lad20150624_11k.htm

 

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 31, 2014

 

SEC Registration No. 333-43593

 

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC. SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

 

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

150 N Bartlett

Medford, OR 97501

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

and Financial Statements with

Supplemental Schedule for

 

Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary

Reduction Profit Sharing Plan

 

December 31, 2014 and 2013

 

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS


 

 

   

Page

     

REPORTS OF independent REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS

  1-2
     

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

3

  Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits  4
  Notes to Financial Statements 5-13
   

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 
 

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (held at end of year)

14-15

     

EXHIBIT INDEX

 
 

Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

16-17

 

 
 

 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Audit Committee

Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan as of December 31, 2014 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014. 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 audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets of the Plan as of December 31, 2014 and the changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of assets held (at end of year) as of December 31, 2014 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. This supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

 

/s/ Plante & Moran, PLLC

 

Cleveland, Ohio

June 24, 2014

 

 
Page 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Plan Administrator and 401(k) Plan Committee of the

Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2013. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2013 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Medford, Oregon

June 24, 2014

 

 

 
Page 2

 

  

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


 

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

ASSETS

               

Participant directed investments, at fair value

               

Common collective trusts

  $ 57,074,851     $ 13,554,851  

Registered investment companies

    131,467,352       81,977,958  

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock

    26,255,282       23,529,350  
      214,797,485       119,062,159  
                 

Receivables

               

Notes receivable from participants

    9,372,882       6,162,803  

Employer's contribution

    3,144,554       2,103,694  
      12,517,436       8,266,497  
      227,314,921       127,328,656  
                 

LIABILITIES

               

Excess participant contributions payable

    (61,149 )     (60,412 )

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS AT FAIR VALUE

    227,253,772       127,268,244  
                 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in common collective trust fund relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

    (223,209 )     -  
                 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

  $ 227,030,563     $ 127,268,244  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

 
Page 3

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


 

ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO

 

Year ended

December 31, 2014

 
         

Contributions:

       

Employer's

  $ 3,144,554  

Participants'

    14,616,729  

Rollovers

    2,144,080  
         

Total Contributions

    19,905,363  
         

Investment income:

       

Interest and dividends

    4,772,734  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments, Note 6

    7,326,178  
         

Total Investment income

    12,098,912  
         
         

Interest income on notes receivable from participants

    285,610  
         
         

Total additions

    32,289,885  
         

DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO

       
         
         

Benefits paid to participants

    12,458,909  

Administrative expenses

    227,241  
         

Total deductions

    12,686,150  
         

TRANSFER OF ASSETS TO THIS PLAN

    80,158,584  
         

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

    99,762,319  
         

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

       

Beginning of year

    127,268,244  
         

End of year

  $ 227,030,563  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

 
Page 4

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

 

The following description of the 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 eligible employees of Lithia Motors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company or Lithia) as defined in the Plan documents. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended.

 

Administration – The Company has appointed a 401(k) Plan Committee (the Committee) to manage the operation and administration of the Plan. Effective September 1, 2014, the Company has contracted with Bank of America Merrill Lynch as the custodian and trustee and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Retirement Services, a third-party administrator, to process and maintain the records of participant data. Prior to September 1, 2014, DWS Trust Company was the custodian and trustee and ADP Retirement Services was the third-party administrator.

 

Contributions – Each year, the Company contributes to the Plan an amount determined annually by the Board of Directors. For employee contributions made in 2014, the Company contributed 48.5% on the first $2,500 of the employee contributions. The Participants must be employed on the last day of the Plan year to be eligible for this contribution. Participants may contribute, under a salary reduction agreement, the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service under Code Section 402(g). Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan with a contribution of 3% of eligible compensation along with an automatic increase of 1% each year up to a maximum of 8%, unless the employee affirmatively elects otherwise. Participants may also make contributions to the Plan in the form of a rollover contribution from another qualified plan. Participants direct the investment of contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan.

 

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 a per capita allocation (equal amount) of the Plan’s administrative expenses. 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 account is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100% vested after six years of credited service.

 

Notes Receivable from Participants – Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $500 and a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Loan terms range up to five years or up to 30 years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the vested balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at a rate of Prime + 1% at the time the loan is issued. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.

 

 
Page 5

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


  

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (Continued)

 

Payment of Benefits – Upon termination, the participants or beneficiaries may elect to leave their account balance in the Plan, or receive their total benefits in a lump sum amount or annual, semiannual, quarterly or monthly installments over a period of years equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in their account. The Plan requires the automatic distribution of participant vested account balances that do not exceed $5,000.

