Proxy Statement (definitive) (def 14a)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

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☐		Preliminary Proxy Statement

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☒		Definitive Proxy Statement

☐		Definitive Additional Materials

☐		Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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☒

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☐

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LOGO

Sonic Automotive, Inc.

4401 Colwick Road

Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

March 6, 2018

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders to be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the corporate headquarters of Sonic Automotive, Inc. located at 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211. We look forward to greeting personally those stockholders who are able to attend.

The accompanying Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement describe the matters on which action will be taken at the meeting.

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, it is important that your shares be represented. To ensure that your vote will be received and counted, at your earliest convenience, please follow the instructions for voting your shares provided in the accompanying Proxy Statement and proxy card or voting instruction form, the notice letter or the voting instructions you receive by e-mail. Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own.

Sincerely,

/s/ O. Bruton Smith

O. Bruton Smith

Executive Chairman

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

4401 Colwick Road

Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

(704) 566-2400

NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

March 6, 2018

The 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (“Sonic”) will be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at Sonic’s corporate headquarters located at 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, for the following purposes as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

To elect the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018;

To approve, on an advisory basis, Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017; and

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” items 1, 2 and 3. The proxy holders will use their discretion to vote on other matters that may properly arise at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Only holders of record of Sonic’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of the close of business on February 27, 2018 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. You may obtain directions to the Annual Meeting, where you may vote in person, by calling (704) 566-2400.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are encouraged to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. For specific voting instructions, please refer to the information provided in the accompanying Proxy Statement and proxy card or voting instruction form, the notice letter or the voting instructions you receive by e-mail. Submitting your proxy does not deprive you of your right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote your shares in person.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Stephen K. Coss

Stephen K. Coss

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and

Secretary

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders To Be Held on April 25, 2018:

The Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement

and 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.proxydocs.com/SAH .

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page

General Information			1

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management			4

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance			7

Proposal 1:	Election of Directors		8

Corporate Governance and Board of Directors			11

Director Compensation			19

Audit Committee Report			21

Proposal 2:	Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		22

Executive Compensation			24

	Compensation Discussion and Analysis		24

	Compensation Committee Report		33

	Summary Compensation Table		34

	Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017		36

	Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements		37

	Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017 Year-End		39

	Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2017		40

	Pension Benefits for 2017		40

	CEO Pay Ratio		43

	Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control		44

Equity Compensation Plan Information			47

Proposal 3:	Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation		49

Additional Corporate Governance and Other Information			50

PROXY STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION

The 2018 annual meeting of stockholders of Sonic Automotive, Inc. will be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at Sonic’s corporate headquarters located at 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We refer to this meeting, together with any adjournment or postponement thereof, as the “Annual Meeting.” Only holders of record of Sonic’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of the close of business on February 27, 2018 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and form of proxy are being furnished to stockholders in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting. On or about March 6, 2018, Sonic began mailing to its stockholders this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction form and the 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders, or a notice letter, as applicable. References in this Proxy Statement to “Sonic,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Sonic Automotive, Inc. We sometimes refer in this Proxy Statement to our Class A common stock and Class B common stock together as our “Common Stock.”

Shares Entitled to Vote and Voting Rights

Sonic currently has authorized under its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, of which 30,384,481 shares were outstanding as of the Record Date and are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and 30,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, of which 12,029,375 shares were outstanding as of the Record Date and are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As provided in Sonic’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, on all matters presented at the Annual Meeting, holders of Class A common stock will have one vote per share and holders of Class B common stock will have 10 votes per share. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote as a single class on any matter submitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the shares entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

Votes Required to Approve Each Proposal

The following are the voting requirements for each proposal:

Proposal 1, Election of Directors. Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast (meaning that the number of votes cast “for” a nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” such nominee). If any nominee for director who is a continuing director receives a greater number of votes “against” his election than votes “for” such election in an uncontested election of directors, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines require that such person must promptly tender his resignation to the Secretary of the Company following certification of the stockholder vote for consideration by the Board. See “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” for a more detailed description of the Company’s director resignation policy.

Proposal 2, Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes of all shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting (meaning that of the total votes of all shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “for” the proposal for it to be approved).

Proposal 3, Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation . Advisory approval of Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the

total votes of all shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting (meaning that of the total votes of all shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “for” the proposal for it to be approved).

Other Items. Approval of any other matters requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes of all shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting (meaning that of the total votes of all shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “for” the proposal for it to be approved).

Methods of Voting

If your shares of Class A common stock are registered directly in your name, you may vote by mail, by telephone, via the Internet or in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares of Class A common stock are held in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee, you may vote by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting (if you have obtained a legal proxy from the stockholder of record), and, depending on the voting procedures of the stockholder of record, you may be able to vote by telephone or via the Internet. If you are a registered holder of Class B common stock, you may vote by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting.

Voting by Mail . By signing and dating the proxy card or voting instruction form and returning it in the prepaid and addressed envelope enclosed with the proxy materials delivered by mail, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card or voting instruction form to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in the manner you indicate.

Voting by Telephone or Via the Internet . To vote by telephone or via the Internet, please follow either the instructions included on your proxy card or voting instruction form or the notice letter or the voting instructions you receive by e-mail. If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you do not need to complete and mail a proxy card or voting instruction form. You may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges if you vote by telephone or via the Internet. If you choose to vote by telephone or via the Internet, you must do so by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

Voting in Person at the Annual Meeting . If you attend the Annual Meeting and wish to vote in person, we will provide you with a ballot at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record and you have the right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. As a beneficial owner, if you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you will need to bring to the Annual Meeting a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee authorizing you to vote those shares.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting. If you receive more than one proxy card, voting instruction form, notice letter or e-mail notification, it is an indication that your shares are held in multiple accounts. To vote all of your shares, you must vote separately as described above for each proxy card, voting instruction form, notice letter or e-mail notification that you receive.

Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares in street name for a beneficial owner votes on one proposal but does not vote on another proposal because, with respect to such other proposal, the nominee does not have discretionary voting power and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

Under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE rules”), Proposal 2, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal

2018, is considered a “routine” matter, which means that brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on this proposal on behalf of clients who have not furnished voting instructions. However, Proposals 1 and 3, the election of directors and the advisory vote to approve Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017, respectively, are “non-routine” matters under the NYSE rules, which means that brokerage firms that have not received voting instructions from their clients on these matters may not vote on these proposals.

