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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-09-070228.txt : 20091211
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-09-070228.hdr.sgml : 20091211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091211164455
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-09-070228
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091207
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091211

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043509
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				562010790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0207

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13395
		FILM NUMBER:		091236718

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 18747
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28212
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7045323354

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>g21549e8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
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<HEAD>
<TITLE>e8vk</TITLE>
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <U><B>December&nbsp;7, 2009</B></U>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 1pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Delaware</B><BR>
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>1-13395</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>56-201079</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>6415 Idlewild Road, Suite&nbsp;109</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>28212</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Charlotte, North Carolina</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (<B>704) 566-2400</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>N/A</B><BR>
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">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:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







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<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U>Adoption of Sonic Automotive, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On December&nbsp;7, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the &#147;Compensation
Committee&#148;) of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (&#147;Sonic&#148;) approved and adopted the Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the &#147;SERP&#148;) to be effective as of January&nbsp;1, 2010. In
connection with the adoption of the SERP, the Compensation Committee authorized the establishment
of an irrevocable grantor trust known as a &#147;rabbi trust&#148; for the purpose of accumulating assets
from which SERP liabilities may be paid.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The SERP is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that will be unfunded for federal tax
purposes. The SERP is intended to be a &#147;top hat&#148; plan available only to a select group of management
or highly compensated employees. The SERP is subject to Section&nbsp;409A of the Internal Revenue Code
(the &#147;Code&#148;). The purpose of the SERP is to attract and retain key employees by providing a
retirement benefit in addition to the benefits provided by Sonic&#146;s tax-qualified and other
nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Compensation Committee designates the employees who
will become SERP participants and may require that such employees execute a participation agreement
as a condition of participation. On December&nbsp;7, 2009, the Compensation Committee designated David
P. Cosper, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, and Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of
Operations, as Tier 1 participants in the SERP effective as of January&nbsp;1, 2010, but in each case
subject to his execution of a participation agreement. The Compensation Committee also administers
the SERP and has the discretionary authority to make, amend, interpret and enforce appropriate
rules for the administration of the SERP and to utilize its discretion to decide all questions and
interpretations that may arise in connection with the SERP.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon a participant&#146;s &#147;normal retirement,&#148; the SERP generally provides an accrued benefit in
the form of an annual payment equal to a specified percentage of the participant&#146;s &#147;final average
salary&#148; for a period of 15&nbsp;years. Final average salary
generally means the average of the participant&#146;s
highest three annual base salaries during the last five plan years prior to the participant&#146;s
separation from service with Sonic. A participant is generally eligible for the normal retirement
benefit upon retirement after reaching age 65 or age 55 with at least 10&nbsp;years of employment with
Sonic. When the Compensation Committee designates an employee as a SERP participant, it also
designates the employee as a Tier 1 participant, Tier 2 participant or Tier 3 participant. The
annual payments to a Tier 1 participant are 50% of final average salary. The annual payments to a
Tier 2 participant are 40% of final average salary. The annual payments to a Tier 3 participant
are 35% of final average salary.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Participants are subject to a vesting schedule for their SERP benefits based on their &#147;Years
of Plan Service&#148; (i.e., a 365-day period of employment beginning
on the effective date of participation and
each anniversary thereof). Unless otherwise specified by the Compensation Committee, participants
vest in their SERP benefits as follows:
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="65%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="75%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><U>Years of Plan Service</U></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><U>Percent Vested</U></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Less than 1<BR>
At least 1 but less than 2<BR>
At least 2 but less than 3<BR>
At least 3 but less than 4<BR>
At least 4 but less than 5<BR>
5 or more
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">0%<BR>
20%<BR>
40%<BR>
60%<BR>
80%<BR>
100%</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">However, Mr.&nbsp;Cosper will vest in his SERP benefits as follows:
