurchase Authorization & Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

Rhea-AI Summary

Group 1 Automotive (NYSE: GPI) has announced a $161 million increase to its stock repurchase authorization, raising the total to $200 million. The company repurchased approximately 21% of its outstanding shares since Q3 2021, totaling $484.3 million. Additionally, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per share was declared, a 2.6% increase from the previous quarter. This decision highlights Group 1's strong cash flow and strategic focus on returning capital to shareholders while continuing to grow its U.S. and U.K. operations.

Positive

• Increase in stock repurchase authorization by $161 million to $200 million, boosting shareholder value.
• Repurchases accounted for approximately 21% of outstanding shares since Q3 2021, totaling $484.3 million.
• Quarterly cash dividend raised by 2.6% to $0.39 per share, payable on December 15, 2022, enhancing return on investment.

Negative

• None.

HOUSTON, Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) ("Group 1" or the "Company"), an international, Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 203 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., today announced its board of directors increased the Company's common stock repurchase authorization by $161 million to $200 million, and also declared an increase to the quarterly cash dividend. 

"Our strong cash flow and robust balance sheet continues to enable the Company to have significant flexibility in our capital deployment. Since the beginning of the third quarter of 2021 we have added $3.1 billion in acquired revenues and repurchased approximately 21% of the Company's outstanding share count. Our top capital allocation priorities continue to be growing our U.S. and U.K. businesses while also returning capital to our shareholders." said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's Chief Executive Officer.

• Share Repurchases & Authorization Increase
  The Company announced that its board of directors increased the Company's common stock share repurchase authorization by $161 million to $200 million. The Company also updated their year-to-date repurchase activity of 2,825,205 shares of common stock at an average price of $171.42 for a total of $484.3 million, which represents 16.4 percent of Group 1's outstanding share count at January 1, 2022. Purchases may be made from time to time, based on market conditions, legal requirements, and other corporate considerations, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The Company expects that any repurchase of shares will be funded by cash from operations. Repurchased shares will be held in treasury.
  
  
• Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase
  Group 1's board of directors also declared a cash dividend of $0.39 per share for the third quarter of 2022. The dividend represents an increase of 2.6%, or $0.01 per share, from the second quarter of 2022, and will be payable on December 15, 2022, to stockholders of record as of December 1, 2022.

ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Group 1 owns and operates 203 automotive dealerships, 273 franchises, and 47 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 35 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.

Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations at www.group1corp.com, www.group1auto.com, www.group1collision.com, www.acceleride.com, www.facebook.com/group1auto, and www.twitter.com/group1auto.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding our strategic investments, goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations and business strategy, including the annualized revenues of recently completed acquisitions or dispositions and other benefits of such currently anticipated or recently completed acquisitions or dispositions. These forward-looking statements often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, (i) the impacts of COVID-19 and the armed conflict in Ukraine on our business and the supply chains upon which our business is dependent, (j) the impacts of continued inflation and any potential global recession, (k) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate, (l) the risk that proposed transactions will not be consummated in a timely manner, and (m) our ability to successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor contacts:
Jason Babbitt
Vice President, Treasurer
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
jbabbitt@group1auto.com

Media contacts:
Pete DeLongchamps
Senior Vice President, Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
pdelongchamps@group1auto.com
or
Clint Woods
Pierpont Communications, Inc.
713-627-2223
cwoods@piercom.com

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SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

FAQ

What is the total amount for Group 1 Automotive's stock repurchase authorization?

Group 1 Automotive increased its stock repurchase authorization to $200 million.

What percentage of outstanding shares has Group 1 repurchased recently?

Group 1 has repurchased approximately 21% of its outstanding shares since Q3 2021.

When will the quarterly cash dividend be paid to shareholders?

The quarterly cash dividend will be paid on December 15, 2022.

How much has the quarterly cash dividend increased for Group 1 Automotive?

The quarterly cash dividend increased by 2.6% to $0.39 per share.

What were the total share repurchases made by Group 1 as of January 1, 2022?

The total share repurchases made by Group 1 as of January 1, 2022, amounted to $484.3 million.