With respect to Proposal 1, the election of directors, you may vote “for” or “against” each of the nominees for the Board, or you may “abstain” from voting for one or more nominees. If you “abstain” from voting with respect to one or more director nominees, your vote will have no effect on the election of such nominees. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of the nominees.

With respect to Proposals 2 and 3, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018 and the advisory vote to approve Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017, respectively, you may vote “for” or “against” the proposals, or you may “abstain” from voting on the proposals. An abstention will be counted as a vote present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposals and will have the same effect as a vote “against” the proposals, and a broker non-vote will not be considered entitled to vote on these proposals and will therefore have no effect on their outcome. As discussed above, because Proposal 2, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018, is considered a “routine” matter, we do not expect any broker non-votes with respect to this proposal.

Voting of Proxies

Each valid proxy received and not revoked before the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting. To be valid, a written proxy card must be properly executed. Proxies voted by telephone or via the Internet must be properly completed pursuant to this solicitation. If you specify your vote regarding any matter presented at the Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted by one of the individuals indicated on the proxy in accordance with your specification. If you do not specify your vote, your shares will be voted (i) “FOR” the election of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors; (ii) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018; (iii) “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017; and (iv) in the discretion of the proxy holders on any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors currently knows of no other business that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting.

Revoking Your Proxy or Changing Your Vote

You may revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time before the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy or change your vote by (i) submitting a written notice of revocation to Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211; (ii) delivering a proxy bearing a later date by telephone, via the Internet or by mail until the applicable deadline for each method; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically make that request or vote in person at the meeting. For all methods of voting, the last vote cast will supersede all previous votes. If you hold your shares in street name and you have instructed your bank, broker or other nominee to vote your shares, you may change or revoke your voting instructions by following the specific instructions provided to you by your bank, broker or other nominee, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The table below sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Sonic’s Common Stock as of February 27, 2018, by (i) each stockholder known by Sonic to beneficially own more than 5% of a class of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director and director nominee, (iii) each named executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. As of February 27, 2018, a total of 30,384,481 shares of Class A common stock and 12,029,375 shares of Class B common stock were outstanding. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities indicated as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, the address for each of the beneficial owners is c/o Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211.


Beneficial Owner	Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock ⁽¹⁾		Percentage of Outstanding Class A Common Stock			Number of Shares of Class B Common Stock		Percentage of Outstanding Class B Common Stock			Percentage of All Outstanding Voting Stock ⁽²⁾
O. Bruton Smith ^(3)(4)(5)		711,126		2.3	%		11,052,500		91.9	%		27.6	%
Sonic Financial Corporation ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾		—		*			8,881,250		73.8	%		20.9	%
B. Scott Smith ^(3)(4)(6)(7)		282,490		*			9,858,125		82.0	%		23.9	%
David Bruton Smith ^(3)(4)(8)(9)		190,376		*			8,881,250		73.8	%		21.4	%
Marcus G. Smith ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾		18,322		*			8,881,250		73.8	%		21.0	%
Jeff Dyke ⁽¹⁰⁾		130,838		*			—		—			*
Heath R. Byrd ^(11)(12)		63,098		*			—		—			*
William I. Belk ^(13)(14)		68,114		*			—		—			*
William R. Brooks ⁽¹³⁾		72,479		*			—		—			*
Victor H. Doolan ^(13)(15)		46,369		*			—		—			*
John W. Harris III ⁽¹³⁾		16,977		*			—		—			*
Robert Heller ^(13)(16)		68,114		*			—		—			*
R. Eugene Taylor ⁽¹³⁾		18,872		*			—		—			*
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)		1,668,853		5.5	%		12,029,375		100.0	%		32.1	%
BlackRock, Inc. ⁽¹⁷⁾		3,262,044		10.7	%		—		—			7.7	%
Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC ⁽¹⁸⁾		2,696,117		8.9	%		—		—			6.4	%
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP ⁽¹⁹⁾		2,680,067		8.8	%		—		—			6.3	%
LSV Asset Management ⁽²⁰⁾		2,368,676		7.8	%		—		—			5.6	%
The Vanguard Group, Inc. ⁽²¹⁾		2,287,060		7.5	%		—		—			5.4	%
Virtus Fund Advisers, LLC ⁽²²⁾		2,156,150		7.1	%		—		—			5.1	%
Paul P. Rusnak ⁽²³⁾		5,393,730		17.8	%		—		—			12.7	%

*	Less than 1%.

⁽¹⁾

Includes shares of Class A common stock, shares of restricted stock (which have both dividend and voting rights) and deferred restricted stock units (which do not have dividend or voting rights) held by these individuals, including those shares of Class A common stock shown below as to which the following persons currently have a right, or will have the right within 60 days after February 27, 2018, to acquire beneficial ownership through the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units or deferred restricted stock units: (i) Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, 196,796 shares; B. Scott Smith, 11,629 shares; David Bruton Smith, 7,909 shares; Jeff Dyke, 10,383 shares; and Heath R. Byrd, 7,257 shares; and (ii) all directors and executive officers as a group, 233,974 shares.

⁽²⁾	The percentage of total voting power of Sonic is as follows: (i) Mr. O. Bruton Smith, 73.7%; Sonic Financial Corporation (“SFC”), 58.9%; Mr. B. Scott Smith, 65.6%; Mr. David Bruton Smith, 59.1%;

Mr. Marcus G. Smith, 59.0%; BlackRock, Inc., 2.2%; Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC, 1.8%; Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 1.8%; LSV Asset Management, 1.6%; The Vanguard Group, Inc., 1.5%; Virtus Fund Advisers, LLC, 1.4%; Mr. Paul P. Rusnak, 3.6%; and less than 1% for all other stockholders shown; and (ii) all directors and executive officers as a group, 80.8%.

⁽³⁾	The address for Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith and Marcus G. Smith and SFC is 5401 East Independence Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28212.

⁽⁴⁾

The amount of Class B common stock shown for Mr. O. Bruton Smith consists of 2,171,250 shares owned directly by him and 8,881,250 shares owned by SFC. The amount of Class B common stock shown for Mr. B. Scott Smith consists of 76,110 shares owned directly by him, 900,765 shares owned by BWI Financial, LLC, an entity controlled by him, and 8,881,250 shares owned by SFC. The amount of Class B common stock shown for each of Messrs. David Bruton Smith and Marcus G. Smith consists of 8,881,250 shares owned by SFC. Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith and Marcus G. Smith jointly control a majority of SFC’s outstanding voting stock, are executive officers of SFC and are deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Class B common stock held by SFC.

