Lithia Motors Form 11-K 2002

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2001

SEC Registration No. 333-43593

LITHIA MOTORS, INC. SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
360 East Jackson Street
Medford, OR 97501


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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION
PROFIT SHARING PLAN

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 30, 2001 and 2000


 

CONTENTS

     
   

Page

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

1

     

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
     
 

Statements of net assets available for benefits

2

     
 

Statement of changes in net assets available for benefits

3

     
 

Notes to financial statements

4-8

   

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

 
     
 

Schedule of assets held for investment purposes at end of year

9

     

SIGNATURE

10

   
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT  

 


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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

To the Board of Trustees
Lithia Motors, Inc.
Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan as of December 30, 2001 and 2000 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 30, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan as of December 30, 2001 and 2000, and the changes in the net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 30, 2001 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule on page 9 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplemental information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

 

Medford, Oregon
July 2, 2002

 

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

      December 30,
      2001    2000
               
ASSETS             
  Investments, at fair value           
    Registered investment companies 17,816,581    -
    Pooled separate accounts   -     14,739,995
    Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock   2,598,825     1,909,145
        20,415,406     16,649,140
               
  Participant loans    1,154,029     965,979
  Loan payments in transit    -     -
  Employer contributions receivable    1,107,289     165,673
           
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
22,676,724
 
$
17,780,792

 

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 30, 2001

 

ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO       
  Investment income      
    Net depreciation in fair value of investments   (37,766)
    Interest and dividends     203,660 
           
          165,894 
           
  Contributions        
    Employer     1,107,289 
    Participant     5,358,454 
           
          6,465,743 
           
          6,631,637 
           
DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO       
  Benefits paid to participants      1,695,305 
  Administrative expenses      40,400 
           
          1,735,705 
           
NET INCREASE      4,895,932 
           
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS       
  Beginning of year      17,780,792 
           
  End of year    $ 22,676,724 

 

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

The following description of Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.

General - The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all full-time employees of Lithia Motors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) who have one year of service with at least 1,000 hours of service and are age twenty-one or older and who are not members of a union. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

The Company, and as a result, the Plan, have grown primarily due to the Company's acquisition and integration of automobile dealerships and by obtaining new dealer franchises. As the Company continues to grow and to acquire dealerships, the existing retirement plans at the acquired dealerships, if any, are terminated. Employees of the acquired dealerships are given the option of participating in the Plan and are given credit for years of service prior to the acquisitions.

Contributions - Each year, the Company contributes to the Plan an amount determined annually by the Company's Board of Directors. Participants may contribute, under a salary reduction agreement, the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service under Code Section 402(g). Participants direct the investment of contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers various registered investment companies managed by Morgan Stanley as well as shares of Class A Common Stock of the Plan sponsor, Lithia Motors, Inc.

Participant Accounts - Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and an allocation of the Company's contribution and Plan earnings, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on account balances, as defined. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' non-vested accounts are used to pay administrative expenses of the Plan and to reduce future Company contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.

Vesting - Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the remainder of their accounts is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100% vested after six years of credited service.

Participant Loans - Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $500 and maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer from the investment fund to the participant loan fund. Loan terms range up to five years or up to ten years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate of 5.7% to 11.0%. Principal and interest are paid ratably through semimonthly payroll deductions.

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (Continued)

Payment of Benefits - There were no participant balances attributable to participants who had withdrawn from the Plan but whose balances had not been paid at December 30, 2001. On termination of service or upon reaching retirement age, a participant receives a lump-sum amount equal to the value of his or her account.

Forfeited Accounts - In 2001, forfeited non-vested accounts amounted to $24,686 and are used to reduce Plan administrative expenses.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting - The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition - The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Shares of registered investments companies' and shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Participant loans are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on the trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Payment of Benefits - Benefits are recorded when paid.

Administrative Expenses - The Plan sponsor has voluntarily paid for certain administrative expenses of the Plan, and these expenses are not reflected in these financial statements.

Reclassifications - Certain accounts in the prior-year financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to the presentation in the current-year financial statements. These reclassifications have no effect on the previously reported net increase in net assets available for benefits.

NOTE 3 - PLAN TERMINATION

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100% vested in their accounts.

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 4 - INCOME TAX STATUS

The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on November 3, 1995, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial statements.

NOTE 5 - INVESTMENTS

The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of Plan net assets.

