Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan

v2.4.1.9
Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]  
Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan

3. Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New vehicles

 

$

924,818

 

 

$

938,263

 

 

 

Used vehicles

 

 

214,015

 

 

 

171,909

 

 

 

Service loaners

 

 

112,520

 

 

 

108,136

 

 

 

Parts, accessories and other

 

 

60,349

 

 

 

63,830

 

 

 

     Net inventories

 

$

1,311,702

 

 

$

1,282,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sonic finances all of its new and certain of its used vehicle inventory through standardized floor plan facilities with a syndicate of financial institutions and manufacturer-affiliated finance companies. The new and used floor plan facilities bear interest at variable rates based on prime and LIBOR. The weighted average interest rate for Sonic’s new vehicle floor plan facilities, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, was 1.57%, 1.86% and 2.02% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Sonic’s floor plan interest expense related to the new vehicle floor plan arrangements is partially offset by amounts received from manufacturers in the form of floor plan assistance. Floor plan assistance received is capitalized in inventory and charged against cost of sales when the associated inventory is sold. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, Sonic recognized a reduction in cost of sales of approximately $39.7,  million, $37.9 million and $33.0 million, respectively, related to manufacturer floor plan assistance.

The weighted average interest rate for Sonic’s used vehicle floor plan facilities, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, was 1.80%, 2.78% and 2.80% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The new and used floor plan facilities are collateralized by vehicle inventories and other assets, excluding franchise and dealer agreements, of the relevant dealership subsidiary. The new and used floor plan facilities contain a number of covenants, including, among others, covenants restricting Sonic with respect to the creation of liens and changes in ownership, officers and key management personnel. Sonic was in compliance with all of these restrictive covenants as of December 31, 2014.