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):   March 31, 2017

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 1-13461 76-0506313
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
800 Gessner, Suite 500, Houston, Texas   77024
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   713-647-5700

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))


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Item 3.03 Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth below under Item 5.03 regarding certain amendments to the Bylaws of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (the "Company") is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.





Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 3, 2017, the Company announced the appointment of Daryl A. Kenningham, age 52, to the new position of President, U.S. Operations, effective May 1, 2017. Prior to his appointment as President, U.S. Operations, Mr. Kenningham served as Regional Vice President, East Region, from July 2011 (when he joined the Company) through January 2016, and as Regional Vice President, West Region, from February 2016 through April 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kenningham worked in several sales, marketing and operational roles in the automotive industry.

A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Kenningham to President, U.S. Operations, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.





Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On March 31, 2017, the Board of Directors amended and restated the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws"). The Bylaws were effective immediately and include, among other things, the following changes:

• Providing the chairman of a meeting of stockholders with explicit authority to adjourn or recess a stockholder meeting.

• Modifying the deadline for stockholder nominations and proposals for an annual meeting of stockholders occurring in 2018 and thereafter.

• Clarifying the powers of the chairman of a meeting of stockholders to conduct a stockholder meeting.

• Providing for additional disclosure requirements for notices of director nominations and stockholder proposals.

• Providing for a majority voting standard in an uncontested election of directors.

The foregoing description of the Bylaws is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

3.1 Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated March 31, 2017.

99.1 Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated April 3, 2017.






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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.

         
    Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
          
April 6, 2017   By:   /s/ Darryl M. Burman
       
        Name: Darryl M. Burman
        Title: Vice President


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
3.1
  Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Group 1 Automotive, Inc., dated March 31, 2017.
99.1
  Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc., dated April 3, 2017.

Exhibit 3.1

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

(hereinafter called the “ Corporation ”)

March 31, 2017

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

SECTION 1. Principal Office . The principal office shall be established and maintained at the office of Capitol Services, Inc., in the City of Dover, in the County of Kent, in the State of Delaware, and said corporation shall be the resident agent of this Corporation in charge thereof.

SECTION 2. Other Offices . The Corporation may have other offices, either within or outside of the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. Place of Meetings . The annual meeting and all other meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place within or outside the State of Delaware as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of such meeting or waiver thereof. In lieu of holding a meeting of stockholders at a designated place, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of stockholders may be held solely by means of remote communication.

SECTION 2. Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of other business shall be held in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) on such date and at such time as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Voting . All matters submitted to the stockholders (other than the election of directors) shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter, except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), these Bylaws or the DGCL.

SECTION 4. Quorum . Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders holding a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. For the avoidance of doubt, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. In case a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than the announcement at the meeting, until the requisite amount of stock entitled to vote shall be present. The chairman of the meeting shall have power to adjourn or recess the meeting at any time and for any reason, whether or not there is a quorum, without notice other than announcement at the meeting. No notice of the time and place of an adjourned or recessed meeting need be given if  the time and place, if any, thereof, and  the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned or recessed meeting, are announced at the meeting at which adjournment or recess is taken. At any such adjourned or recessed meeting at which the requisite amount of stock entitled to vote shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed, but only those stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting as originally noticed shall be entitled to vote at any adjournment or recess thereof. If a quorum is present at the original duly organized meeting of stockholders, it shall also be deemed present at an adjourned or recessed session of such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until the meeting is adjourned or recessed, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 5. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called only upon a request in writing therefor, stating the purpose or purposes thereof, delivered to the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Secretary, signed by a majority of the directors, or by resolution of the Board of Directors. No business other than that stated in the notice shall be transacted at any special meeting.

SECTION 6. Notice of Meetings . Written or printed notice, stating the place and time of any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting, and the general nature of the business to be considered, shall be given by the Secretary to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation, at least ten days but not more than 60 days before the meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided by Sections 222 and 232 of the DGCL. Meetings may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present (without being present for the purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened), or if notice is waived by those not present in accordance with Article V , Section 8 of these bylaws. The Board may, at any time prior to holding an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and for any reason, cancel, reschedule or postpone any previously scheduled annual or special meeting.

