Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 


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

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   May 9, 2017

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 1-12297 22-3086739
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
2555 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan   48302
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   248-648-2500

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

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:

[  ]  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))

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. [  ]


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Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Deloitte & Touche LLP is our principal independent registered public accounting firm. In delivering its audit opinion, Deloitte & Touche LLP has relied on the opinions of KPMG LLP, principally in respect of our subsidiary which holds our U.K. operations. In an effort to achieve synergies associated with retaining only one auditing firm, our Audit Committee approved the dismissal of KPMG LLP on May 9, 2017 and Deloitte & Touche LLP will now be our sole independent auditor.

The reports of KPMG LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.

During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and through the subsequent date of dismissal (i) there were no disagreements (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between us and KPMG LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG LLP would have caused KPMG LLP to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on our consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

We provided KPMG LLP with a copy of this Form 8-K and requested that KPMG LLP provide us with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not KPMG LLP agrees with the above disclosures. A copy of KPMG LLP’s letter, dated May 15, 2017, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on May 10, 2017. At the Annual Meeting, all measures were approved in accordance with the shareholder voting results noted below.

Proposal 1

The thirteen director nominees named in our proxy statement were elected, each for a term expiring at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, based upon the following votes:

                         
NOMINEE   FOR   WITHHELD   NON-VOTES
John D. Barr
    69,859,637       6,864,030       4,496,179  
Lisa Davis
    76,538,881       184,786       4,496,179  
Michael R. Eisenson
    69,148,408       7,575,259       4,496,179  
Robert H. Kurnick, Jr.
    75,595,334       1,128,333       4,496,179  
William J. Lovejoy
    75,849,105       874,562       4,496,179  
Kimberly J. McWaters
    67,799,441       8,924,226       4,496,179  
Lucio A. Noto
    75,693,041       1,030,626       4,496,179  
Roger S. Penske, Jr.
    75,536,536       1,187,131       4,496,179  
Roger S. Penske
    75,260,134       1,463,533       4,496,179  
Sandra E. Pierce
    76,457,439       266,228       4,496,179  
Kanji Sasaki
    75,403,772       1,319,895       4,496,179  
Ronald G. Steinhart
    69,757,773       6,965,894       4,496,179  
H. Brian Thompson
    73,048,787       3,674,880       4,496,179  

Proposal 2

The proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2017 was approved based upon the following votes:

                 
FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
80,286,537
    912,683       20,626  

Proposal 3

The proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, our executive compensation was approved based upon the following votes:

                         
FOR   WITHHELD   ABSTAIN   BROKER NON-VOTES
76,283,470
    391,392       48,805       4,496,179  

Proposal 4

The proposal on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation was approved on an annual basis based upon the following votes:

                                 
1 Year   2 Years   3 Years   ABSTAIN   BROKER NON-VOTES
74,260,320
    45,696       2,375,213       42,373       4,496,244  

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Dividend Announcement

On May 10, 2017, we announced that our Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.31 per share payable June 1, 2017 to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2017, as discussed more fully in the press release incorporated herein and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

16.1 Letter from KPMG LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated May 15, 2017.

99.1 Press Release regarding Dividend.


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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.

         
    Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
          
May 15, 2017   By:   /s/ Shane M. Spradlin
       
        Name: Shane M. Spradlin
        Title: Executive Vice President


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
16.1
  Letter from KPMG LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated May 15, 2017.
99.1
  Press Release.