⁽⁵⁾	Includes 13,463 restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock that will vest on March 31, 2018.

⁽⁶⁾	Approximately 270,861 shares of Class A common stock and 976,875 shares of Class B common stock owned directly or indirectly by Mr. B. Scott Smith are pledged to secure loans.

⁽⁷⁾	Includes 11,629 restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock that will vest on March 31, 2018.

⁽⁸⁾	Approximately 182,467 shares of Class A common stock owned directly or indirectly by Mr. David Bruton Smith are pledged to secure loans.

⁽⁹⁾	Includes 7,909 restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock that will vest on March 31, 2018.

⁽¹⁰⁾	Includes 10,383 restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock that will vest on March 31, 2018.

⁽¹¹⁾	Approximately 55,841 shares of Class A common stock owned directly or indirectly by Mr. Heath R. Byrd are pledged to secure loans.

⁽¹²⁾	Includes 7,257 restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock that will vest on March 31, 2018.

⁽¹³⁾	Includes 6,630 restricted shares of Class A common stock for each of Messrs. Belk, Brooks, Doolan, Harris, Heller and Taylor that will vest on April 19, 2018.

⁽¹⁴⁾	Includes 6,000 shares held by Mr. Belk’s children. Mr. Belk disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

⁽¹⁵⁾	Includes 33,840 shares held indirectly by Mr. Doolan through the Doolan Family Trust.

⁽¹⁶⁾	Mr. Heller shares voting and investment power over 11,000 shares with his wife.

⁽¹⁷⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 19, 2018 by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), whose address is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. The Schedule 13G/A reports that BlackRock has sole voting power over 3,179,295 shares, shared voting power over no shares and sole investment power over all of the shares shown.

⁽¹⁸⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018 by Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC (“HWCM”), whose address is 725 S. Figueroa Street, 39th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017. The Schedule 13G/A reports that HWCM has sole voting power over 2,181,817 shares, shared voting power over no shares, sole investment power over all of the shares shown and that the

securities reported therein are owned of record by clients of HWCM for whom HWCM serves as an investment adviser. HWCM disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the shares shown.

⁽¹⁹⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”), whose address is Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Dimensional has sole voting power over 2,575,920 shares, shared voting power over no shares and sole investment power over all of the shares shown. Dimensional provides investment advice to four registered investment companies and serves as investment manager or sub-adviser to certain other commingled funds, group trusts and separate accounts (such investment companies, funds, trusts and accounts, collectively referred to as the “Funds”). Subsidiaries of Dimensional may act as an adviser or sub-adviser to certain Funds. In its role as investment adviser, sub-adviser and/or manager, Dimensional or its subsidiaries may possess voting and/or investment power over the securities owned by the Funds and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. However, all securities reported on the Schedule 13G/A are owned by the Funds, and Dimensional and its subsidiaries disclaim beneficial ownership of all of the shares shown.

⁽²⁰⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018 by LSV Asset Management (“LSV”), whose address is 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Schedule 13G reports that LSV has sole voting power over 1,260,248 shares, shared voting power over no shares and sole investment power over all of the shares shown.

⁽²¹⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2018 by The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”), whose address is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Vanguard has sole voting power over 28,037 shares, shared voting power over 7,000 shares, sole investment power over 2,254,103 shares and shared investment power over 32,957 shares.

⁽²²⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2018 by Virtus Fund Advisors, LLC (“Virtus”) as the parent company for Ceredex Value Advisors LLC (“Ceredex”), whose address is 3333 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 1500, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Virtus, as the parent company for Ceredex, has sole voting power over 1,463,960 shares, shared voting power over no shares and sole investment power over all of the shares shown. In Sonic’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 6, 2017, RidgeWorth Capital Management LLC (“RidgeWorth”), not Virtus, was identified as the parent company for Ceredex based on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 7, 2017 by RidgeWorth.

⁽²³⁾

This information is based upon a Schedule 13D/A and a Form 4 filed with the SEC on May 26, 2010 and October 10, 2017, respectively, by Mr. Paul P. Rusnak, whose address is 325 W. Colorado Boulevard, PO Box 70489, Pasadena, California 91117-7489. The Schedule 13D/A reports that Mr. Rusnak has sole voting and investment power over 5,000,000 shares and shared voting and investment power over no shares.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires Sonic’s executive officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Sonic’s Class A common stock (collectively, the “reporting persons”), to file with the SEC initial reports of their beneficial ownership and reports of changes in their beneficial ownership of Sonic’s Class A common stock. Based solely on a review of such reports and written representations made by Sonic’s executive officers and directors with respect to the completeness and timeliness of their filings, Sonic believes that the reporting persons complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements on a timely basis during fiscal 2017, except for Paul P. Rusnak, a beneficial owner of more than 10% of Sonic’s Class A common stock, who filed a late Form 4 to report the acquisition of shares of Class A common stock.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nine directors currently serve on the Board of Directors and all were elected by our stockholders at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the director nominees are elected by the stockholders for a one-year term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. Any director elected by the Board of Directors as a result of a newly created directorship or to fill a vacancy on the Board will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders. All directors’ terms expire and their successors will be elected at the Annual Meeting and each annual meeting of stockholders thereafter.

On the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “NCG Committee”), the Board has nominated each of our current directors to stand for reelection for a new term expiring at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All of the director nominees have agreed to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. If for any reason any director nominee is unable to stand for reelection, the proxy holders will vote your shares for the election of the other director nominees and the Board will designate a substitute nominee or reduce the number of directors in accordance with our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws. If a substitute nominee is designated by the Board, the proxy holders intend to vote your shares for the substitute nominee. At the Annual Meeting, proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of individuals than the nine nominees named in this Proxy Statement.

Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, in an uncontested director election, any nominee for director who is an incumbent director and receives a greater number of votes “against” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Secretary of the Company following certification of the stockholder vote for consideration by the Board. In such event, within 120 days following certification of the stockholder vote, the Board will decide, after taking into account the recommendation of the NCG Committee (in each case excluding the nominee(s) in question), whether to accept the resignation. The NCG Committee and the Board may each consider all factors it deems relevant in deciding whether to accept a director’s resignation. Sonic will promptly disclose the Board’s decision and the reasons therefor in a Form 8-K filing with the SEC. The resignation policy set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines does not apply to contested elections.