SECTION 7. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

(A)  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders  pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting,  by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or  by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw and applicable law.

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A) (1) of this Section 7 , the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under applicable law. To be timely with respect to the Corporation’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 70 th  day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 90 th  day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 20 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 90 th  day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 70 th  day prior to such annual meeting or, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. To be timely with respect to any annual meeting of the Corporation occurring in 2018 or thereafter, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90 th  day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement of an annual meeting or any announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(2) or paragraph (B) of Section 7 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary of the Corporation must:

(a) set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director  all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected),  a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among each Proposing Person (as defined below), on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant,  a written statement executed by the nominee acknowledging as a director of the Corporation, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under Delaware law with respect to the Corporation and its stockholders, and  a written statement of such person that such person, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors;

(b) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by paragraph (A)(4) of this Section 7 ;

(c) set forth, as the Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish, any such additional information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee;

(d) as to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth  a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person  a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person, persons or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and

(e) set forth, as to each Proposing Person (as defined below)  the name and address of such Proposing Person, (including, if applicable, the name and address as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records)   the class or series, if any, and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person,  any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, swap or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”), directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation,  a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation,  any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these Bylaws a person shall be deemed to have a “short interest” in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security),  any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation,  any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and  any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household,  any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents for, as applicable, the proposal or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,  a representation that the Proposing Person is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, will continue to be a holder of record of stock entitled to vote at such meeting through the date of the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting,  a description of any material interest in such business of the Proposing Person on whose behalf the proposal is made,  a summary of any material discussion regarding the business proposed to be brought before the meeting between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and any other record or beneficial holder of the             shares of any class or series of the Corporation (including their names), on the other hand, and  a representation as to whether such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group that intends to (x) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A) (2) of this Section 7 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 80 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10 th  day following the day on which such public announcement of the increased Board is first made by the Corporation.

(4) To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under paragraph (A) (2) of Section 7 of these Bylaws and applicable law) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation  a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (the proposed nominee shall request such form from the Secretary of the Corporation, and the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide such form no later than ten days following such request) and  a written representation and agreement (the proposed nominee shall request such form from the Secretary of the Corporation and the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide such form no later than ten days following such request) that such person  is not and will not become a party to  any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote in such capacity on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or  any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law,  is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation,  in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable law and all applicable rules of the U.S. exchanges upon which the Common Stock of the Corporation is listed and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and other guidelines of the Corporation,  in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation and  will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(5) The foregoing notice requirements of this paragraph (A) of this Section 7 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business or a nomination if such stockholder has notified the Corporation of his intention to present a proposal or make a nomination at an annual meeting in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal or nomination has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

(6) For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “ Proposing Person ” shall mean  the stockholder providing the notice of nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders,  the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting is made,  any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owners and  any other person with whom such stockholder or beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is acting in concert.

(B)  Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting  by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or  provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A) (2) of Section 7 of these Bylaws with respect to any director nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire and the written representation and agreement required by paragraph (A)(4) of this Section 7 ) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such meeting, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C)  General .

(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

(2) For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure  in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service,  in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or  in a notice of meeting (or any supplement) pursuant to Article II , Section 6 of these Bylaws.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to paragraph (A)(2) or paragraph (B) of this Section 7 . Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to affect any rights  of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a- 8 under the Exchange Act or  of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.

(4) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee for director to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 7 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 7 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(5) A stockholder providing notice of a nomination or proposal of other business to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 7 shall be true and correct  as of the record date for the meeting and  as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than seven business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof)).

SECTION 8. No Stockholder Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation after the date of the closing of the first public offering of Common Stock of the Corporation registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended must be taken at an annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

SECTION 9. Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls . The Board of Directors by resolution shall appoint, or authorize an officer of the Corporation to appoint, one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents, or representatives of the Corporation, to act at any meeting of the stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspector(s) to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act, or if all inspectors or alternates who have been appointed are unable to act, at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector(s) shall have the duties prescribed by the DGCL.

