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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):      April 21, 2011     
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
     
1-13395   56-201079
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
6415 Idlewild Road, Suite 109   28212
Charlotte, North Carolina    
(Address of principal executive offices)   (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 5.07.      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
     At the annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (“Sonic”) held April 21, 2011, the following actions took place.
     Mr. O. Bruton Smith, Mr. B. Scott Smith, Mr. David B. Smith, Mr. William I. Belk, Mr. William R. Brooks, Mr. Victor H. Doolan, Mr. Robert Heller, Mr. Robert L. Rewey and Mr. David C. Vorhoff were reelected as directors by Sonic’s stockholders.
                                 
            Votes     Broker     Votes  
    Votes For     Withheld     Non-Votes     Abstained  
Election of O. Bruton Smith
    146,549,756       437,170       9,911,056        
Election of B. Scott Smith
    146,513,459       473,467       9,911,056        
Election of David B. Smith
    146,766,618       220,308       9,911,056        
Election of William I. Belk
    146,755,593       231,333       9,911,056        
Election of William R. Brooks
    146,514,828       472,098       9,911,056        
Election of Victor H. Doolan
    146,779,877       207,049       9,911,056        
Election of Robert Heller
    146,759,525       227,401       9,911,056        
Election of Robert L. Rewey
    146,759,177       227,749       9,911,056        
Election of David C. Vorhoff
    146,778,809       208,117       9,911,056        
     Sonic’s stockholders approved a non-binding advisory vote on Sonic’s executive compensation as disclosed in its proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.
                                 
            Votes     Broker     Votes  
    Votes For     Against     Non-Votes     Abstained  
Non-binding advisory vote on Sonic’s executive compensation as disclosed in its proxy statement for the Annual Meeting     146,609,376       265,593       9,911,056       111,957  
     Sonic’s stockholders approved a non-binding advisory vote for Sonic to hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation every year.
                                         
                            Broker     Votes  
    1 Year     2 Years     3 Years     Non-Votes     Abstained  
Non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation     144,564,629       66,695       2,338,118       9,911,056       17,484  
     Sonic’s board of directors considered this vote of the stockholders, which was consistent with the board of directors’ recommendation, and therefore has determined to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every year until the next frequency vote occurs.
     Sonic’s stockholders approved the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Sonic’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
                                 
            Votes     Broker     Votes  
    Votes For     Against     Non-Votes     Abstained  
Ratification of appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent public accounting firm     156,834,655       62,710             617  

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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/ Greg Young
 
       
 
      Greg Young
Vice President – Finance
 
       
Dated: April 25, 2011
       

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