Asbury Automotive Group Inc. spent $2.7 million during the fourth quarter on "a significant acquisition that did not materialize," the company said Thursday.
Asbury's sale of nine North Carolina stores in the fourth quarter was also partly agreed to in anticipation of the unconsummated purchase, CEO David Hult told analysts and investors on a call.
Asbury did not specify a reason for the "significant" deal's lack of completion, and it was unclear from Hult and Asbury's comments if the auto retailer had abandoned that transaction entirely. Asbury also did not specify what expenses consumed the $2.7 million other than for "deal diligence."
On the call, Morningstar Inc. analyst David Whiston asked for clarification on what Asbury considered a "large" or "significant" acquisition in light of the group's purchase of Larry H. Miller Dealerships in December 2021. That $3.2 billion transaction included Asbury purchasing 61 franchised an…