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Long-Term Debt (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |
Future Maturities of Long-Term Debt | Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
| Principal
Year Ending December 31, | (In thousands)
2021 | $ | 68,244 |
2022 | 51,417 |
2023 | 73,699 |
2024 | 115,842 |
2025 | 86,155 |
Thereafter | 332,573 |
Total | $ | 727,930 |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Financial Covenants Include Required Specified Ratios | We were in compliance with the financial covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020. Financial covenants include required specified ratios (as each is defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit) of:
| Covenant
| Minimum Consolidated Liquidity Ratio |  | Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio |  | Maximum Consolidated Total Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio
Required ratio | 1.05 |  |  | 1.20 |  |  | 5.75 |
December 31, 2020 actual | 1.18 |  |  | 2.07 |  |  | 2.78 |
Summary of Interest Received and Paid under Term of Cash Flow Swap | .
Notional Amount |  | Cap Rate (1) |  | Receive Rate (1) (2) |  | Start Date |  | Maturing Date
(In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$ | 312.5 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 225.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | June 30, 2021
$ | 150.0 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | July 1, 2021
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2021 |  | July 1, 2022
(1)Under these interest rate caps, no payment from the counterparty will occur unless the stated receive rate exceeds the stated cap rate, in which case a net payment to us from the counterparty, based on the spread between the receive rate and the cap rate, will be recognized as a reduction of interest expense, other, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. (2)The one-month LIBOR rate was approximately 0.144% at December 31, 2020.
Long-Term Debt | Long-term debt consists of the following:
| December 31, 2020 |  | December 31, 2019
| (In thousands)
2016 Revolving Credit Facility (1) | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027 (the “6.125% Notes”) | 250,000 |  |  | 250,000 |
2019 Mortgage Facility (2) | 100,906 |  |  | 109,088 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies - fixed rate, bearing interest from 2.41% to 7.03% | 212,135 |  |  | 194,535 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies - variable rate, bearing interest at 1.50 to 2.90 percentage points above one-month or three-month LIBOR | 164,889 |  |  | 161,345 |
Subtotal | $ | 727,930 |  |  | $ | 714,968 |
Debt issuance costs | (7,863) |  |  | (8,082) |
Total debt | 720,067 |  |  | 706,886 |
Less current maturities | (68,244) |  |  | (69,908) |
Long-term debt | $ | 651,823 |  |  | $ | 636,978 |
(1)The interest rate on the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) was 150 basis points above LIBOR at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. (2) The interest rate on the 2019 Mortgage Facility (as defined below) was 150 and 200 basis points above LIBOR at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Debt Disclosure [Text Block] | Long-Term Debt Long-term debt consists of the following:
| December 31, 2020 |  | December 31, 2019
| (In thousands)
2016 Revolving Credit Facility (1) | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027 (the “6.125% Notes”) | 250,000 |  |  | 250,000 |
2019 Mortgage Facility (2) | 100,906 |  |  | 109,088 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies - fixed rate, bearing interest from 2.41% to 7.03% | 212,135 |  |  | 194,535 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies - variable rate, bearing interest at 1.50 to 2.90 percentage points above one-month or three-month LIBOR | 164,889 |  |  | 161,345 |
Subtotal | $ | 727,930 |  |  | $ | 714,968 |
Debt issuance costs | (7,863) |  |  | (8,082) |
Total debt | 720,067 |  |  | 706,886 |
Less current maturities | (68,244) |  |  | (69,908) |
Long-term debt | $ | 651,823 |  |  | $ | 636,978 |
(1)The interest rate on the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) was 150 basis points above LIBOR at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. (2) The interest rate on the 2019 Mortgage Facility (as defined below) was 150 and 200 basis points above LIBOR at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
| Principal
Year Ending December 31, | (In thousands)
2021 | $ | 68,244 |
2022 | 51,417 |
2023 | 73,699 |
2024 | 115,842 |
2025 | 86,155 |
Thereafter | 332,573 |
Total | $ | 727,930 |
2016 Credit Facilities On November 30, 2016, we entered into an amended and restated syndicated revolving credit facility (the “2016 Revolving Credit Facility”) and amended and restated syndicated new and used vehicle floor plan credit facilities (the “2016 Floor Plan Facilities” and, together with the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, the “2016 Credit Facilities”). The amendment and restatement of the 2016 Credit Facilities extended the scheduled maturity date, increased availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility by $25.0 million and increased availability under the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities by $215.0 million, among other things. On September 17, 2020, the 2016 Credit Facilities were amended to extend the scheduled maturity date for one additional year, to November 30, 2022. Availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility is calculated as the lesser of $245.5 million or a borrowing base calculated based on certain eligible assets, less the aggregate face amount of any outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (the “2016 Revolving Borrowing Base”). The 2016 Revolving Credit Facility may be increased at our option up to $295.5 million upon satisfaction of certain conditions. As of December 31, 2020, the 2016 Revolving Borrowing Base was approximately $227.7 million based on balances as of such date which will go into effect upon filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding borrowings and approximately $13.0 million in outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, resulting in total borrowing availability of approximately $214.7 million under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility. The 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are comprised of a new vehicle revolving floor plan facility (as amended, the “2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”) and a used vehicle revolving floor plan facility (as amended, the “2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”), subject to a borrowing base, in a combined amount of up to $966.0 million. We may, under certain conditions, request an increase in the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities to a maximum borrowing limit of up to $1.216 billion, which shall be allocated between the 2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility and the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility as we request, with no more than 40% of the aggregate commitments allocated to the commitments under the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility. During the second quarter of 2020, we amended the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities to convert the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility from a borrowing base calculation of availability to a vehicle identification number (“VIN”)-specific floor plan borrowing and payoff process, which provides additional borrowing flexibility. Outstanding obligations under the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are guaranteed by us and certain of our subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets. The amounts outstanding under the 2016 Credit Facilities bear interest at variable rates based on specified percentages above LIBOR. We have agreed under the 2016 Credit Facilities not to pledge any assets to any third parties (other than those explicitly allowed to be pledged by the amended terms of the 2016 Credit Facilities), including other lenders, subject to certain stated exceptions, including floor plan financing arrangements. In addition, the 2016 Credit Facilities contain certain negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2016 Credit Facilities permit cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities. 