SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
SMITH O BRUTON

(Last) (First) (Middle)
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD

(Street)
CHARLOTTE NC 28212

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [ SAH ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director X 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Chairman and CEO
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/16/2015
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Class B Common Stock (1) 06/16/2015 S 202.93(2) (1) (1) Class A Common Stock 202.93 $24.24(3) 8,881,250(4) I by SFC
Class B Common Stock (1) (1) (1) Class A Common Stock 2,171,250 2,171,250 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis at the option of the reporting person and there is no expiration date.
2. The reported securities are held by Sonic Financial Corporation ("SFC"), a North Carolina corporation of which the reporting person is a shareholder, officer and director. On June 16, 2015, the reporting person transferred voting shares of SFC to certain of his lineal descendants in connection with estate and financial planning, and therefore, such transaction constitutes a proportionate transfer of his pecuniary interest in shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC.
3. Based solely on the closing price of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on June 15, 2015, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
4. Represents the entire amount of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
/s/ O. Bruton Smith 06/19/2015
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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