<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001628280-19-001516.txt : 20190219
<SEC-HEADER>0001628280-19-001516.hdr.sgml : 20190219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190219084706
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001628280-19-001516
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190219
ITEM INFORMATION:		Regulation FD Disclosure
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190219

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:		19613566

	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>q420188-k701dividend.htm
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i_0_1"></div><div style="height:36pt;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:99.990000%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:98.000000%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:3pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:12pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">&#160;________________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">FORM&#160;8-K</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">&#160;________________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">CURRENT REPORT</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Pursuant to Section&#160;13 or 15(d)</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)&#58; </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">February </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">19</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">, 2019</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">&#160;________________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">&#160;________________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Delaware</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">(State or other jurisdiction</font></div><div style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:12pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">of incorporation)</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:99.990000%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:47.707602%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:0.384795%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:47.707602%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">1-13395&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">56-2010790&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">(Commission<br>File Number)&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">(IRS Employer<br>Identification No.)&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">4401 Colwick Road<br>Charlotte, North Carolina&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">28211&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">(Address of principal executive offices)&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">(Zip Code)&#160;</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code&#58; (704)&#160;566-2400</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Not Applicable</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">&#160;________________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&#160;8-K&#160;filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:84.210526%;"><tr><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.645833%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:94.354167%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">&#9744;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">&#9744;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">&#9744;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">&#9744;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))&#160;</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:96.052632%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:98.000000%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;">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 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company    &#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;">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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    &#9744;</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:99.990000%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:98.000000%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:3pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3pt double #000;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div id="i_0_4"></div><div></div><div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:36pt;width:100%;"><div style="position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="height:72pt;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt;text-align:justify;margin-bottom:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">On </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">February 19, 2019</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">, </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">Sonic Automotive, Inc. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">issued a press release announcing the approval of a quarterly cash dividend.</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">&#160;</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">1.</font></div><div id="i_0_61"></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;-sec-extract:summary;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">I</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">tem 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">(d) </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;line-height:120%;">Exhibits.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:86.217949%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:12.869888%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.101115%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:81.828996%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Exhibit No.&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);"></font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Description&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:3pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:3pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:3pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">99.1&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);"></font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#0000FF;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration: underline;"><a href="q420188-k701xex991.htm" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#0000FF;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration: underline;-sec-extract:exhibit;">Press release of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated February 19, 2019</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div id="i_0_10"></div><div style="text-align:center;"></div><div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:72pt;width:100%;"><div style="position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="height:72pt;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt;text-align:justify;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:120%;">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></div><div style="text-indent:36pt;"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:99.990000%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:33.576923%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:2.326923%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:58.096154%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);"></font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="height:15pt;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Date&#58; February 19, 2019&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">By&#58;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">&#47;s&#47; STEPHEN K. COSS&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);"></font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Stephen K. Coss&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Senior Vice President and General Counsel&#160;</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-indent:36pt;"><font><br></font></div><div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:72pt;width:100%;"><div style="position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>q420188-k701xex991.htm
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i_0_1"></div><div style="height:72pt;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Exhibit 99.1</font></div></div><div><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;">INCREASES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND 67%</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">CHARLOTTE, N.C.</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;line-height:120%;"> &#8211; </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">February 1</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">9</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">, 2019</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;"> &#8211; </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE&#58; SAH), a leader in automotive retailing, today announced that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share payable in cash for stockholders of record on March 15, 2019. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">The dividend will be payable on April 15, 2019. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">David Smith, Sonic&#8217;s Chief Executive Officer stated, &#8220;The 67% dividend increase to $0.10 per share demonstrates our commitment to return capital to shareholders and our continued confidence in our operations and prospects for future growth.&#8221; </font></div><div style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:9pt;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the nation&#8217;s largest automotive retailers. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Sonic can be reached on the web at </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">www.sonicautomotive.com.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Included herein is a forward-looking statement pertaining to an anticipated cash dividend to shareholders. There are many factors that affect management&#8217;s views about future events and trends of the Company&#8217;s business. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management&#8217;s view, including without limitation, economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, new and used vehicle sales volume, the success of our operational strategies and the risk factors described in the Company&#8217;s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2017. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;">###</font></div><div style="text-align:center;"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;"><table style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;display:inline-table;width:96.474359%;"><tr><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:7.800664%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:88.199336%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Contact&#58;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">Heath Byrd, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (704) 566-2400&#160;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);">C.G. Saffer, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (704) 566-2439&#160;</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:72pt;width:100%;"><div style="position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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