6.125% Notes On March 10, 2017, we issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior subordinated 6.125% Notes which mature on March 15, 2027. The 6.125% Notes were issued at a price of 100.0% of the principal amount thereof. Balances outstanding under the 6.125% Notes are guaranteed by all of our domestic operating subsidiaries. These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. The parent company has no independent assets or operations. The non-domestic operating subsidiary that is not a guarantor is considered to be minor. Interest on the 6.125% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year. We may redeem the 6.125% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 15, 2022 at the following redemption prices, which are expressed as percentages of the principal amount:
| Redemption Price
Beginning on March 15, 2022 | 103.063 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2023 | 102.042 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2024 | 101.021 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2025 and thereafter | 100.000 | %
Before March 15, 2022, we may redeem all or a part of the 6.125% Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the 6.125% Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium (as defined in the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The indenture governing the 6.125% Notes also provides that holders of the 6.125% Notes may require us to repurchase the 6.125% Notes at a purchase price equal to 101.0% of the par value of the 6.125% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase if we undergo a Change of Control (as defined in the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes). The indenture governing the 6.125% Notes contains certain specified restrictive covenants. We have agreed not to pledge any assets to any third-party lender of senior subordinated debt except under certain limited circumstances. We also have agreed to certain other limitations or prohibitions concerning the incurrence of other indebtedness, guarantees, liens, certain types of investments, certain transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, issuance of preferred stock, cash dividends to stockholders, distributions, redemptions and the sale, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposal of certain assets. Specifically, the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes limits our ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock in excess of $0.12 per share. We may only pay quarterly cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock if we comply with the terms of the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes. We were in compliance with all restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes as of December 31, 2020. Our obligations under the 6.125% Notes may be accelerated by the holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 6.125% Notes then outstanding if certain events of default occur, including: (1) defaults in the payment of principal or interest when due; (2) defaults in the performance, or breach, of our covenants under the 6.125% Notes; and (3) certain defaults under other agreements under which we or our subsidiaries have outstanding indebtedness in excess of $50.0 million. 2019 Mortgage Facility On November 22, 2019, we entered into a delayed draw-term loan credit agreement which is scheduled to mature on November 22, 2024 (the “2019 Mortgage Facility”). Under the 2019 Mortgage Facility, Sonic has a maximum borrowing limit of $112.2 million, which varies based on the appraised value of the collateral underlying the 2019 Mortgage Facility. The amount available for borrowing under the 2019 Mortgage Facility is subject to compliance with a borrowing base. The borrowing base is calculated based on 75% of the appraised value of certain eligible real estate designated by Sonic and owned by certain of our subsidiaries. Based on balances as of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $100.9 million of outstanding borrowings under the 2019 Mortgage Facility, resulting in total remaining borrowing availability of approximately $11.3 million under the 2019 Mortgage Facility. Amounts outstanding under the 2019 Mortgage Facility bear interest at (1) a specified rate above LIBOR (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility), ranging from 1.50% to 2.75% per annum according to a performance-based pricing grid determined by the Company’s Consolidated Total Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility) as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (the “Performance Grid”); or (2) a specified rate above the Base Rate (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility), ranging from 0.50% to 1.75% per annum according to the Performance Grid. Interest on the 2019 Mortgage Facility is paid monthly in arrears calculated using the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility) according to the Performance Grid. Repayment of principal is paid quarterly commencing on March 31, 2020 through September 30, 2024 at a rate of 2.50% of the aggregate initial principal amount. A balloon payment of the remaining balance will be due at the November 22, 2024 maturity date. Prior to the November 22, 2024 maturity date, the Company reserves the right to prepay the principal amount outstanding at any time without premium or penalty provided the prepayment amount exceeds $0.5 million. The 2019 Mortgage Facility contains usual and customary representations and warranties, and usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends and other restricted payments, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2019 Mortgage Facility permits quarterly cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock up to $0.10 per share so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2019 Mortgage Facility. Mortgage Notes to Finance Companies As of December 31, 2020, the weighted-average interest rate of other outstanding mortgage notes (excluding the 2019 Mortgage Facility) was 3.52% and the total outstanding mortgage principal balance of these notes (excluding the 2019 Mortgage Facility) was approximately $377.0 million. These mortgage notes require monthly payments of principal and interest through their respective maturities, are secured by the underlying properties and contain certain cross-default provisions. Maturity dates for these mortgage notes range between 2021 and 2033. 