Director Nominees

We have set forth below information regarding each of the director nominees. The NCG Committee and the Board believe that the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of the director nominees described below and in the “Corporate Governance and Board of Directors — Board Committees — NCG Committee” section of this Proxy Statement provide the Board with the ability to address the evolving needs of Sonic and to represent the best interests of Sonic and its stockholders.

O. Bruton Smith , 91, is the Founder of Sonic and has served as Sonic’s Executive Chairman since July 2015. Prior to his appointment as Executive Chairman, Mr. Smith had served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its organization in January 1997. Mr. Smith has also served as a director of Sonic since its organization in January 1997. Mr. Smith is also a director of many of Sonic’s subsidiaries. Mr. Smith has worked in the retail automobile industry since 1966. Mr. Smith is also the Executive Chairman and a director of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (“SMI”), which is controlled by Mr. Smith and his family. SMI is a public company whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Among other things, SMI owns and operates the following speedways: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. He is also a director of most of SMI’s operating subsidiaries.

B. Scott Smith , 50, is the Co-Founder of Sonic. He is also Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of Sonic. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in July 2015, Mr. Smith had served as President and Chief Strategic Officer of Sonic since March 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Smith served as Sonic’s Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer from October 2002 to March 2007 and President and Chief Operating Officer from April 1997 to October 2002. Mr. Smith has been a director of Sonic since its organization in January 1997. Mr. Smith also serves as a director and executive officer of many of Sonic’s subsidiaries. Mr. Smith, who is the son of Mr. O. Bruton Smith and the brother of Mr. David Bruton Smith, has been an executive officer of Town & Country Ford since 1993, and was a minority owner of both Town & Country Ford and Fort Mill Ford before Sonic’s acquisition of those dealerships in 1997. Mr. Smith became the General Manager of Town & Country Ford in November 1992 where he remained until his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sonic in April 1997. Mr. Smith has over 28 years of experience in the automobile dealership industry.

David Bruton Smith , 43, was appointed to the office of Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer of Sonic in March 2018. Prior to this, Mr. Smith had served as Sonic’s Vice Chairman since March 2013 and as an Executive Vice President of Sonic since October 2008. He has served as a director of Sonic since October 2008 and has served in Sonic’s organization since 1998. Prior to being named a director and Executive Vice President in 2008, Mr. Smith served as Sonic’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development since March 2007. Mr. Smith served as Sonic’s Vice President of Corporate Strategy from October 2005 to March 2007, and also served prior to that time as Dealer Operator and General Manager of several Sonic dealerships. He is the son of Mr. O. Bruton Smith and the brother of Mr. B. Scott Smith.

William I. Belk , 68, has been a director of Sonic since March 1998. Mr. Belk is currently affiliated with Southeast Investments, N.C. Inc., a FINRA member firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Belk’s past professional experience includes serving as a North Carolina District Court Judge, serving as a partner in the investment banking firm Carolina Financial Group, Inc. and serving in the positions of Chairman and director for certain Belk stores, a retail department store chain. Mr. Belk has also previously served as a director of Monroe Hardware Co., Inc., a wholesaler of hardware materials. Mr. Belk has a JD with an LLM — Taxation and a Masters in Business Administration. He is also a director of British West Indies Trading Company.

William R. Brooks , 68, has been a director of Sonic since its organization in January 1997. Mr. Brooks also served as Sonic’s initial Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Vice President and Secretary from January 1997 to April 1997. Since December 1994, Mr. Brooks has been the Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of SMI, became Executive Vice President of SMI in February 2004 and became Vice Chairman in May 2008. Mr. Brooks also serves as an executive officer and a director for various operating subsidiaries of SMI and as an officer and director of SFC, the largest stockholder of Sonic. Before the formation of SMI in December 1994, Mr. Brooks was a Vice President of Charlotte Motor Speedway and a Vice President and director of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Victor H. Doolan , 77, has been a director of Sonic since July 2005. Prior to being appointed as a director, Mr. Doolan served for approximately three years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars North America until his retirement in March 2005. Prior to joining Volvo, Mr. Doolan served as the Executive Director of the Premier Automotive Group, the luxury division of Ford Motor Company during his tenure, from July 1999 to June 2002. Mr. Doolan also enjoyed a 23-year career with BMW, culminating with his service as President of BMW of North America from September 1993 to July 1999. Mr. Doolan has worked in the automotive industry for approximately 49 years.

John W. Harris III , 39, has been a director of Sonic since October 2014. Mr. Harris has served since September 2015 as President of Lincoln Harris, LLC, a privately-held corporate real estate services firm focused on commercial brokerage, construction services, development and property management. From March 2012 to September 2015, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Lincoln Harris. Prior to joining Lincoln Harris, Mr. Harris held various positions at Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment

management firm, from August 2004 to February 2012. During his tenure at Fortress, Mr. Harris worked on assignments in Europe and the United States. Mr. Harris currently serves on the board of directors of Lincoln Harris, LLC and previously served on the board of directors of Intrawest Resorts Holdings, Inc., a public company traded on the NYSE, from January 2014 until its acquisition in July 2017.

Robert Heller , 78, has been a director of Sonic since January 2000. Mr. Heller served as a director of FirstAmerica Automotive, Inc. from January 1999 until its acquisition by Sonic in December 1999. Mr. Heller was a director and Executive Vice President of Fair, Isaac and Company from 1994 until 2001, where he was responsible for strategic relationships and marketing. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Heller was President and Chief Executive Officer of Visa U.S.A. Mr. Heller is a former Governor of the Federal Reserve System and has had an extensive career in banking, international finance, government service and education. Mr. Heller currently serves as a director of the Bank of Marin Bancorp, a public company traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

R. Eugene Taylor , 70, has been a director of Sonic since February 2015. Mr. Taylor has served as a director and Vice Chairman of the board of directors of First Horizon National Corporation (“First Horizon”), a bank holding company, since November 2017. Mr. Taylor previously served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Capital Bank Financial Corp. (“CBFC”), a bank holding company that he co-founded, from late 2009 until its acquisition by First Horizon in November 2017. Prior to co-founding CBFC, Mr. Taylor spent 38 years at Bank of America Corporation and its predecessor companies, most recently as Vice Chairman of Bank of America and President of Global Corporate & Investment Banking. Mr. Taylor was previously a director of CBFC and Capital Bank, N.A., CBFC’s operating bank subsidiary, as well as Capital Bank Corporation, Green Bankshares, Inc. and TIB Financial Corp., each of which CBFC held controlling interests in prior to their merger into CBFC.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”

THE ELECTION OF ALL OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director Independence

Because Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith and Marcus G. Smith (the “Smith family”), directly or indirectly, hold or control more than 50% of the voting power of Sonic’s Common Stock, Sonic qualifies as a “controlled company” for purposes of the NYSE rules and, therefore, is not required to comply with all of the requirements of those rules, including the requirement that a listed company have a majority of independent directors. Nevertheless, Sonic is committed to having its Board membership in favor of independent directors as evidenced by Sonic’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provide that it is desirable that any non-employee director be qualified as an “independent director” under the NYSE rules and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC rules”).