SECTION 10. Meetings by Remote Communication . If authorized by the Board of Directors, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at the meeting, whether such meeting is to be held in a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that  the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder,  the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings in the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings and  if the stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

SECTION 11. Conduct of Business . The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman of the meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following:  the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting;  rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present;  limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine;  restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof;  limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and  restrictions on the use of audio or video recording devices at the meeting. The chairman of the meeting at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman of the meeting should so determine, such chairman of the meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. Number and Term . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then serving on the Board of Directors (including for this purpose in such total any vacancies), but in no event shall the number of directors be fixed at less than three.

Except as otherwise required by law or required or permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock, shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders, and each director so elected shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors’ successor is duly elected and qualified or until such directors’ earlier death, resignation or removal. All directors shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present, provided, however, that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, then the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of this Article III , Section 1 , a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that nominee. Unless the director election standard is a plurality, if an incumbent director is not elected by a majority of the votes cast, the incumbent director shall tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors for consideration following the certification of the election results. The Nominating/Governance Committee shall consider the resignation and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether to accept or reject the director’s resignation or whether other action should be taken. The Board shall then consider each tendered resignation and act on each, taking into account its fiduciary duties to the Corporation and the stockholders. Within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results, the Corporation shall publicly disclose the decision of the Board of Directors, and, if applicable, the Board’s reasons for rejecting a tendered resignation. An incumbent director who tenders his or her resignation for consideration shall not participate in the Nominating/Governance Committee’s recommendation or the Board of Directors’ decision, or any deliberations related thereto. If a director’s resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Article III , Section 1 , or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors may fill the resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of  Article III , Section 3 , or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Article III , Section 1 . The election of directors by the stockholders shall be by written ballot if directed by the chairman of the meeting or if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected.

SECTION 2. Resignation . Any member of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 3. Vacancies . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, vacancies resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, stockholders may not fill vacancies under any circumstances. Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors’ successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

SECTION 4. Removal . Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock to elect directors under specific circumstances, any director may be removed from office at a meeting of stockholders, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Voting Stock ”), voting together as a single class.

SECTION 5. Powers . The Board of Directors shall exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except such as are by applicable law, by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, or by these Bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

SECTION 6. Committees . The Board of Directors may by resolution or resolutions, passed by a majority of the Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more of the directors of the Corporation which, to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions or in these Bylaws and permitted by applicable law, shall have and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. In addition to the regular members of each committee, the Board may designate one or more alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the event of the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee, or committees, at a time when the Board is not in session, the members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be stated in these Bylaws or as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The chairman of each such committee, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in such resolution or resolutions designating such committee, shall be elected by a majority of the members of each such committee and whenever any change shall be made in the membership of any such committee, a new chairman shall be elected in the same manner. The committees shall keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the Board when required.

SECTION 7. Meetings . After each annual meeting of stockholders, the newly elected directors may hold their first meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum be present, immediately after such annual meeting of the stockholders, or the time and place of such meeting may be fixed by consent in writing of all the directors.

Regular meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Special meetings of the Board may be called  by the Chairman of the Board,  by the President, or  by the Secretary on the written request of the Chairman of the Board or directors constituting a majority of the Board upon notice to each director and shall be held at such places and time as shall be determined by the directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.

Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by such Board may, with the consent of the Chairman of the Board or the President, participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

SECTION 8. Quorum . A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn or recess the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned or recessed.

SECTION 9. Compensation . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors or as members of committees, but by resolution of the Board a fixed annual fee and a fixed fee for attendance at each meeting of the Board or any committee thereof shall be established. In addition, a fixed annual or other fee may be paid for specified services to the Board, including service as chairman of a committee of the Board. Expenses of attendance at any such meeting may be reimbursed. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity, whether as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.