 

      December 30,
     

 2001 

   2000 
Registered investment companies             
  Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset   $ 3,373,409   $  -
  Calvert Income A     1,668,400     -
  Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index A     3,661,931     -
  Van Kampen Comstock A     1,497,376     -
  Pilgrim Small Cap Opportunities A     1,102,505     -
  Davis New York Venture A     2,025,484     -
  Other registered investment companies     4,487,476     -
               
Pooled separate accounts             
  Principal Money Market     -     2,692,664
  Principal Bond and Mortgage     -     1,466,895
  Principal Large Cap Stock Index     -     3,857,534
  Principal Large Company Value     -     1,885,985
  Principal Medium Company Blend     -     1,381,371
  Principal Small Company Growth     -     1,378,199
  Other pooled separate accounts     -     2,077,347
               
Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock      2,598,825     1,909,145
               
   
$
  20,415,406    $ 16,649,140

 

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 5 - INVESTMENTS (Continued)

During 2001, the Plan's investments, including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year, appreciated (depreciated) in value as follows:

Registered investment companies

$

(1,180,010)

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock  

1,142,244 

 

$

(37,766)

NOTE 6 - RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SCHEDULE H OF FORM 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Schedule H of Form 5500:

       December 30,
     

 2001

 

 2000

Net assets available for benefits per            
  the financial statements   $ 22,676,724    $ 17,780,792
Employer contributions receivable             
  not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500     (1,107,289)     -
               
Net assets available for benefits per             
  Schedule H of Form 5500   $ 21,569,435    $ 17,780,792

The following is a reconciliation of employer contributions per the financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2001 to Schedule H of Form 5500:

 

Employer contributions per the financial statements   $  1,107,289 
         
Plus employer contributions received       
  by the Plan not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500     -
         
Less employer contributions not  received by the Plan and not accrued on      
  Schedule H of Form 5500     (1,107,289) 
       
Employer contributions per Schedule H of Form 5500   $

 

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LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 6 - RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SCHEDULE H OF FORM 5500 (Continued)

During 2001 the Plan began preparing Schedule H of Form 5500 on the modified cash basis of accounting. For 2001 Schedule H reflects $0 employer contributions as the 2001 contribution was received in 2002, and the 2000 contribution received in 2001 was previously accrued.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR
EIN 93-0572810 PN 003

 

(a)   (b) Identity of issue, borrower, lessor, or similar party   (c) Description of investment including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, par, or maturity value   (d) Cost     (e) Current value
                       
    AIM Balanced   Registered Investment Company 7,652.1414 shares   N/A   $ 199,110
    Morgan Stanley American Opport   Registered Investment Company 13,348.4452 shares   N/A     328,639
    Oppenheimer International Grow   Registered Investment Company 53,627.6263 shares   N/A     800,660
    ING Small Cap Opport A   Registered Investment Company 35,900.5683 shares   N/A     1,102,505
    Morgan Stanley Information   Registered Investment Company 23,844.6121 shares   N/A     299,488
    Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset   Registered Investment Company 3,373,408.6839 shares   N/A     3,373,409
    Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index   Registered Investment Company 293,189.0611 shares   N/A     3,661,931
    Morgan Stanley Total Return   Registered Investment Company 10,333.5556 shares   N/A     171,848
    Morgan Stanley US Government S   Registered Investment Company 27,855.1856 shares   N/A     249,304
    Van Kampen Aggressive Growth   Registered Investment Company 55,897.8352 shares   N/A     759,652
    Van Kampen Comstock   Registered Investment Company 95,192.4006 shares   N/A     1,497,376
    Van Kampen Emerging Markets   Registered Investment Company 48,227.3191 shares   N/A     390,641
    Calvert Income   Registered Investment Company 100,687.9838 shares   N/A     1,668,400
    Eaton Vance World Health Scien   Registered Investment Company 58,510.4320 shares   N/A     611,434
    Davis New York Venture   Registered Investment Company 79,058.7009 shares   N/A     2,025,484
    Alger Capital Appreciation Ins   Registered Investment Company 51,854.3706 shares   N/A     676,700
    Lithia Motors Co Stock   Other Investments 181,956.0389 shares   N/A     2,598,825
    Participant Loans   Interest Rates (5.7% to 11.0%)       -0-     1,154,029
                       
                    $ 21,569,435
                 
    N/A - Cost is not applicable as these are participant directed investments.             

 

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SIGNATURE PAGE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: July 11, 2002

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN TRUST

 

By: /s/ Linda Ganim                                                     
     Linda Ganim, Trustee

 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-43593 of Lithia Motors, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated July 2, 2002 appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan for the year ended December 30, 2001.

 

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

Medford, Oregon
July 9, 2002