<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001628280-19-002776.txt : 20190311
<SEC-HEADER>0001628280-19-002776.hdr.sgml : 20190311
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190311163000
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001628280-19-002776
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190308
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190311
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190311

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:		19672639

	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-kneocomp502201.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:3pt double #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%;">March 8</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 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:12pt;"><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:8pt;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:8pt;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:8pt;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 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 style="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%;">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><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:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.070175%;"></td><td style="width:0.1%;"></td><td style="width:1.0%;"></td><td style="width:94.929825%;"></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:3pt;"><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="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).</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:middle;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);">Emerging growth company    &#9744;&#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: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><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:115%;">Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers&#59; Election of Directors&#59; Appointment of Certain Officers&#59;</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:115%;">&#160;</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:115%;">Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</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:115%;">(e) </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;">On March 8, 2019, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the &#8220;Compensation Committee&#8221;) of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) approved grants of performance-based restricted stock units under the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan to the following executive officers of the Company in the following amounts&#58; Mr. O. Bruton Smith, 145,967 units&#59; Mr. David Bruton Smith, 126,075 units&#59; Mr. Jeff Dyke, 112,572 units&#59; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, 87,738 units. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;">These restricted stock unit awards will not be eligible for dividend equivalents or voting rights.</font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;"> 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. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;">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&#8217;s defined adjusted earnings per share performance for the 2019 calendar year. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;">Subject to the performance condition, these awards vest in three annual installments, with 25% of the restricted stock units vesting on March 31, 2020, 30% of the restricted stock units vesting on March 8, 2021 and 45% of the restricted stock units vesting on March 8, 2022. </font><font style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;">Following vesting, the restricted stock units will be converted to, and paid in the form of, an equivalent number of shares of the Company&#8217;s Class A common stock.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div id="i_0_7"></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:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;"></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; March 11, 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;"></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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