SECTION 10. Advisory Directors . The Board of Directors may elect one or more advisory directors who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the directors shall assign to them. Advisory directors shall, upon election, serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

Advisory directors shall receive notices of all meetings of the Board of Directors in the same manner and at the same time as the directors. They shall attend said meetings referred to in said notices in an advisory capacity, but will not cast a vote or be counted to determine a quorum. Any advisory directors may be removed either with or without cause, by a majority of the directors at the time in office, at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

Advisory directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as advisory directors, but by resolution of the Board of Directors a fixed annual fee and a fixed fee for attendance at each meeting of the Board or any committee thereof shall be established. Expenses of attendance at any such meeting may be reimbursed. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any advisory director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity, whether as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and, if deemed necessary, expedient, or desirable by the Board of Directors, a President, one or more Chief Operating Officers, one or more Vice Presidents (one or more of whom may be designated Executive or Senior Vice President), one or more Assistant Secretaries, and one or more Assistant Treasurers. The Board of Directors may designate the Chairman of the Board as executive Chairman of the Board, in which case such person shall be an officer of the Corporation. Except as may otherwise be provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing him or her, no officer need be a director. Except as may be limited by law, any number of offices may be held by the same person, as the directors may determine.

Unless otherwise provided for in the resolution choosing him or her, each officer shall be chosen for a term that shall continue until the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall have been chosen and qualified.

All officers of the Corporation shall have authority and perform such duties as shall be prescribed in the Bylaws or in the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating and choosing such officers and shall have such additional authority and duties as are incident to their office except to the extent that the Bylaws or such resolutions may be inconsistent therewith. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. The Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from the members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate whether such Chairman of the Board is either a non-executive Chairman of the Board, or an executive Chairman of the Board. Subject to the control vested in the Board of Directors by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors as the “ chairman of the meeting ”, unless the Board of Directors appoints another chairman of the meeting; and in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chairman of the Board and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. References in these Bylaws to “ Chairman of the Board ” shall mean non-executive Chairman of the Board or executive Chairman of the Board, as designated by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Other Officers and Agents . The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may appoint key executives to the position of staff vice president. Such staff vice presidents shall not be corporate officers and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as are assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any, or by any other officer of the Corporation designated for such purpose by the Chief Executive Officer or President.

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. Certificates of Stock . The shares of the Corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under the DGCL, and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation and registered as they are issued. Any certificates representing shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, certifying the number and class of shares of the stock of the Corporation owned by the shareholder, affixed with the seal of the Corporation, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or any Vice President, and the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. When such certificates are signed by either  a transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee or  a registrar other than the Corporation or its employee, the signatures of such officers of the Corporation may be facsimiles.

Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice that shall set forth the name of the Corporation, that the Corporation is organized under the DGCL, the name of the shareholder, the number and class (and the designation of the series, if any) of the shares represented, and any restrictions on the transfer or registration of such shares of stock imposed by the Corporation’s articles of incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement among shareholders or any agreement between shareholders and the Corporation.

SECTION 2. Lost Certificates . A new certificate or certificates of stock or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost or destroyed, and the directors may, in their discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as they may direct to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate or evidence of uncertificated shares.

SECTION 3. Transfer of Shares . Upon surrender to the Corporation of a certificate for shares, properly endorsed, or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall, subject to applicable law, issue a new certificate or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated shares to the transferee, cancel any old certificate, and record the transaction on the Corporation’s books. The person in whose name shares of stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the Corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim thereto on the part of any other person.

Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such uncertificated shares shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or of certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto, and the transaction shall be recorded upon the Corporation’s books. If the Corporation has a transfer agent or registrar acting on its behalf, the signature of any officer or representative thereof may be in facsimile.

SECTION 4. Regulations . The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificates of stock or uncertificated shares of stock of the Corporation.

SECTION 5. Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not more than 60 days nor less than 10 preceding any action, including, without limitation, the date of the payment of any dividend or the date of the allotment of rights or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders with respect thereto, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or to any such allotment of rights or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purpose of any lawful action, and in such case such stockholders only as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, or to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend or to receive such allotment of rights or to exercise such rights as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.

