<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-12-281648.txt : 20120625
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-12-281648.hdr.sgml : 20120625
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120625110157
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-12-281648
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120625
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120625
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120625

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:		12923810

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-566-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d371673d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="line-height:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
<B><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;June 25, 2012 </U></B> </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Delaware
</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>1-13395 </B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>56-201079</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(Commission File Number)</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4401 Colwick Road</B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Charlotte, North Carolina </B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>28211</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Address of principal executive offices)</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(Zip Code)</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (<B>704) 566-2400</B> </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>N/A </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">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: </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Other Events. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On June
25, 2012, Sonic Automotive, Inc. announced the commencement of an exchange offer to purchase for cash and shares of its Class A common Stock all of its outstanding 5.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the &#147;Notes&#148;). A copy of the press
release relating to this announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed an offer to purchase or a solicitation of tenders for the Notes. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:18px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>(d)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibits</B> </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">99.1</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Press release dated June 25, 2012</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SIGNATURES </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">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. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px;border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Stephen K. Coss</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Stephen K. Coss</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Senior Vice President and General Counsel</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dated: June 25, 2012 </FONT></P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">99.1</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Press release dated June 25, 2012 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>d371673dex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibit 99.1 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF EXCHANGE OFFER FOR ALL 5.0% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:8px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Charlotte, NC &#150; June&nbsp;25,
2012 </B>&#150; Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH) today announced that it has commenced an exchange offer to purchase for cash and shares of its Class&nbsp;A common Stock all of its outstanding 5.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (CUSIP
No.&nbsp;83545GAQ5) (the &#147;Notes&#148;). The exchange offer (the &#147;Offer&#148;) is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the company&#146;s Preliminary Prospectus, dated June&nbsp;25, 2012, and the related
Letter of Transmittal. The Offer will expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of Friday, July&nbsp;27, 2012, unless it is extended or earlier terminated by the company (as may be extended by the company, the &#147;Expiration
Date&#148;). As of the date hereof, there is $134,905,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer, holders of Notes who validly tender and do not properly withdraw their Notes prior to 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of the Expiration Date, will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of
Notes accepted for exchange, Offer Consideration with a value equal to (i)&nbsp;$495 plus (ii)&nbsp;the Average VWAP (as defined herein) multiplied by 60.5274 (the &#147;Offer Consideration&#148;). The Offer Consideration will be paid by (i)&nbsp;a
fixed cash payment of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for exchange in the Offer and (ii)&nbsp;a number of shares of our Class&nbsp;A common stock equal to the quotient of total value of the Offer Consideration less the fixed
cash payment, divided by the Average VWAP. For the avoidance of doubt, the Offer Consideration per $1,000 principal amount of Notes will consist of: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(i)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$1,000 in cash, plus </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(ii)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">A number of shares of our Class&nbsp;A common stock equal to: </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>(Total value of Offer Consideration per $1,000 principal amount of Notes - $1,000)</U></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Average VWAP</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares on the settlement date based upon the Average VWAP. In no
event will the total value of the Offer Consideration paid in the Offer be less than $1,000 or more than $1,631, in each case, per $1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for exchange in the Offer. In addition, holders will receive in respect of
their Notes that are accepted for exchange accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to, but excluding, the settlement date of the Offer. All amounts payable pursuant to the Offer will be rounded to the nearest cent. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The &#147;Average VWAP&#148; means the sum of the Daily VWAPs (as defined below) for each day of the Averaging Period (as defined below)
divided by 10. The &#147;Averaging Period&#148; means the period of 10 consecutive trading days beginning on the ninth trading day preceding the Pricing Date and ending on the Pricing Date (as defined herein). The &#147;Daily VWAP&#148; for any
trading day means the per share volume-weighted average price of our common stock on the NYSE, as displayed under the heading &#147;Bloomberg VWAP&#148; on Bloomberg page SAH &lt;Equity&gt; AQR (or its equivalent successor if such page is not
available), in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the </FONT></P>

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scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session of the NYSE on such trading day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of our
Class&nbsp;A common stock on such trading day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by us). The Daily VWAP will be determined without regard to
after hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The company will announce the
final Offer Consideration no later than 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, July&nbsp;27, 2012 (as such date may be extended, the &#147;Pricing Date&#148;), and details regarding the final Offer Consideration will also be available by that
time at http://www.gbsc-usa.com/SAH and from the information agent. If the Offer Consideration will equal the maximum Offer Consideration of $1,631 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, then the Offer will be automatically extended until 12:00
midnight, New York City time, at the end of the second trading day following the Pricing Date to permit holders of Notes to tender or withdraw their Notes during those days. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The terms and conditions of the Offer appear in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, both of which will be distributed to all holders of the Notes. The Offer is subject to a minimum tender
condition and certain other conditions as more fully described in the Prospectus, including the issuance of new senior subordinated notes (the &#147;New Notes&#148;) of Sonic on or prior to the Expiration Date, subject to market conditions and on
terms and conditions satisfactory to the company. Sonic expressly reserves the right to waive these conditions in whole or in part at any or at various times in its sole discretion. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">None of the company, its management or board of directors, the dealer managers, the exchange agent or the information agent makes any
recommendation to any holder of Notes as to whether to tender any Notes in the Offer. None of the company, its management or board of directors, the dealer managers, the exchange agent or the information agent has authorized any person to give any
information or to make any representation in connection with the Offer other than the information and representations contained in the Prospectus or in the Letter of Transmittal. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Information on the Offer </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner&nbsp;&amp; Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are serving as joint lead dealer managers in connection with the Offer. Global Bondholder Services Corporation is acting as the exchange agent and information agent for the Offer.
Questions regarding the Offer should be directed to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, at (800)&nbsp;261-5767 (toll-free), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner&nbsp;&amp; Smith Incorporated (888)&nbsp;803-9655 (toll-free) or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
(800)&nbsp;326&nbsp;-5897 (toll-free). Requests for copies of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation by phone at (212)&nbsp;430-3774 (for banks and brokers) and (866)&nbsp;857-2200 (for
all other callers) or in writing at 65 Broadway, Suite 404, New York, New York 10006. This press release is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase, or an offer to sell or
solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Offer may be made only pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Prospectus, </FONT></P>

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the Letter of Transmittal and the other related Offer materials. The securities offered in the Offer may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective. A Registration Statement on Form S-4, which includes the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, relating to the Offer and the securities offered thereby has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet
become effective. Holders of the Notes are encouraged to read the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and the exhibits to those filings, including the Letter of Transmittal, carefully before making any decision with respect to the
Offer because they contain important information. The Registration Statement, Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal and other related Offer materials including the Schedule TO will be available free of charge at www.sec.gov. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>About Sonic Automotive </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Sonic
Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the nation&#146;s largest automotive retailers. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements pertaining to an exchange offer. There are many factors that affect management&#146;s views about future events and trends of our
business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management&#146;s view, including without limitation, economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, the rate and
timing of the overall economic recovery or decline and the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2011 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any
obligation to update forward-looking information. </FONT></P>
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