[8-K] Lithia Motors, Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD) reported the filing of an indenture and the related note form for new senior notes bearing a 5.500% coupon maturing in 2030. The filing includes the full indenture agreement and the form of the 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030 as exhibits, and affirms the company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAD. The report is signed by the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, indicating the exhibits have been furnished with the company’s current report.

Insights

Corporate Finance Analyst

TL;DR: Company filed an indenture and note form for 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030; document filing itself is routine but preparatory for debt issuance.

The filing discloses the legal framework for senior notes bearing a 5.500% interest rate maturing in 2030 and supplies the indenture and note form as exhibits. The disclosure is procedural: it provides investors the contractual terms template but does not state principal amount, issuance timing, use of proceeds, or credit terms beyond coupon and maturity. Without those specifics, material financial impact cannot be assessed from this filing alone.

Securities & Capital Markets Specialist

TL;DR: The company furnished the indenture and note form, enabling investors to review the contractual terms; substantive issuance details are absent.

The exhibits (indenture and form of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030) provide the legal documentation required for a debt offering. This filing fulfills disclosure requirements by making the contract terms available, but it does not disclose the aggregate principal amount, underwriting arrangements, or allocation of proceeds. Those items would determine market and credit impact and are not present in this document.

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

September 10, 2025

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

Lithia Motors, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Oregon	001-14733	93-0572810
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

150 N. Bartlett Street	Medford	Oregon	97501
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

(541) 776-6401

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock without par value		LAD		The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement

Indenture and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030

On September 10, 2025, Lithia Motors, Inc. (the “Company”) completed a private offering (the “Offering”) of $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Senior Notes”) that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under its revolving lines of credit. Such amounts may be reborrowed and used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and working capital.

The Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of September 10, 2025 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the subsidiary guarantors named therein (the “Guarantors”). The Senior Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) on a senior unsecured basis by each subsidiary that is a borrower under or that guarantees obligations under the Company’s U.S. Bank credit facility or certain other capital markets indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor.

The Senior Notes and the Guarantees will be the Company’s and the Guarantors’ senior unsecured obligations, will rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness, be effectively subordinated to any of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future secured debt (including obligations under the Company’s credit facilities, manufacturer floor plan facilities and mortgage loans), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future subordinated obligations and be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities (including trade payables and the Company’s securitization facilities) of each of the Company’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes (including the Company’s existing and any future securitization subsidiaries).

The Senior Notes will bear interest from September 10, 2025 at an annual rate of 5.500%, payable semi-annually on each April 1 and October 1 during which the Senior Notes are outstanding, commencing on April 1, 2026. The Senior Notes will mature on October 1, 2030. The Company may redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at any time on or after October 1, 2027, at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. Prior to October 1, 2027, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes (including any additional notes) with funds in an aggregate amount up to the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.500% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to October 1, 2027, the Company may redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The terms of the Indenture, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to (i) engage in sale and leaseback transactions, (ii) incur liens, (iii) guarantee other indebtedness without also guaranteeing the Senior Notes and (iv) consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. The Indenture provides for customary events of default which include, among other things, (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods) defaults based on: (i) the failure to make payments under the Indenture when due, (ii) breach of covenants, (iii) acceleration of other material indebtedness, (iv) bankruptcy or insolvency events and (v) material judgments. Generally, if an event of default occurs, the trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes may declare all of the Senior Notes to be due and payable, or, in certain circumstances, the Senior Notes automatically will become due and payable immediately.

The Trustee and its affiliates maintain relationships in the ordinary course of business with the Company and its subsidiaries, including the provision of commercial banking, investment banking, trustee and/or other financial services.

A copy of the Indenture is set forth as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions of the Indenture and the Senior Notes (a form of which is attached as an exhibit to the Indenture) in this report are only summaries and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Indenture and the Senior Notes, respectively.

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

The information set forth above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
4.1		Indenture, dated as of September 10, 2025, among Lithia Motors, Inc., the Guarantors and the Trustee.
4.2		Form of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030 (included as part of Exhibit 4.1).
104		Cover Page Interactive File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

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.

Dated: September 10, 2025

	LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
	Registrant
	By:	/s/ Tina Miller
		Tina Miller
		Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, and Principal Accounting Officer

FAQ

What did Lithia Motors (LAD) file in this 8-K?

The company furnished an indenture and the form of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030 as exhibits to the current report.

What is the interest rate and maturity for the notes disclosed?

The exhibits show a 5.500% coupon and a 2030 maturity for the senior notes.

Does the filing state how much debt will be issued?

No. The filing includes the indenture and note form but does not disclose the aggregate principal amount or issuance size.

Where does Lithia Motors trade and what is its ticker?

Lithia Motors' common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAD.

Who signed the filing on behalf of Lithia Motors?

The filing is signed by Tina Miller, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, and Principal Accounting Officer.