SECTION 6. Dividends . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends and at such times and in such manner as determined by the Board of Directors, declare and pay dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund for meeting contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

SECTION 7. Seal . The corporation seal shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the Corporation, the year of its creation and the words “CORPORATE SEAL DELAWARE.” Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

SECTION 8. Notice and Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required by these Bylaws to be given, personal notice is not required unless expressly so stated, and unless so stated such notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by depositing the same in a post office box in a sealed post-paid wrapper or by transmittal by telex or facsimile, addressed to the person entitled thereto at his or her last known post office address or telex or facsimile number, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day and at the time of such mailing or transmission. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meetings except as otherwise provided by law.

Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of any law, or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 9. Electronic Transmissions . For purposes of these bylaws, “ electronic transmission ” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, which creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such recipient through an automated process.

SECTION 10. Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such provision or portion of any provision shall be severable and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and these Bylaws will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.

ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted  at any annual or special meeting of stockholders if notice of the proposed alteration, repeal or adoption of the new Bylaw or Bylaws be contained in the notice of such annual or special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, voting together as a single class, provided, however, that any proposed alteration or repeal of, or the adoption of any Bylaw inconsistent with, Section 1 3 or  4 of Article III hereof by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, voting together as a single class, or  by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at any special meeting of the Board of Directors, without any action on the part of the stockholders, if notice of the proposed alteration, repeal or adoption of the new Bylaw or Bylaws be contained in the notice of such regular or special meeting.

ARTICLE VII
FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

Unless a majority of the Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for  any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation,  any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders,  any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or  any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over all indispensable parties named as defendants. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “ Foreign Action ”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to  the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the immediately preceding sentence (an “ Enforcement Action ”) and  having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VII .

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Group 1 Automotive Appoints Leader of U.S. Operations
Daryl Kenningham Named President, U.S. Operations

HOUSTON, April 3, 2017 — Group 1 Automotive, Inc. ( NYSE: GPI ), an international, Fortune 500 automotive retailer, today announced the appointment of Daryl Kenningham to the new position of President, U.S. Operations effective May 1, 2017.

Currently, Kenningham serves as Regional Vice President, Western Region for the Company. He joined Group 1 Automotive in 2011 in the role of Regional Vice President, Eastern Region. Prior to joining Group 1, Kenningham served in a variety of sales, marketing, and operational roles with both Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. and Gulf States Toyota, a private distributor serving the south central U.S. for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

“Daryl’s extensive experience with major automotive manufacturers, as well as his thorough understanding of our retail operations, makes him the perfect person to lead our U.S. business. As our company continues to grow in all three of our markets – the U.S., Brazil and the U.K. – there are increasing demands on my time,” stated Earl Hesterberg, Group 1’s president and chief executive officer. “Daryl’s appointment to this new role will enable me to focus more on strategic and growth initiatives and will be a seamless transition from an operating viewpoint as Daryl has detailed knowledge about every one of our 111 U.S. dealerships.”

In his new role, Kenningham will be responsible for all of Group 1 Automotive’s U.S. dealership operations, which include 111 dealerships and approximately 9,400 employees. Group 1 will also consolidate its Eastern and Western Regional operations into a single unit with current Eastern Region Vice President David Fesmire assuming the new position of Vice President, Operations reporting to Kenningham.

Kenningham obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Florida. He and his wife Dana reside in Houston, Texas along with their three children.

ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Group 1 owns and operates 157 automotive dealerships, 208 franchises, and 38 collision centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil that offer 31 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships, 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.

Investors please visit www.group1corp.com, www.group1auto.com, www.group1collision.com, www.facebook.com/group1auto, and www.twitter.com/group1auto, where Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations.

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 often include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy, and 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 level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, and (i) our ability to retain key personnel. 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 SEC, 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.

SOURCE: Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Investor contacts:
Sheila Roth
Manager, Investor Relations
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
713-647-5741 | sroth@group1auto.com

Media contacts:
Pete DeLongchamps
V.P. Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
713-647-5770 | pdelongchamps@group1auto.com
or
Clint Woods
Pierpont Communications, Inc.
713-627-2223 | cwoods@piercom.com