The Board believes that a majority of its members are independent under both the applicable NYSE rules and the applicable SEC rules. The NYSE rules provide that a director does not qualify as “independent” unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). The NYSE rules recommend that a board of directors consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances in determining the materiality of a director’s relationship with a company. The Board has adopted Categorical Standards for Determination of Director Independence (the “Categorical Standards”) to assist the Board in determining whether a director has a material relationship with Sonic. These Categorical Standards establish thresholds at which directors’ relationships with the Company are deemed to be not material and, therefore, shall not disqualify any director or nominee from being considered “independent.” The Categorical Standards are available on Sonic’s website, www.sonicautomotive.com .

In February 2018, the Board of Directors, with the assistance of the NCG Committee, conducted an evaluation of director independence based on the Categorical Standards, the NYSE rules and the SEC rules. The Board considered all relationships and transactions between each director (and his immediate family and affiliates) and each of Sonic, its management and its independent registered public accounting firm, including with respect to (i) Mr. William R. Brooks, that he is an affiliate of SFC, the largest stockholder of Sonic, and (ii) Mr. R. Eugene Taylor, who serves as a director and Vice Chairman of First Horizon, that Sonic and its dealership subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business received compensation from First Horizon in 2017 related to auto loans referred to First Horizon by Sonic’s dealership subsidiaries. The Board and the NCG Committee determined that First Horizon did not have an agreement with Sonic to serve as a preferred lender to Sonic’s dealership subsidiaries and that the level of auto loan referral business between Sonic’s dealership subsidiaries and First Horizon in 2017 was insignificant to both Sonic and First Horizon and well below the thresholds in the Categorical Standards. As a result of this evaluation, the Board determined those relationships that do exist or did exist within the last three years (except for Messrs. O. Bruton Smith’s, B. Scott Smith’s, David Bruton Smith’s and William R. Brooks’) all fall well below the thresholds in the Categorical Standards. Consequently, the Board of Directors determined that each of Messrs. Belk, Doolan, Harris, Heller and Taylor is an independent director under the Categorical Standards, the NYSE rules and the SEC rules. The Board also determined that each member of the Audit, Compensation and NCG Committees (see membership information below under “— Board Committees”) is independent, including that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) of the Exchange Act, and that each member of the Compensation Committee is an “outside director” as defined under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

Sonic separated the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in fiscal 2015. The Board believes that the existing leadership structure, under which Mr. O. Bruton Smith serves as Executive Chairman and Mr. B. Scott Smith serves as Chief Executive Officer, is the most appropriate and in the best interests of Sonic and its stockholders at this time. Given Sonic’s current needs, the Board believes this structure is optimal

as it allows Mr. B. Scott Smith to focus on the day-to-day operation of the business, while allowing Mr. O. Bruton Smith to focus on overall leadership and strategic direction of Sonic, guidance of Sonic’s senior management and leadership of the Board. Although the Board believes that this leadership structure is currently in the best interests of Sonic and its stockholders, the Board has the flexibility to elect the same individual to the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer if, in the future, the Board determines that returning to such a leadership structure would be appropriate.

It is management’s responsibility to manage risk and bring to the Board of Directors’ attention the most material risks to Sonic. The Board of Directors, including through Board committees comprised solely of independent directors, regularly reviews various areas of significant risk to Sonic, and advises and directs management on the scope and implementation of policies, strategic initiatives and other actions designed to mitigate various types of risks. Specific examples of risks primarily overseen by the full Board include competition risks, industry risks, economic risks, liquidity risks, business operations risks and risks related to acquisitions and dispositions.

The Audit Committee regularly reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm significant financial risk exposures and the processes management has implemented to monitor, control and report such exposures. Specific examples of risks primarily overseen by the Audit Committee include risks related to the preparation of Sonic’s financial statements, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls and procedures required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, accounting, financial and auditing risks, treasury risks (insurance, interest rate hedging, credit and debt), matters reported to the Audit Committee through the Internal Audit Department and through anonymous reporting procedures, risks posed by significant litigation matters, cyber risks and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The Compensation Committee reviews and evaluates potential risks related to the attraction and retention of talent and the design of compensation programs established by the Compensation Committee for Sonic’s executive officers.

The NCG Committee monitors compliance with Sonic’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, evaluates proposed affiliate transactions for compliance with the NCG Committee’s written charter and applicable contracts, and reviews compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to corporate governance.

Board Committees

The Board of Directors has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee. Each of these committees acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

Committee members and committee chairs are appointed by the Board and are identified in the following table:


Name	Audit Committee	Compensation Committee	NCG Committee
O. Bruton Smith
B. Scott Smith
David Bruton Smith
William I. Belk	X	X	X
William R. Brooks
Victor H. Doolan	X		Chairman
John W. Harris III	Vice Chairman	Vice Chairman	X
Robert Heller	Chairman	X
R. Eugene Taylor		Chairman	Vice Chairman

Set forth below is a summary of the principal functions of each committee.