 

Forfeited Accounts – Forfeited non-vested accounts at December 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled $275,034 and $221,277, respectively, and are used to reduce future employer contributions. 

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Accounting – The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), using the accrual method of accounting.

 

Accounting standards require the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits present the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value. The related activity is presented at contract value in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.

 

Use of Estimates – The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. See Note 3 for discussion of fair value measurements.

 

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. The net appreciation in fair value of investments consists of both the realized gains or losses and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of those investments.

 

Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. It is reasonably possible, given the level of risk associated with investment securities that changes in the near term could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the financial statements.

 

Notes Receivable from Participants – Notes receivable from participants are measured at amortized cost, which represents unpaid principal balance plus accrued but unpaid interest, and are classified as notes receivable.

 

Excess Contributions Payable – Excess contributions payable represent amounts refunded to participants after year end to comply with regulatory contribution limitations.

 

 
Page 6

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


  

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

Payment of Benefits – Benefits are recorded when paid.

 

Subsequent Events – Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the statement of net assets available for benefits date but before financial statements are issued. The Plan recognizes in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the statement of net assets available for benefits, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing the financial statements. The Plan’s financial statements do not recognize subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the date of the statement of net assets available for benefits but arose after the statement of net assets available for benefits date and before financial statements are issued.

 

 

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The framework for measuring fair value provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

Level 1:

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

 

Level 2:

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

 

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

 

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;

 

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means

 

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3:

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

 
Page 7

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2014 from those used in prior years.

 

Stable Value Common Collective Trust: The stable value common collective trust fund investment is valued at contract value. Contract value represents investments at cost plus accrued interest income less amounts withdrawn to pay benefits. The fair value of the stable value common collective trust fund is based on the fair value of the underlying net assets at the measurement date by the issuer of the fund. The Plan's interest in the stable value common collective trust fund is based on its proportionate ownership interest in the fair value of the common collective trust fund. The stable value common collective trust fund primarily holds fixed income securities, derivatives and a common collective trust fund. The fair value of the fixed income securities are valued using quoted market prices and/or other market data for the same or comparable instruments and transactions in establishing the prices, discounted cash flow models and other pricing models. These models are primarily industry standard models that consider various assumptions, including time value and yield curve as well as other relevant economic measures. The fair value of wrapper contracts provided by the contract issuer is based on the replacement cost methodology which is the present value of the difference between the replacement wrapper fee and the contracted wrapper fee. The common collective trust fund is valued at Net Asset Value (NAV) per share or its equivalent of the fund, which is based on the fair value of the fund's underlying net assets. There are no unfunded commitments or redemption restrictions.

 

Equity Common Collective Trusts: The equity common collective trust fund investments are valued at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) of the funds, which is based on the fair value of the funds' underlying net assets. The equity common collective trust funds invest primarily in equity securities which may include common stocks, options, and futures. There are no unfunded commitments or redemption restrictions.

 

Registered investment companies: Valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value (NAV) of shares held by the Plan at year end. It is not probable that the mutual funds would be sold at amounts that differ materially from the NAV of shares held.

 

Common stock: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.

 

 
Page 8

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

 

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

   

Investments at fair value at December 31, 2014

 
   

LEVEL 1

   

LEVEL 2

   

LEVEL 3

   

TOTAL

 

Common collective trusts

                               

Stable value fund

  $ -     $ 16,068,458     $ -     $ 16,068,458  

Equity funds

    -       41,006,393       -       41,006,393  

Total Common collective trusts

    -       57,074,851       -       57,074,851  
                                 

Registered investment companies

                               

Bond funds

    9,200,488       -       -       9,200,488  

Growth funds

    34,710,733       -       -       34,710,733  

Value funds

    13,569,122       -       -       13,569,122  

Blend funds

    25,542,759       -       -       25,542,759  

Target date funds

    48,444,250       -       -       48,444,250  

Total Registered investment companies

    131,467,352       -       -       131,467,352  
                                 

Common stock

                               

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A

    26,255,282       -       -       26,255,282  

Total Common stock

    26,255,282       -       -       26,255,282  
                                 
    $ 157,722,634     $ 57,074,851     $ -     $ 214,797,485  

 

 

   

Investments at fair value at December 31, 2013

 
   

LEVEL 1

   

LEVEL 2

   

LEVEL 3

   

TOTAL

 

Common collective trust

                               

