Group 1 Automotive Announces Pricing of $1,250.0 Million Offering of Senior Notes
Group 1 Automotive (GPI) priced a private offering of $1.25 billion of senior unsecured notes in two tranches to help fund its pending Hennessy dealership acquisition.
Rhea-AI Summary
Group 1 Automotive (GPI) priced a private offering of $1.25 billion of senior unsecured notes in two tranches to help fund its pending Hennessy dealership acquisition.
The company will issue $625 million of 6.250% senior notes due 2032 and $625 million of 6.625% senior notes due 2035, with closing expected on September 22, 2026, subject to customary conditions. Net proceeds, along with cash on hand, are intended primarily to finance the Hennessy Acquisition and related costs, with interim use to repay borrowings under the acquisition line of its revolving credit facility.
If the Hennessy Acquisition does not close by the defined Special Mandatory Redemption Outside Date or certain other events occur, all 2032 Notes must be redeemed at 100% of initial issue price plus accrued interest.
Positive
- Issues $625 million 6.250% senior notes due 2032 and $625 million 6.625% senior notes due 2035
- Net proceeds targeted to fund Hennessy Acquisition purchase price and related fees
- Interim use of proceeds to repay borrowings under revolving credit facility acquisition line
Negative
- New senior unsecured debt of $1.25 billion increases leverage and interest obligations
- 2032 Notes carry a 6.250% coupon and 2035 Notes a 6.625% coupon, locking in relatively high borrowing costs
- Special mandatory redemption of 2032 Notes required if Hennessy Acquisition does not close by the Outside Date or other specified events occur
Key Figures
- Total offering
- $1,250.0 million
- Senior notes private placement
- 2032 Notes
- $625.0 million at 6.250%
- Senior unsecured notes due 2032
- 2035 Notes
- $625.0 million at 6.625%
- Senior unsecured notes due 2035
- Expected closing
- September 22, 2026
- Offering closing, subject to customary conditions
- Special redemption price
- 100% of initial issue price
- 2032 Notes if specified Hennessy transaction conditions occur
- Special Mandatory Redemption Outside Date
- January 6, 2027
- Unless the Hennessy Acquisition deadline is extended
Historical Context
-
Announced acquisition of 10 Hennessy dealerships and real estate for about $1.3 billion.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
senior unsecured notes financial
private placement financial
rule 144a regulatory
regulation s regulatory
special mandatory redemption financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand, to fund the purchase price for its previously announced acquisition of certain dealership assets and related real estate from Hennessy Automobile Companies, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (the "Hennessy Acquisition") and to pay related fees and expenses. Because the closing of the Hennessy Acquisition is expected to occur after the closing of the offering, the Company intends to use the net proceeds, pending the closing of the Hennessy Acquisition, to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the acquisition line under its revolving credit facility, which the Company expects to reborrow at the closing of the Hennessy Acquisition to fund a portion of the purchase price.
If the Hennessy Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to the later of (x) January 6, 2027 (the "Outside Date") and (y) such date to which the Outside Date under the purchase agreement relating to the Hennessy Acquisition may be extended in accordance with the terms thereof (such later date, the "Special Mandatory Redemption Outside Date"), or upon the occurrence of certain other events, including the termination of the purchase agreement related to the Hennessy Acquisition prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Outside Date, the Company will be required to redeem all of the 2032 Notes then outstanding at a redemption price equal to
The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and thus, the Notes may not be offered or sold in
ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Group 1 owns and operates 249 automotive dealerships, 310 franchises, and 32 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 37 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 contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.
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 include statements regarding the proposed offering, the intended use of proceeds and the pending Hennessy Acquisition. 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 impacts of sustained levels of inflation, including reduced affordability of automobiles for consumers, (c) developments in U.S. and global trade policy, including the imposition by the U.S. of significant tariffs on the import of automobiles and certain materials used in our parts and services business and the resulting consequences (including, but not limited to, retaliatory tariffs by non-U.S. nations, supply chain disruptions, vehicle and part cost increases and demand decreases, and potential recessions in the U.S. and U.K.) and the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," including the associated impact on tax deductions in the domestic car industry and the elimination of certain clean energy tax credits, which could impact incentives for electric vehicle production and sales, (d) the level of manufacturer incentives, (e) our ability to comply with extensive laws, regulations and policies applicable to our operations, including BEV mandates in the U.K., and their impact on new vehicle demand, (f) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles (including as a result of changes in the international trade environment), (g) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (h) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (i) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions, including the pending Hennessy Acquisition, on a timely basis, if at all and the risks associated therewith, (j) our ability to successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions, including the Hennessy Acquisition, and realize the expected benefits from consummated acquisitions, (k) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, (l) the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, including that between the U.S. and Iran, (m) broader macroeconomic challenges in the U.K., including inflationary pressures, fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates and overall economic volatility, which could further impact vehicle affordability, demand and our financial performance in that market, (n) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate, and (o) a material failure in or breach of our vendors' information technology systems and other cybersecurity incidents. 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:
David Helderman
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
ir@group1auto.com
Media contacts:
Pete DeLongchamps
Senior Vice President, Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Corporate Development
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
pdelongchamps@group1auto.com
Kimberly Barta
Head of Advertising, Brand and Communications
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
kbarta@group1auto.com
or
Jude Gorman / Clayton Erwin
Collected Strategies
Group1-CS@collectedstrategies.com
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SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
FAQ
How will Group 1 Automotive use the proceeds from the senior notes offering?
The company intends to use the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to fund the purchase price for its previously announced acquisition of certain dealership assets and related real estate from Hennessy Automobile Companies and its affiliates, and to pay related fees and expenses. Pending that closing, it expects to use the proceeds to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the acquisition line of its revolving credit facility, which it expects to reborrow at the acquisition closing.
What is the Special Mandatory Redemption feature on the 2032 Notes?
If the Hennessy Acquisition is not consummated on or before the Special Mandatory Redemption Outside Date, or if certain other events occur such as termination of the purchase agreement before that date, the company must redeem all outstanding 2032 Notes at a price equal to 100% of their initial issue price plus accrued and unpaid interest from the issue date to, but excluding, the redemption date.
Who can purchase these senior notes in the offering?
The notes are being offered in a private placement. They are offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in an offering exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S.
Are the new senior notes registered under the Securities Act?
No. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold in the United States without an applicable exemption from registration or in a transaction not subject to registration requirements.
When is the senior notes offering expected to close?
The offering is expected to close on September 22, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.