Audit Committee . The Audit Committee appoints Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviews and approves the scope and results of audits performed by such firm and the Company’s internal auditors, and reviews and approves the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees for audit and non-audit services. It also reviews certain corporate compliance matters and reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal accounting and financial controls, its significant accounting policies, and its financial statements and related disclosures. A more detailed description of the Audit Committee’s functions can be found in its charter. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Belk, Doolan, Harris and Heller qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC rules and is “financially literate” and has accounting or related financial management expertise, in each case as determined by the Board, in its business judgment. The Audit Committee met eight times during fiscal 2017.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee administers certain compensation and employee benefit plans of Sonic and annually reviews and determines compensation of all executive officers of Sonic. The Compensation Committee administers the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”), the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Employee Plan”), the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Incentive Compensation Plan”), the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2004 Stock Incentive Plan”), the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”), the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Stock Incentive Plan”) and certain other employee stock plans, approves individual grants of equity-based compensation under the plans it administers and periodically reviews Sonic’s executive compensation program and takes action to modify programs that yield payments or benefits not closely related to Sonic’s or its executives’ performance. The Compensation Committee also periodically reviews compensation of non-employee directors and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, who determines the amount of such compensation. In formulating its recommendation to the Board, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of management and, from time to time, independent consulting firms that specialize in executive compensation. A more detailed description of the Compensation Committee’s functions can be found in its charter. In affirmatively determining the independence of any director who will serve on the Compensation Committee, the Board considers all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to Sonic which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member. The Compensation Committee met five times during fiscal 2017.

NCG Committee. The NCG Committee is responsible for identifying individuals who are qualified to serve as directors of Sonic and for recommending qualified nominees to the Board for election or reelection as directors of Sonic. The NCG Committee will consider director nominees submitted by stockholders in accordance with the provisions of Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaws. The NCG Committee is also responsible for recommending to the Board of Directors for the Board’s approval committee members and chairpersons of committees of the Board and for establishing a system for, and monitoring the process of, performance reviews of the Board and its committees. Finally, the NCG Committee is responsible for developing and recommending to the Board of Directors for the Board’s approval a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to Sonic and for monitoring compliance with Sonic’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. A more detailed description of the NCG Committee’s functions can be found in its charter. The NCG Committee met two times during fiscal 2017.

The NCG Committee has a process of identifying and evaluating potential nominees for election as members of the Board of Directors, which includes considering recommendations by management and directors and may include engaging third-party search firms to assist the NCG Committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees. The NCG Committee is also responsible for reviewing, evaluating and considering qualified nominees recommended by stockholders for election as directors of the Company. The NCG Committee has adopted a policy that potential director nominees shall be evaluated no differently regardless of whether the

nominee is recommended by a stockholder, a Board member, the NCG Committee or management. The NCG Committee considers potential nominees for directors from all these sources, develops information from many sources concerning the potential nominee, evaluates the potential nominee as to the qualifications that the NCG Committee and the Board have established and in light of the current skill, background and experience of the Board’s members and the future and ongoing needs of the Company and makes a decision whether to recommend any potential nominee for consideration for election as a member of the Board of Directors.

Sonic’s qualification standards for directors are set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines. These standards include the director’s or nominee’s:

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independent judgment;

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ability to qualify as an “independent director” (as defined under applicable SEC rules and applicable NYSE rules);

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ability to broadly represent the interests of all of the Company’s stockholders and other constituencies;

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maturity and experience in policy making decisions;

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time commitments, including service on other boards of directors;

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business skills, background and relevant expertise that are useful to Sonic and its future needs;

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willingness and ability to serve on committees of the Board of Directors; and

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other factors relevant to the NCG Committee’s determination.

As stated in Sonic’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board of Directors should be composed ideally of persons having a diversity of skills, background and expertise that are useful to Sonic and its future and ongoing needs. With this goal in mind, when considering potential nominees for the Board of Directors, the NCG Committee considers the standards above and each potential nominee’s individual qualifications in light of the composition and needs of the Board of Directors at such time and its anticipated composition and needs in the future, but a director nominee should not be chosen nor excluded based on race, color, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.

Based on this process, the NCG Committee recommended that Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith, William I. Belk, William R. Brooks, Victor H. Doolan, John W. Harris III, Robert Heller and R. Eugene Taylor be nominated for reelection to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. In determining each nomination was appropriate and that each nominee is qualified to serve on the Board of Directors, the NCG Committee considered the following:

O. Bruton Smith : Mr. Smith is the Founder of Sonic and has extensive expertise in the retail automobile industry, having worked in the industry since 1966. Mr. Smith has served as Sonic’s Executive Chairman since July 2015 and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonic from the Company’s organization in January 1997 until July 2015. Mr. Smith is also the Executive Chairman and a director of SMI. Mr. Smith is the father of Mr. B. Scott Smith and Mr. David Bruton Smith, and owns, directly and indirectly, a significant percentage of Sonic’s outstanding Common Stock that provides him, together with the other members of the Smith family, with majority voting control of Sonic. Mr. Smith has served as a director of Sonic since its organization in January 1997.

B. Scott Smith : Mr. Smith is the Co-Founder of Sonic and has over 28 years of experience in the automobile dealership industry. Mr. Smith has served as Sonic’s Chief Executive Officer since July 2015, as President of the Company since March 2007 and as an executive officer of Sonic since the Company’s organization in January 1997. Mr. Smith is the son of Mr. O. Bruton Smith and the brother of Mr. David Bruton Smith, and owns, directly and indirectly, a significant percentage of Sonic’s outstanding Common Stock that

provides him, together with the other members of the Smith family, with majority voting control of Sonic. Mr. Smith has served as a director of Sonic since its organization in January 1997.

David Bruton Smith : Mr. Smith has over 19 years of experience working in the automobile dealership industry. Mr. Smith has served in several key roles as a manager and officer of Sonic over his more than 19 years of employment with the Company, including as Vice Chairman of Sonic since March 2013. Mr. Smith is the son of Mr. O. Bruton Smith and the brother of Mr. B. Scott Smith, and owns, directly and indirectly, a significant percentage of Sonic’s outstanding Common Stock that provides him, together with the other members of the Smith family, with majority voting control of Sonic. Mr. Smith has served as a director of Sonic since October 2008.

William I. Belk : Mr. Belk has extensive consumer retail experience, serving in many positions of responsibility over a lengthy previous career at Belk Stores, a retail department store chain. Mr. Belk also has experience as a director of other organizations. Mr. Belk has served as a director of Sonic and a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board since March 1998 and the NCG Committee of the Board since December 2014. Mr. Belk has also served as Sonic’s Lead Independent Director since August 2002.

William R. Brooks : Mr. Brooks has significant accounting and financial management expertise, having served as Chief Financial Officer and a director of SMI, a publicly traded corporation, since 1994. Mr. Brooks also serves as an officer and director of SFC, the largest stockholder of Sonic. Mr. Brooks has served as a director of Sonic since the Company’s organization in January 1997.

