<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-12-422191.txt : 20121012
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-12-422191.hdr.sgml : 20121012
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121012171538
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-12-422191
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121012
ITEM INFORMATION:		Results of Operations and Financial Condition
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121012
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121012

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:		121142390

	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>d424169d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
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<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:4px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><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="3"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></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:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></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:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="4"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>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="3"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October&nbsp;12, 2012 </B></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:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="6"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></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:6px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Delaware
</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) </B></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 VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Commission File Number)</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="1"><B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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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"><B>4401 Colwick Road</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Charlotte, North Carolina</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>28211</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</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="1"><B>(Zip Code)</B></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (704)&nbsp;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="1"><B>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) </B></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:6px;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: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"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</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>
<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%" 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>
<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%" 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>
<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%">
<TR>
<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:8px;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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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02.</B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Results of Operations and Financial Condition. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On October&nbsp;12, 2012, we issued a press release announcing anticipated results for our fiscal quarter ended September&nbsp;30, 2012 and earnings expectations for the full fiscal year. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:18px;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="10%" 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:6px;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">(d)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I>Exhibits.</I> </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 of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October&nbsp;12, 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" 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="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px;border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Stephen K. Coss</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Stephen K. Coss</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><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: October&nbsp;12, 2012 </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2 </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>INDEX TO EXHIBITS </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:25pt" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Exhibit<BR>No.</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:39pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Description</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>


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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 of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October 12, 2012</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3 </FONT></P>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
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<FILENAME>d424169dex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
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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" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>Sonic Automotive, Inc. Reaffirms Full Year Guidance </I></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>Q3 2012
Adjusted Continuing Ops. Diluted EPS Growth of 18% </I></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>CHARLOTTE, N.C. &#150; </B>October&nbsp;12, 2012<B> &#150; </B>Sonic
Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), one of the nation&#146;s largest automotive retailers, today reported it is reaffirming its full year guidance for adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to be between $1.65 and $1.70. Excluded
from this range are costs associated with retiring its outstanding 5.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (&#147;5% Notes&#148;) and tax benefits related to the settlement of certain tax matters in the second and third quarters of 2012 which total a
net charge of $0.16 per diluted share. This range of expected adjusted diluted earnings per share supersedes the previously communicated expected range of $1.62 to $1.70. On an unadjusted basis, full year guidance for diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations is expected to be between $1.49 and $1.54. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px;padding-bottom:0px;"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Sonic anticipates announcing in its earnings release
scheduled for October&nbsp;23</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex">rd</SUP></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">, 2012 adjusted earnings
per share from continuing operations of $0.40, in line with the company&#146;s expectations. These results were driven by double-digit retail volume growth and improved cost performance. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of
$0.40 excludes the effect of a pre-tax charge of $18.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, related to costs associated with retiring its 5% Notes in the third quarter of 2012. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>About Sonic Automotive </U></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 with respect to anticipated growth in new vehicle sales, and future success and impacts from the implementation of our strategic initiatives. There are many factors that affect management&#146;s
views about future events and trends of the Company&#146;s 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, new and used vehicle industry sales volume, the success of our operational strategies, the rate and timing of overall economic recovery or decline, and the risk factors described in the Company&#146;s
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December&nbsp;31, 2011 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June&nbsp;30, 2012. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information. </FONT></P>
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