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="65%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="75%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><U>Years of Plan Service</U></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left"><U>Percent Vested</U></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Less than 2<BR>
At least 2 but less than 4<BR>
At least 4 but less than 6<BR>
At least 6 but less than 8<BR>
8 or more
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">0%<BR>
20%<BR>
50%<BR>
75%<BR>
100%</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Participants also become 100% vested upon normal retirement, death while employed with
Sonic, disability (as defined in the SERP) while employed with Sonic
or a change in control (as defined
in the SERP) while employed with Sonic.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If a participant leaves Sonic before qualifying for normal retirement, the participant&#146;s
accrued benefit generally is reduced for early retirement (in addition to application of the
vesting schedule). The benefit is reduced by 10% for each year the participant&#146;s payment
commencement date precedes the earliest date the participant would have been eligible for normal
retirement. The reduction for early retirement does not apply to Mr.&nbsp;Cosper.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Generally, payment of benefits begins the first of the month following the month in which
normal retirement or early retirement occurs. If the participant is a &#147;specified employee&#148; under
Section&nbsp;409A of the Code, the first payment following normal or early retirement generally must be
postponed for six months following termination. Subsequent annual payments will be paid on the
anniversary of the date the initial installment otherwise would have been made.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If a participant terminates employment with Sonic within 2&nbsp;years after a change in control, the
participant will receive his normal retirement benefit or reduced early retirement benefit, as
applicable, in a lump sum payment based on the present value of his unpaid, vested accrued benefit.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If a participant dies during the 15-year payment period, payments continue to the
participant&#146;s surviving spouse (if any). If a participant dies before terminating employment with
Sonic, the lump sum value of his accrued benefit (calculated as if the date of death were the date
of normal retirement) will be paid to his designated beneficiary. If a participant becomes
disabled while employed with Sonic, the participant will be entitled to a
regular SERP benefit payable for 15&nbsp;years (calculated as if the date of disability were the date of
normal retirement).
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If a participant is terminated for &#147;cause&#148; or it is discovered after termination that the
participant could have been terminated for certain reasons constituting &#147;cause,&#148; the participant
will forfeit all benefits under the SERP, including any remaining unpaid benefits if already in pay
status. If already in pay status, the SERP also provides that the participant must repay Sonic all
benefit amounts previously received. Under the SERP, reasons constituting &#147;cause&#148; include material
breach of the participant&#146;s obligations in any employment agreement which is not timely remedied,
the participant&#146;s breach of any applicable restrictive covenants, conviction of a felony, actions
involving moral turpitude, willful failure to comply with reasonable and lawful directives of
Sonic&#146;s Board of Directors or the participant&#146;s superiors, chronic absenteeism, willful or material
misconduct, illegal use of controlled substances, and if applicable, the final and non-appealable
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that the participant willfully and knowingly
filed a fraudulent certification under Section&nbsp;302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, the SERP provides that benefits are forfeited if a participant fails to comply
with certain restrictive covenants related to Sonic and its business, including any remaining
unpaid benefits if already in pay status. If already in pay status, the SERP also provides that
the participant must repay Sonic all benefit amounts previously received. Subject to limited
exceptions, these restrictive covenants generally prohibit (i)&nbsp;disclosing or using in any
unauthorized manner any of Sonic&#146;s confidential or proprietary information, (ii)&nbsp;employing or
soliciting employees of Sonic, its affiliates or subsidiaries, (iii)&nbsp;interfering with Sonic&#146;s
relationships with its vendors, (iv)&nbsp;competing with Sonic within any Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area or county in which Sonic or any of its subsidiaries has a place of business, and
(v)&nbsp;disparaging Sonic, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, business or products.
These restrictive covenants generally apply while a participant in the SERP, and if later, during
the two-year period following separation from service with Sonic (except that the confidentiality
and non-disparagement restrictions do not expire).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If a rabbi trust exists at the time of a change in control of Sonic, the SERP requires that
Sonic contribute, at the time of the change in control and then on each anniversary thereof, cash
or liquid securities sufficient so that the value of assets in the rabbi trust at least equals the
total value of all accrued benefits under the SERP.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Compensation Committee retains the discretion to amend or terminate the SERP at any time
(provided that an amendment generally cannot reduce a participant&#146;s vested accrued benefits as of
the date of the amendment). The SERP can be terminated and liquidated as permitted by Section&nbsp;409A
of the Code.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left" valign="top">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Stephen K. Coss</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Stephen K. Coss<BR>
Senior Vice President and General Counsel</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Dated: December&nbsp;11, 2009</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>


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