Fixed income fund

  $ -     $ 13,554,851     $ -     $ 13,554,851  

Total Common collective trust

    -       13,554,851       -       13,554,851  
                                 

Registered investment companies

                               

Bond funds

    8,163,442       -       -       8,163,442  

Growth funds

    23,779,391       -       -       23,779,391  

Value funds

    6,286,852       -       -       6,286,852  

Blend funds

    27,464,230       -       -       27,464,230  

Target date funds

    16,284,043       -       -       16,284,043  

Total Registered investment companies

    81,977,958       -       -       81,977,958  
                                 

Common stock

                               

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A

    23,529,350       -       -       23,529,350  

Total Common stock

    23,529,350       -       -       23,529,350  
    $ 105,507,308     $ 13,554,851     $ -     $ 119,062,159  

 

 
Page 9

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

 

The Plan also holds other assets and liabilities not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including employer contributions receivable and excess participant contributions payable. The fair value of these assets and liabilities is equal to the carrying amounts in the accompanying financial statements due to the short maturity of such instruments. Under the fair value hierarchy, these financial instruments are valued primarily using Level 3 inputs.

 

 

NOTE 4 – 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.

 

 

NOTE 5 – INCOME TAX STATUS

 

The Plan has adopted a prototype plan that has received an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated March 31, 2014. The Plan has not individually sought its own determination letter. The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and that the trust, which forms a part of the Plan, is exempt from federal taxes. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

 

In accordance with GAAP guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, management evaluated the Plan’s tax positions and does not believe the Plan has any uncertain tax positions that require disclosure or adjustment to the financial statements.

 

The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.

 

 
Page 10

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 6 – INVESTMENTS

 

 

Significant investments in end of year net assets:

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Common collective trusts, at fair value

               

SSGA S&P 500 Index Fund CL C

  $ 15,757,954     $ -  

Wells Fargo Enhanced Stock Market Fund N

  $ 19,230,685     $ -  

FFTW Income Plus

  $ 2,829     $ 13,554,851  

Common collective trusts, at contract value

               

Wells Fargo Stable Return N

  $ 15,845,249     $ -  

Registered investment companies, at fair value

               

MFS Total Return Fd R4

  $ 15,306,074     $ 12,917,542  

DWS S&P 500 Index Fund - S

  $ -     $ 8,510,837  

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock, at fair value

  $ 26,255,282     $ 23,529,350  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Plan’s investments, including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the period, appreciated in value as follows:

 

   

Year ended

December 31, 2014

 

Common collective trusts

  $ 521,770  

Registered investment companies

  $ 1,151,036  

Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock

  $ 5,653,372  

Total

  $ 7,326,178  

 

 
Page 11

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 7 – 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 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

  $ 227,030,563     $ 127,268,244  
                 

Employer’s contribution receivable not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500

    (3,144,554 )     (2,103,694 )
                 

Benefits payable accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500 but not on financial statements

    (22,376 )     (1,311 )
                 

Excess participant contributions payable not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500

    61,149       60,412  
                 

Net assets available for benefits per Schedule H of Form 5500

  $ 223,924,782     $ 125,223,651  

 

The following are reconciliations of employer and participant contributions and distributions per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 to Schedule H of Form 5500 as the Form 5500 is prepared on a cash basis while the financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting:

 

   

Year ended

December 31, 2014

 

Employer contributions per the financial statements

  $ 3,144,554  
         

Plus 2013 employer contributions received by the Plan in 2014 not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500

    2,103,694  
         

Less 2014 employer contributions received by the Plan in 2015 and not accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500

    (3,144,554 )
         

Employer contributions per Schedule H of Form 5500

  $ 2,103,694  

 

 
Page 12

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

NOTE 7 – RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SCHEDULE H OF FORM 5500 (continued)

 

   

Year ended

December 31, 2014

 

Participant contributions per the financial statements

  $ 14,616,729  
         

Excess participant contributions for 2014

    61,149  
         

Participant contributions per Schedule H of Form 5500

  $ 14,677,878  

 

 

   

Year ended

December 31, 2014

 

Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements

  $ 12,458,909  
         

Less benefits payable accrued for 2013

    (1,311 )
         

Benefits payable accrued for 2014 on Schedule H of Form 5500 but not on financial statements

    22,376  
         

Excess contributions during 2014 relating to 2013

    60,412  
         

Total benefits paid per Schedule H of Form 5500

  $ 12,540,386  

 

NOTE 8 – TRANSACTIONS WITH PARTIES-IN-INTEREST AND RELATED PARTIES

 

Transactions in shares of the Plan Sponsor’s common stock qualify as party-in-interest transactions under the provisions of ERISA. During 2014, the Plan purchased $2,614,905 and sold $5,756,711 of the Plan Sponsor’s common stock. The number of shares held of company stock as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled 302,792 and 338,942, respectively. The fair value of company stock as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled $26,255,282 and $23,529,350, respectively.

