<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-18-060931.txt : 20180227
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-18-060931.hdr.sgml : 20180227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180227163005
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-18-060931
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180223
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180227

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:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13395
		FILM NUMBER:		18645505

	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>d498679d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
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<TITLE>8-K</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February&nbsp;23, 2018 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of incorporation) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>1-13395</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>56-2010790</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>4401 Colwick Road</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Charlotte, North Carolina</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>28211</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip Code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (704)&nbsp;566-2400 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Not Applicable </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report.) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this
chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(&#167;240.12b-2</FONT> of this chapter). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Emerging growth
company&nbsp;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. </B></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) On February&nbsp;23, 2018, the Board of Directors of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) promoted Mr.&nbsp;David Bruton Smith
to the position of Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer of the Company, with such appointment to be effective March&nbsp;1, 2018. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On February&nbsp;23, 2018, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the &#147;Compensation Committee&#148;) of the Company
approved base salary increases to be effective as of March&nbsp;1, 2018 for the following executive officers (the &#147;Executive Officers&#148;) in the following amounts: Mr.&nbsp;O. Bruton Smith, from $1,262,821 to $1,289,340; Mr.&nbsp;B. Scott
Smith, from $1,090,733 to $1,113,638; Mr.&nbsp;David Bruton Smith, from $741,829 to $1,113,638; Mr.&nbsp;Jeff Dyke, from $973,906 to $994,358; and Mr.&nbsp;Heath&nbsp;R. Byrd, from $680,631 to $694,924. The base salary increase for Mr.&nbsp;David
Bruton Smith was made in light of the expansion of his responsibilities in connection with his promotion to the position of Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On February&nbsp;23, 2018, the Compensation Committee also approved grants of performance-based restricted stock units under the Sonic
Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan to the Executive Officers in the following amounts: Mr.&nbsp;O. Bruton Smith, 107,123 units; Mr.&nbsp;B. Scott Smith, 92,525 units; Mr.&nbsp;David Bruton Smith, 92,525 units; Mr.&nbsp;Jeff Dyke, 82,615
units; and Mr.&nbsp;Heath&nbsp;R. Byrd, 57,737 units. These restricted stock unit awards will not be eligible for dividend equivalents or voting rights. As provided by the Compensation Committee, these restricted stock unit awards generally remain
subject to forfeiture for up to three years from the date of grant based on continuation of employment and violation of any restrictive covenants or confidentiality provisions contained in any agreement between the Company and the respective
officer. The awards of restricted stock units are also subject to forfeiture, in whole or in part, based on achievement of specified measures of the Company&#146;s defined adjusted earnings per share performance for the 2018 calendar year. Subject
to the performance condition, these awards vest in three annual installments, with 25% of the restricted stock units vesting on March&nbsp;31, 2019, 30% of the restricted stock units vesting on February&nbsp;23, 2020 and 45% of the restricted stock
units vesting on February&nbsp;23, 2021. Following vesting, the restricted stock units will be converted to, and paid in the form of, an equivalent number of shares of the Company&#146;s Class&nbsp;A common stock. </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><B>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Date: February&nbsp;27, 2018</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00px solid #000000; width:175.45pt; display:inline; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">/s/ STEPHEN K.
COSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Stephen K. Coss</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Senior Vice President and General Counsel</TD></TR>
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