2020 Line of Credit Facility On June 23, 2020, we entered into a line of credit agreement with Ally Bank which is scheduled to mature on June 22, 2021 (the “2020 Line of Credit Facility”). The 2020 Line of Credit Facility has borrowing availability of up to $57.0 million, which can be used for general corporate purposes. The amount available for borrowing under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility is directly tied to the appraised value of certain real estate properties of the Company which are used as collateral for any funds drawn under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding borrowings under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility, resulting in $57.0 million remaining borrowing availability under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility. The 2020 Line of Credit Facility contains usual and customary representations and warranties, and usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends and other restricted payments, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other usual and customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2020 Line of Credit Facility permits quarterly cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock up to $0.10 per share so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the 2020 Line of Credit Facility) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility. Covenants We have agreed under the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility not to pledge any assets to any third parties (other than those explicitly allowed to be pledged by the amended terms of the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility), including other lenders, subject to certain stated exceptions, including floor plan financing arrangements. In addition, the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility contain certain negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends and other restricted payments, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. We were in compliance with the financial covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020. Financial covenants include required specified ratios (as each is defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit) of:
| Covenant
| Minimum Consolidated Liquidity Ratio |  | Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio |  | Maximum Consolidated Total Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio
Required ratio | 1.05 |  |  | 1.20 |  |  | 5.75 |
December 31, 2020 actual | 1.18 |  |  | 2.07 |  |  | 2.78 |
The 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility contain events of default, including cross defaults to other material indebtedness, change of control events and other events of default customary for syndicated commercial credit facilities. Upon the future occurrence of an event of default, we could be required to immediately repay all outstanding amounts under the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility. After giving effect to the applicable restrictions on the payment of dividends under our debt agreements, as of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $303.3 million of net income and retained earnings free of such restrictions. We were in compliance with all restrictive covenants as of December 31, 2020. In addition, many of our facility leases are governed by a guarantee agreement between the landlord and us that contains financial and operating covenants. The financial covenants under the guarantee agreement are identical to those under the 2016 Credit Facilities, the 2019 Mortgage Facility and the 2020 Line of Credit Facility with the exception of one additional financial covenant related to the ratio of EBTDAR to Rent (as defined in the guarantee agreement) with a required ratio of no less than 1.50 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2020, the ratio was 6.93 to 1.00. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities As of both December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had interest rate cap agreements designated as hedging instruments to limit our exposure to increases in LIBOR rates above certain levels. Under the terms of these interest rate cap agreements, interest rates reset monthly. We paid cash premiums of approximately $2.8 million and $1.9 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively, upon entering into new interest rate cap agreements, and the cash premiums were reflected in operating cash flows for the periods in which the premiums were paid. The total unamortized premium amounts related to the outstanding interest rate caps were approximately $2.2 million and $3.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and will be amortized into income as a reduction of interest expense, other, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations over the remaining term of the interest rate cap agreements. The fair value of the outstanding interest rate cap positions at December 31, 2020 was not material to the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of such date. The fair value of the outstanding interest rate cap positions at December 31, 2019 was a net asset of approximately $0.1 million, included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of such date.
Notional Amount |  | Cap Rate (1) |  | Receive Rate (1) (2) |  | Start Date |  | Maturing Date
(In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$ | 312.5 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 225.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | June 30, 2021
$ | 150.0 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | July 1, 2021
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2021 |  | July 1, 2022
(1)Under these interest rate caps, no payment from the counterparty will occur unless the stated receive rate exceeds the stated cap rate, in which case a net payment to us from the counterparty, based on the spread between the receive rate and the cap rate, will be recognized as a reduction of interest expense, other, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. (2)The one-month LIBOR rate was approximately 0.144% at December 31, 2020. The interest rate caps are designated as cash flow hedges, and the changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in total other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive operations and are disclosed in the supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. There was no incremental interest income (the excess of interest received over interest paid) related to the interest rate caps for 2020. The incremental interest income (the excess of interest received over interest paid) related to the interest rate caps was approximately $1.2 million and $0.2 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is included as a reduction of interest expense, other, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, and the interest amount is disclosed in the supplemental disclosures of cash flow information in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. There is no estimated net benefit expected to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into results of operations during the next 12 months related to previously terminated interest rate swap financial instruments.
6.125% Notes |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Redemption Price, Percentage | We may redeem the 6.125% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 15, 2022 at the following redemption prices, which are expressed as percentages of the principal amount:
| Redemption Price
Beginning on March 15, 2022 | 103.063 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2023 | 102.042 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2024 | 101.021 | %
Beginning on March 15, 2025 and thereafter | 100.000 | %

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