Victor H. Doolan : Mr. Doolan has significant expertise in the automotive industry, and particularly in manufacturing, sales and marketing, serving previously as President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars North America, as Executive Director of the Premier Automotive Group (the luxury division of Ford Motor Company during his tenure), and a 23-year career with BMW culminating with his service as President of BMW of North America. Mr. Doolan has served as a director of Sonic and a member of the Audit Committee and the NCG Committee of the Board since July 2005, and served as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board from December 2009 to December 2014.

John W. Harris III : Mr. Harris has significant expertise in commercial real estate and finance, having served as President of Lincoln Harris, LLC since September 2015, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Lincoln Harris from March 2012 to September 2015 and in various positions at Fortress Investment Group LLC from August 2004 to February 2012. Mr. Harris also has experience as a director of other organizations. Mr. Harris has served as a director of Sonic and a member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee of the Board since October 2014.

Robert Heller : Mr. Heller has significant expertise in economics, business, banking and consumer finance, having served previously as a Governor of the Federal Reserve System, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visa U.S.A., and as a director and Executive Vice President of Fair, Isaac and Company. Mr. Heller also has experience as a director of other organizations. Mr. Heller has served as a director of Sonic and a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board since January 2000.

R. Eugene Taylor : Mr. Taylor has significant management experience and expertise in the banking and finance industry, having served as a director and Vice Chairman of the board of directors of First Horizon since November 2017. Mr. Taylor previously served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of CBFC from late 2009 to November 2017. Prior to co-founding CBFC, Mr. Taylor spent 38 years at Bank of America Corporation and its predecessor companies, most recently as Vice Chairman of Bank of America and President of Global Corporate & Investment Banking. Mr. Taylor also has experience as a director of other organizations. Mr. Taylor has served as a director of Sonic since February 2015 and as a member of the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee of the Board since April 2015.

Director Meetings

The Board of Directors held four meetings during fiscal 2017. Each incumbent director attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which such director served during fiscal 2017. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent directors meet in executive session without members of management present prior to or after each regularly scheduled Board meeting. Mr. William I. Belk, as Lead Independent Director, presides over these executive sessions.

Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders

It is the Board’s policy that the directors should attend our annual meeting of stockholders. Eight of our nine directors attended the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.

Annual Evaluation of the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board

The Board of Directors evaluates the performance of each committee of the Board, the Chairman, the Lead Independent Director and the Board of Directors as a whole on an annual basis. In connection with this annual self-evaluation, each director anonymously records his views on the performance of each committee of the Board, the Chairman, the Lead Independent Director and the Board of Directors as a whole. The entire Board of Directors reviews these reports and determines what, if any, actions should be taken in the upcoming year to improve its effectiveness and the effectiveness of each committee of the Board, the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director.

No Hedging or Short Selling

Sonic maintains policies that apply to all directors and officers of the Company that prohibit hedging or short selling (profiting if the market price of the securities decreases) of Sonic securities.

Chief Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Board believes that requiring the Chief Executive Officer to hold a significant number of shares of Sonic Common Stock aligns his interests with stockholders and has therefore adopted stock ownership guidelines for Sonic’s Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer is required to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, shares of Class A common stock or Class B Common Stock of the Company (inclusive of securities convertible into such shares) having a market value (if applicable, on an as-converted basis) equal to three times the Chief Executive Officer’s cash base salary. The Chief Executive Officer must meet the stock ownership requirement within three years from the date on which such Chief Executive Officer becomes the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Policies and Procedures for Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Affiliates

Pursuant to its written charter, the NCG Committee reviews and evaluates all transactions between Sonic and its affiliates and considers issues of possible conflicts of interest, if such issues arise. In addition, transactions between Sonic and its affiliates are reviewed by the full Board of Directors and/or its independent directors in accordance with the terms of Sonic’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, its senior credit facilities and the indentures governing its outstanding senior subordinated notes. These documents require, subject to certain exceptions, that a transaction between Sonic and an affiliate:

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be made in good faith and in writing and be on terms no less favorable to Sonic than those obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction between Sonic and an unrelated third party;

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involving aggregate payments in excess of $500,000, be (i) approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors and a majority of Sonic’s independent directors or (ii) Sonic must receive

an opinion as to the financial fairness of the transaction from an investment banking or appraisal firm of national standing; and

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involving aggregate value in excess of:

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$5.0 million, be approved by a majority of Sonic’s disinterested directors; and

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$15.0 million, be approved by a majority of Sonic’s disinterested directors or Sonic must obtain a written opinion as to the financial fairness of the transaction from an investment banking firm of national standing or other recognized independent expert with experience appraising the terms and conditions of the type of such transaction.

Transactions with Affiliates

Our Executive Chairman, Mr. O. Bruton Smith, is also the Executive Chairman of SMI, and Mr. Marcus G. Smith, a greater than 10% beneficial owner of Sonic, is the Chief Executive Officer and President of SMI. Certain of Sonic’s dealerships purchase the zMAX micro-lubricant from Oil-Chem Research Corporation (“Oil-Chem”), a subsidiary of SMI, for resale to customers of Sonic’s dealerships in the ordinary course of business. Total purchases from Oil-Chem by Sonic dealerships were approximately $1.9 million in fiscal 2017. Sonic also engaged in other transactions with various SMI subsidiaries in fiscal 2017, consisting primarily of (i) merchandise and apparel purchases from SMISC Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a SMI Properties) for approximately $0.9 million and (ii) vehicle sales to various SMI subsidiaries for approximately $0.2 million. Because the Smith family and SFC, an entity jointly controlled by the members of the Smith family, own collectively approximately 71% of SMI, under applicable SEC rules, the amount of Messrs. O. Bruton Smith’s, B. Scott Smith’s, David Bruton Smith’s and Marcus G. Smith’s interest in these transactions may be deemed to be approximately $1.3 million, $0.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Sonic participates in various aircraft-related transactions with SFC. Such transactions include, but are not limited to, the use of aircraft owned by SFC for business-related travel by Sonic executives, a management agreement with SFC for storage and maintenance of aircraft leased by Sonic from unrelated third parties and the use of Sonic’s aircraft for business-related travel by certain affiliates of SFC. The aggregate amount of the aircraft-related transactions between Sonic and these related parties was approximately $1.2 million (which consists of approximately $0.8 million paid by Sonic to such related parties and approximately $0.4 million received by Sonic from such related parties) in fiscal 2017. Because the Smith family owns 100% of SFC, under applicable SEC rules, the amount of Messrs. O. Bruton Smith’s, B. Scott Smith’s, David Bruton Smith’s and Marcus G. Smith’s interest in these transactions may be deemed to be approximately $1.2 million.