 

Certain Plan investments were managed by DWS Trust Company, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the trustees of the plan during 2014. Any purchases and sales of these funds are performed in the open market at fair value. Such transactions, while considered party-in-interest transactions under ERISA regulations, are permitted under the provisions of the Plan and are specifically exempt from the prohibition of party-in-interest transactions under ERISA.

 

 

NOTE 9 – PLAN MERGER

 

In 2014, the 401(k) Savings Plan of the DCH Group of Companies, a plan sponsored by the DCH Auto Group (USA) which was acquired by Lithia, was merged with the Plan. Accordingly, assets of $80,158,584 were transferred into the Plan on December 31, 2014.

 

 
Page 13

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

SCHEDULE H, LINE 4I – SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

DECEMBER 31, 2014

EIN 93-0572810 PN 003


 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

(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

 
 

FFTW Income Plus

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 2,829  
 

SSGA Russell Small/Mid CL C

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 1,779,300  
 

SSGA Russell Small/Mid CL P

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 13,771  
 

SSGA S&P 500 Index Fund CL C

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 15,757,954  

*

Wells Fargo Stable Return N

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 16,068,458  

*

Wells Fargo Enhanced Stock Market Fund N

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 19,230,685  

*

Wells Fargo/BlackRock S&P MidCap Idx N

Common Collective Trust

N/A

  $ 4,221,854  
 

American Century Inflation Adj

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,958,922  
 

American Euro Pacific

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 4,867,752  
 

American Smallcap World

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,859,413  
 

Columbia Small Cap Val FD CL Y

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 61,278  
 

Deutsche Alt Asset Alloc FD-I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 359,902  
 

Goldman Sachs High Yield I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,334,877  
 

Janus Flexible Bond FD CL I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 313,703  
 

John Hancock Disciplined CL I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 4,887,480  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2015

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 4,851,544  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2020

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 5,597,281  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2025

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,082,933  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2030

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 6,089,474  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2035

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 2,929,946  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2040

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 5,597,056  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2045

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,723,063  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2050

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,964,863  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement 2055

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 118,987  
 

JPMorgan Smart Retirement Inc

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,160,454  
 

MFS Total Return FD R4

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 15,306,074  
 

Oppenheimer Developing Markets

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 4,346,382  
 

PIMCO Low Duration Fd Inst CL

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,374,303  
 

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 6,730,268  
 

Vanguard Mid Cap Growth Fund

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 8,873,473  
 

Vanguard Selected Value FD

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,256,649  

*

BIF Money Fund

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 23,473  

*

Wells Fargo Advantage Core Bond I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 218,683  
 

Oakmark Equity & Income I

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 5,451,000  
 

American Beacon Lg Cap Value Adv

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,480,829  
 

American Funds Growth Fund of Amer R3

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 4,296,823  
 

Oppenheimer Global A

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 5,596,035  
 

Thornburg International Value R3

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 1,346,923  
 

Royce Low Priced Stock Svc

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 3,078,860  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 148,247  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 184,809  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010

Registered Investment Company

N/A

  $ 163,311  

 

 
Page 14

 

 

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

SCHEDULE H, LINE 4I – SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

DECEMBER 31, 2014

EIN 93-0572810 PN 003


 

 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 822,622  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 1,933,507  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 1,601,078  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 2,573,633  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 1,169,164  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 3,076,809  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 1,460,964  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 1,318,812  
 

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055

Registered Investment Company

 

N/A

    $ 875,693  

*

Lithia Motors, Inc. Common Stock

Common Stock

 

N/A

    $ 26,255,282  
* Participants

Participant notes receivable

(4.25% to 10.50%)

  0     $ 9,372,882  
                $ 224,170,367  
 

N/A - Cost is not applicable as these are participant directed investments.

               
 

* - Party-in-interest to the Plan

                 

 

 
Page 15

 

 

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: June 24, 2015

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.

 

SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

By: /s/Carla Hegler

        Carla Hegler

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

Exhibit 

Description

23

Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

23.1

Plante & Moran, PLLC

23.2

Moss Adams LLP