addl page lithia11k061004

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 30, 2003

SEC Registration No. 333-43593

LITHIA MOTORS, INC. SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN

LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
360 East Jackson Street
Medford, OR 97501


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION
PROFIT SHARING PLAN

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 30, 2003 AND 2002


   

CONTENTS 


 
 
 
   

Page

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT   

1

 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS     
Statements of net assets available for benefits   

2

Statement of changes in net assets available for benefits   

3

Notes to financial statements   

4-8

 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE     
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of assets (held at end of year)   

9



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

To the Board of Trustees
Lithia Motors, Inc.
Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan as of December 30, 2003 and 2002 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 30, 2003. 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 audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan as of December 30, 2003 and 2002, and the changes in the net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 30, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule on page 8 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplemental information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

Medford, Oregon
April 30, 2004


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


 

   

December 30, 


 
   

2003

 

2002



 
ASSETS         
          Investments, at fair value         
                    Registered investment companies    $ 23,828,024    $ 15,566,877 
                    Interest-bearing cash    4,291,295    2,951,223 
                    Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock    4,219,225    2,733,436 
                    Participant loans    1,566,218    1,203,093 


 
    33,904,762    22,454,629 
 
          Employer's contribution receivable    497,711    894,113 


 
    34,402,473    23,348,742 
 
LIABILITIES         
          Excess participant contributions payable    82,943    - 


 
 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS    $ 34,319,530    $ 23,348,742 



See accompanying notes.

2


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 30, 2003


 

ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO     
          Investment income     
                    Net appreciation in fair value of investments    $ 7,568,993 
                    Interest and dividends    81,011 

    7,650,004 

          Contributions     
                    Employer's    497,711 
                    Participant's    5,534,693 

    6,032,404 

    13,682,408 

DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO     
          Benefits paid to participants    2,653,073 
          Administrative expenses    58,547 

    2,711,620 

NET INCREASE    10,970,788 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS     
          Beginning of year    23,348,742 

          End of year    $ 34,319,530 


See accompanying notes.

3


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

The following description of 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 full-time employees of Lithia Motors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) who have one year of service with at least 1,000 hours of service, are age 21 or older and who are not members of a union. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

The Company, and as a result, the Plan, have grown primarily due to the Company's acquisition and integration of automobile dealerships and by obtaining new dealer franchises. As the Company continues to grow and to acquire dealerships, the existing retirement plans at the acquired dealerships, if any, are terminated. Employees of the acquired dealerships are given the option of participating in the Plan and are given credit for years of service prior to the acquisitions.

Contributions - Each year, the Company contributes to the Plan an amount determined annually by the Company's senior management. Participants may contribute, under a salary reduction agreement, the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service under Code Section 402(g). Participants direct the investment of contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers various registered investment companies managed by Morgan Stanley as well as shares of Class A Common Stock of the Plan sponsor, Lithia Motors, Inc.

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 an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on account balances, as defined. 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 accounts is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100% vested after six years of credited service. Participant Loans - 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 account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer from the investment fund to the participant loan fund. Loan terms range up to five years or up to thirty years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate of 5.0% to 10.5% . Principal and interest are paid ratably through semimonthly payroll deductions.

Payment of Benefits - Participant balances attributable to participants who had withdrawn from the Plan but whose balances had not been paid approximated $108,500 at December 30, 2003. On termination of service or upon reaching retirement age, a participant receives a lump-sum amount equal to the value of his or her account.

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (Continued)

4


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Forfeited Accounts - In 2003, forfeited non-vested accounts amounted to $65,084 and were used to reduce employer contributions. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' non-vested accounts are used to reduce future Company contributions.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting - The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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. Shares of registered investment companies and shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Participant loans are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. 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.

Payment of Benefits - Benefits are recorded when paid.

Administrative Expenses - The Plan sponsor has voluntarily paid for certain administrative expenses of the Plan, and these expenses are not reflected in these financial statements.

Reclassifications - Certain accounts in the prior-year financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to the presentation in the current-year financial statements. These reclassifications have no effect on the previously reported net increase in net assets available for benefits.

NOTE 3 - 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 4 - INCOME TAX STATUS

The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on May 3, 2002, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial statements.

5


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 5 - INVESTMENTS

The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of Plan net assets.

