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0000950123-09-054937.txt : 20091029 0000950123-09-054937.hdr.sgml : 20091029 20091029171338 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-09-054937 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20091029 ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20091029 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20091029 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: 0207 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13395 FILM NUMBER: 091145340 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD STREET 2: PO BOX 18747 CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28212 BUSINESS PHONE: 7045323354 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28212 8-K 1 g20993e8vk.htm FORM 8-K e8vk

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 29, 2009

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


1-13395 (Commission File Number)		56-201079 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

6415 Idlewild Road, Suite 109 Charlotte, North Carolina (Address of principal executive offices)		28212 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 566-2400

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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:

	o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

	o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

	o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

	o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 7.01.		Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 29, 2009, Sonic Automotive, Inc. issued a press release announcing that it had successfully completed a redemption of all of its outstanding 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2012 at 100% of par value, using proceeds from its recently completed and previously announced offerings of shares of Class A common stock and 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 9.01.		Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.


	99.1			Press Release of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October 29, 2009

SIGNATURES

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.


	SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
	By:	/s/ Stephen K. Coss
		Stephen K. Coss
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Dated: October 29, 2009

INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.				Description

99.1				Press release of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October 29, 2009

EX-99.1 2 g20993exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 exv99w1

Exhibit 99.1

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Redemption of Outstanding 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 29, 2009 — Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), the nation’s third-largest automotive retailer, today reported that it has successfully completed a redemption of all of its outstanding 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes which were due in 2012 using proceeds from its recently completed public offerings of shares of Class A common stock and 5.0% Convertible Senior Notes.

Scott Smith, Sonic’s President, stated, “This latest step in the restructuring of our balance sheet removes an extremely dilutive security from our capital structure. We are very pleased that, even in the midst of a severe economic downturn, the strength and flexibility of our business model has allowed us to successfully address our near-term debt obligations. Through a combination of internally generated cash and proceeds from our recent offerings, we have reduced our outstanding debt by over $150 million since the end of 2008. We appreciate the support and confidence demonstrated by our bondholders and shareholders as we completed these recent transactions. With our next significant bond maturity not occurring until late 2013, we believe we have a clear road ahead of us for the successful refinancing of our syndicated credit facility, which we expect to have complete by the end of this calendar year. In the meantime, our operations team is clearly focused on continuing the rollout of our operational playbooks to set the stage for even greater successes in 2010.”

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 300 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is the nation’s third-largest automotive retailer, operating 153 franchises. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to anticipated future debt refinancing and anticipated future operational improvement. There are many factors that affect management’s views about future events and trends of the Company’s business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management’s view, including without limitation, economic conditions, risks associated with acquisitions and the risk factors described in the Company’s current report on Form 8-K furnished on August 21, 2009. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.