FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov 8, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AutoNation, Inc.
(NYSE: AN), America's largest retailer of new and used automobiles, today
announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Laurel Motors Automotive
Group from Richard B. Cogswell, Jr. and Thomas A. Kinnish. The group would
include the Company's first luxury new vehicle franchises in the Chicago area.
Terms of the all-cash acquisition were not disclosed. Laurel Motors includes the
following seven luxury new vehicle franchises at six Chicago-area dealerships:
* Laurel Audi of Tinley Park
* Laurel Audi of Westmont
* Laurel BMW (Westmont)
* Laurel Jaguar Volvo (Tinley Park)
* Laurel Mercedes-Benz (Westmont)
* Mercedes-Benz of Naperville
Including the recent openings of Laurel Jaguar Volvo and Laurel Audi of Tinley
Park, AutoNation estimates revenue of approximately $350 million in 2002 for
Laurel Motors.
"Our goal in every market is to provide consumers true selection, great service
and unbeatable prices. This makes an intelligent buying or servicing decision
impossible without considering an AutoNation dealership," said Michael E.
Maroone, AutoNation's President and Chief Operating Officer. "This is why we're
adding a world-class collection of luxury new vehicle franchises to our Chicago
presence."
Once closed, the Laurel Motors acquisition will bring to 18 the total number of
Chicago-area new vehicle franchises owned and operated by AutoNation. Currently,
the Company's 11 Chicago-area franchises offer new vehicles from Chevrolet,
Dodge, Ford, Toyota and Kia, as well as used vehicles, parts and services, and
finance and insurance products.
The Laurel Motors acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of
2002 and is subject to customary closing approvals.
About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest
retailer of new and used automobiles. Ranked #83 on the Fortune 500, AutoNation
employs approximately 31,000 people at 375 automotive retail franchises in 17
states. Additional information is available at www.autonation.com, where
consumers can find 100,000 vehicles available for sale.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements and information included in this release constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied in such forward-looking statements. Additional discussion of factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's
projections, estimates and expectations is contained in the Company's SEC
filings. The Company undertakes no duty to update its forward- looking
statements, including its earnings outlook.
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SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.
CONTACT: Oscar Suris of AutoNation, +1-954-769-7208
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