 

    December 30,

 
    2003    2002 


 
Registered investment companies         
          Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset  $ 4,291,295  $ 2,951,223 
          Calvert Income A  $ 2,638,300  $ 2,101,074 
          Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index A  $ 3,974,517  $ 3,065,138 
          Van Kampen Comstock A  $ 2,259,440  $ 1,437,511 
          Oppenheimer Intl Growth A  $ 1,787,236  $ 776,686 
          Davis New York Venture A  $ 2,518,710  $ 1,821,373 
 
Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock  $ 4,219,225  $ 2,733,436 

During 2003, 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:

 

Registered investment companies  $  4,951,893 
Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock    2,617,100 

 
  $  7,568,993 


6


     LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 6 - 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 30, 

 
    2003    2002 


 
Net assets available for benefits per         
         the financial statements    $ 34,319,530     $ 23,348,742  
Plus employer contributions received by         
         the Plan during 2003 not accrued         
         on Schedule H of Form 5500    (497,711)    (894,113) 
 
Excess participant contributions payable         
         not accrued on Schedule H         
         of Form 5500    82,943      


 
Net assets available for benefits per         
         Schedule H of Form 5500    $ 33,904,762     $ 22,454,629  



The following is a reconciliation of employer contributions per the financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2003 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:

 

Employer contributions per the         
          financial statements      $  497,711  
Plus employer contributions received         
          by the Plan during 2003 not accrued         
          on Schedule H of Form 5500        894,113  
Less accrued employer contributions         
          for 2003 not received by the Plan and not         
          accrued on Schedule H of Form 5500        (497,711) 
 
Employer contributions per Schedule H         
of Form 5500      $  894,113  
 

7


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 6 - RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SCHEDULE H OF FORM 5500 (continued)

The following is a reconciliation of participant contributions per the financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2003 to Schedule H of Form 5500:

 

Participant contributions per the         
          financial statements      $  5,534,693 
Plus excess participant contributions         
          payable not accrued on Schedule H         
          of Form 5500        82,943 
 
Participant contributions per Schedule H         
          of Form 5500      $  5,617,636 

NOTE 7 - FISCAL YEAR CHANGE

Effective December 2003, the Plan changed from a fiscal year end of December 30 to December 31.

NOTE 8 - EXCESS PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributions received from participants for 2003 are net of payments of $82,943 made in March 2004 to certain active participants to return to them excess deferral contributions as required to satisfy the relevant nondiscrimination provisions of the Plan.

8


SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE


LITHIA MOTORS, INC.
SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4I - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
EIN 93-0572810 PN 003


 

    (b) Identify of issue, borrower, lessor, or    (c) Description of investment including maturity date,  rate of   (d)    (e) Current 
(a)    similar party    interest, collateral, par, or maturity value   Cost    value 
 
*    AIM Balanced A    Registered Investment Company    28,473.9898  shares    N/A    $ 680,528 
*    Morgan Stanley American Opp. A    Registered Investment Company    39,052.7398  shares    N/A    880,249 
*    Oppenheimer Intl. Growth A    Registered Investment Company    108,646.5842  shares    N/A    1,787,236 
*    ING Small Cap Opport. A    Registered Investment Company    52,902.2357  shares    N/A    1,233,680 
*    Morgan Stanley Information A    Registered Investment Company    99,716.3753  shares    N/A    1,014,116 
*    Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset    Registered Investment Company    4,291,294.9839  shares   N/A    4,291,295 
*    Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index A    Registered Investment Company    331,209.7447  shares    N/A    3,974,517 
*    Morgan Stanley Total Return A    Registered Investment Company    39,816.9095  shares    N/A    578,938 
*    Morgan Stanley US Govt. Sec. A    Registered Investment Company    119,221.4943  shares    N/A    1,098,030 
*    Van Kampen Aggressive Growth A    Registered Investment Company    134,452.1625  shares    N/A    1,661,829 
*    Van Kampen Comstock A    Registered Investment Company    141,835.5362  shares    N/A    2,259,440 
*    Van Kampen Emerging Markets A    Registered Investment Company    75,524.4840  shares    N/A    887,413 
*    Calvert Income A    Registered Investment Company    154,829.7848  shares    N/A    2,638,300 
*    Eaton Vance World Health A    Registered Investment Company    157,010.9532  shares    N/A    1,568,539 
*    Davis New York Venture A    Registered Investment Company    91,556.1462  shares    N/A    2,518,710 
*    Alger Capital Appreciation Instl. A    Registered Investment Company    92,202.6497  shares    N/A    1,046,500 
*    Lithia Motors Co Stock    Other Investments    232,104.8352  shares    N/A    4,219,225 
    Participant Loans    Interest Rates (5.0% to 10.5%)        -0-    1,566,218 
                   
 
                       

$ 33,904,762 

                   
    N/A - Cost is not applicable as these are participant directed investments.                 
    * - Party in interest to the Plan                 



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 9, 2004    LITHIA MOTORS, INC. 
    SALARY REDUCTION PROFIT SHARING PLAN TRUST 
    By: /s/ Linda Ganim 
    Linda Ganim, Trustee 


Exhibit 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-43593 of Lithia Motors, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated April 30, 2004 appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Lithia Motors, Inc. Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan for the year ended December 30, 2003.

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

Medford, Oregon
June 7, 2004