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Business Acquisitions and Dispositions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract] |
Business Acquisitions and Dispositions | 2. Business Acquisitions and Dispositions Acquisitions Sonic’s growth strategy is focused on metropolitan markets, predominantly in the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest and California. Under Sonic’s amended and restated syndicated revolving credit agreement and syndicated floor plan credit facility (the “2014 Credit Facilities”), Sonic is restricted from making dealership acquisitions in any fiscal year if the aggregate cost of all such acquisitions occurring in any fiscal year is in excess of specific amounts without the written consent of the Required Lenders (as that term is defined in the 2014 Credit Facilities). With this restriction on Sonic’s ability to make dealership acquisitions, its acquisition growth strategy may be limited. See Note 6, “Long-Term Debt,” for further discussion of the 2014 Credit Facilities. Sonic acquired two luxury franchises, one mid-line import franchise, and one domestic franchise during the year ended December 31, 2014, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $50.9 million in cash, net of cash acquired, including the underlying assets and real estate. These cash outflows were funded by cash from operations and borrowings under Sonic’s floor plan facilities and mortgage notes payable. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 includes preliminary allocations of the purchase price of these acquisitions to the assets and liabilities acquired based on their estimated fair market values at the date of acquisition and are subject to final adjustment, principally related to the finalization of the dealership valuations. As a result of these allocations, Sonic has recorded the following related to 2014 acquisition:
· | $33.2 million of net assets relating to dealership operations (includes real estate);
· | $7.5 million of indefinite life intangible assets representing rights acquired under franchise agreements, all of which is expected to be tax deductible; and
· | $10.2 million of goodwill, all of which is expected to be tax deductible.
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents a summary of consolidated results from continuing operations as if all of the 2014 acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of 2013, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including interest expense on acquisition debt and related income tax effects. The pro forma financial information does not give effect to adjustments relating to net changes in floor plan interest expense resulting from renegotiated floor plan financing agreements or to reductions in salaries and fringe benefits of former owners or officers of acquired dealerships who have not been retained by Sonic or whose salaries have been reduced pursuant to employment agreements with Sonic. The pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred had the 2014 acquisitions actually been completed at the beginning of the periods presented. The following pro forma results from continuing operations are not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations:
|  |  |  | Year Ended December 31, |  |
|  |  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |
|  |  |  | (In thousands, except per share amounts) |  |
| Total revenues |  |  | $ | 9,324,013 |  |  | $ | 9,000,959 |  |
| Gross profit |  |  | $ | 1,382,600 |  |  | $ | 1,322,044 |  |
| Income from continuing operations before taxes |  |  | $ | 164,493 |  |  | $ | 131,594 |  |
| Net income from continuing operations |  |  | $ | 100,245 |  |  | $ | 86,367 |  |
| Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations |  |  | $ | 1.90 |  |  | $ | 1.62 |  |
Dispositions As discussed in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 which amended the definition of and reporting requirements for discontinued operations. Sonic elected to adopt and apply this guidance beginning with its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014. The results of operations for those dealerships that were classified as discontinued operations as of March 31, 2014 are included in income (loss) from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and will continue to be reported within discontinued operations in the future. There were no unsold dealerships classified in discontinued operations at March 31, 2014. Beginning with disposals occurring during the second quarter ended June 30, 2014, only the operating results of disposals that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major impact on Sonic’s results of operations and financial position will be included in the income (loss) from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Sonic disposed of nine dealership franchises during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 12 dealership franchises during the year ended December 31, 2012. Sonic did not dispose of any dealerships during the year ended December 31, 2013. The dispositions during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2012 generated cash of approximately $ 74.8 million and $72.2 million, respectively. In conjunction with dealership dispositions, Sonic has agreed to indemnify the buyers from certain liabilities and costs arising from operations or events that occurred prior to sale but which may or may not be known at the time of sale, including environmental liabilities and liabilities associated from the breach of representations or warranties made under the agreements. See Note 12, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for further discussion. Results associated with dealerships classified as discontinued operations were as follows:
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |  |
|  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012 |  |
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
| Income (loss) from operations |  | $ | (2,515 | ) |  | $ | (978 | ) |  | $ | (9,946 | ) |
| Gain (loss) on disposal |  |  | 199 |  |  |  | (457 | ) |  |  | 10,265 |  |
| Lease exit accrual adjustments and charges |  |  | 152 |  |  |  | (2,582 | ) |  |  | (4,293 | ) |
| Property impairment charges |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (510 | ) |
| Pre-tax income (loss) |  | $ | (2,164 | ) |  | $ | (4,017 | ) |  | $ | (4,484 | ) |
| Total revenues |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 182,884 |  |
Sonic allocates corporate-level interest to discontinued operations based on the net assets of the discontinued operations group. Interest allocated to discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 was approximately $0.7 million. No interest was allocated to the discontinued operations group for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2014. Revenues and other activities associated with disposed dealerships that remain in continuing operations were as follows:
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |  |
|  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012 |  |
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
| Income (loss) from operations |  | $ | (787 | ) |  | $ | (485 | ) |  | $ | (424 | ) |
| Gain (loss) on disposal |  |  | 11,079 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 10 |  |
| Property impairment charges |  |  | - |  |  |  | (5,565 | ) |  |  | - |  |
| Pre-tax income (loss) |  | $ | 10,292 |  |  | $ | (6,050 | ) |  | $ | (414 | ) |
| Total revenues |  | $ | 205,559 |  |  | $ | 310,919 |  |  | $ | 294,083 |  |
In the ordinary course of business, Sonic evaluates its dealership franchises for possible disposition based on various performance criteria, and the disposals during the year ended December 31, 2014 represent dealerships identified based on their unprofitable operations and other operational considerations. As of December 31, 2014, Sonic did not have any franchises classified as held for sale. In the future, however, Sonic may sell other franchises that are not currently held for sale.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1383-128463 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6996-128479 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4922-128472 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4934-128472 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4926-128472 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7000-128479 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1486-128463 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1497-128463 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1490-128463 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7008-128479 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4845-128472 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1500-128463 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1524-128463 + Details
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