Stockholder Nominations of Directors

Stockholders may recommend a director candidate for consideration by the NCG Committee by submitting the candidate’s name in accordance with provisions of our Amended and Restated Bylaws, which require advance notice to Sonic and certain other information. In general, under the Amended and Restated Bylaws, the written notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, Sonic’s principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company.

The notice must contain certain information about both the nominee and the stockholder submitting the nomination, as set forth in Section 2.08(a) of Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaws. With respect to the nominee, the notice must contain, among other things: (i) the nominee’s name, date of birth, business and

residential addresses, (ii) the nominee’s background and qualification, including the principal occupation or employment of the nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by the nominee, (iv) such other information regarding the nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for an election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and (v) a written statement executed by the nominee (A) acknowledging that as a director of the Company, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under Delaware law with respect to the Company and its stockholders, (B) disclosing whether the nominee is a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, or has given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how the nominee, if elected, will act or vote on any issue or question, (C) disclosing whether the nominee is a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with the nominee’s service or action as a director of the Company, (D) disclosing whether the nominee is affiliated with a competitor of the Company, (E) agreeing to update continually the accuracy of the information required by the immediately preceding clauses (B), (C) and (D) for as long as the nominee is a director nominee or a director of the Company and (F) agreeing if elected as a director of the Company to comply with all corporate governance codes, policies and guidelines of the Company applicable to directors. With respect to the stockholder submitting the nomination and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaws), the notice must contain, among other things: (1) the name and business address of that stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person as they appear on the Company’s books and a representation that the stockholder is a stockholder of record of shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting to which the notice pertains and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the nominee, (2) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are directly or indirectly owned of record or beneficially by that stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (3) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person as well as any hedging transactions or similar agreements and (4) a description of all arrangements, understandings or relationships between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person(s)) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by the stockholder. A stockholder who is interested in recommending a director candidate should request a copy of Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaw provisions by writing to Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211.

How to Communicate with the Board of Directors and Non-Management Directors

Stockholders and other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors, or any of our individual directors, including the Lead Independent Director, may do so by sending a written communication addressed to the attention of the respective director(s) at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, or in the case of communications to the entire Board of Directors addressed to the attention of Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at the above address. Stockholders and other interested parties wishing to communicate with our non-management directors as a group may do so by sending a written communication addressed to the attention of Mr. William I. Belk, as Lead Independent Director, at the above address. Any communication addressed to any director that is received at Sonic’s principal executive offices will be delivered or forwarded to the respective director(s) as soon as practicable. Any communication addressed to the Board of Directors, in general, will be promptly delivered or forwarded to each director. Sonic generally will not forward to directors a communication that it determines is primarily commercial in nature, relates to an improper or irrelevant topic or requests general information about Sonic.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The table below sets forth the compensation paid to each non-employee director who served on the Board in fiscal 2017. Directors who are also employees of Sonic (currently Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith and David Bruton Smith) do not receive compensation (other than their compensation as employees of Sonic) for their service on the Board of Directors.


Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)		Stock Awards ($) ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾		All Other Compensation ($) ⁽³⁾		Total ($)
William I. Belk	$	82,500	$	134,258	$	14,258	$	231,016
William R. Brooks	$	70,000	$	134,258	$	14,247	$	218,505
Victor H. Doolan	$	82,500	$	134,258	$	17,770	$	234,528
John W. Harris III	$	82,500	$	134,258	$	28,924	$	245,682
Robert Heller	$	90,000	$	134,258	$	27,006	$	251,264
R. Eugene Taylor	$	88,750	$	134,258	$	1,086	$	224,094

⁽¹⁾	The non-employee directors had the following stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2017:


Name	Outstanding Stock Awards (#)
William I. Belk		6,630
William R. Brooks		6,630
Victor H. Doolan		6,630
John W. Harris III		6,630
Robert Heller		6,630
R. Eugene Taylor		6,630

⁽²⁾

The dollar amount shown for these stock awards represents the aggregate grant date fair value as calculated under the provisions of “Stock Compensation” in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. See Note 10 to Sonic’s consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for the valuation assumptions used in determining the fair value of the awards. These amounts reflect the accounting expense and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the directors.

⁽³⁾

The amounts shown in this column include the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the directors by our dealership subsidiaries. The amounts shown in this column also include cash dividends paid on non-vested restricted stock awards.

Each non-employee director receives a $70,000 annual cash retainer, payable in quarterly installments, and a demonstrator vehicle for personal use. Sonic’s Lead Independent Director, Compensation Committee Chairman and NCG Committee Chairman each receive an additional annual cash retainer of $12,500, payable in quarterly installments. Sonic’s Audit Committee Chairman receives an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000, payable in quarterly installments. The vice chairperson of any committee of the Board receives an additional annual cash retainer of $6,250, payable in quarterly installments. Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Plan”) and may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual cash retainer fees under the Deferred Plan. No non-employee directors elected to participate in the Deferred Plan for fiscal 2017.

Non-employee directors also receive automatic grants of either restricted stock or, subject to the non-employee director’s timely election, deferred restricted stock units during each year of service under the Sonic

Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2012 Formula Plan”). The 2012 Formula Plan provides for an annual grant of restricted stock or, subject to the non-employee director’s timely election, deferred restricted stock units to each eligible non-employee director on the first business day following each annual meeting of Sonic’s stockholders, beginning with the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. The number of restricted shares of Class A common stock or deferred restricted stock units, as applicable, granted to an eligible non-employee director each year will equal $130,000 divided by the average closing price of the Class A common stock on the NYSE for the 20 trading days immediately prior to the grant date (rounded up to the nearest whole share). Generally, subject to the director’s continued service on the Board, the restricted stock awarded (whether restricted stock or deferred restricted stock units) will vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date or, if earlier, the day before the next annual meeting of Sonic’s stockholders following the grant date. If a non-employee director initially becomes a member of the Board during any calendar year, but after the annual meeting of Sonic’s stockholders for that year, the non-employee director will receive a restricted stock grant upon his or her election to the Board with the number of shares determined as described above and, subject to the director’s continued service on the Board, the restricted stock generally will vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date.

Shares of restricted stock granted under the 2012 Formula Plan may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred to the extent they remain unvested. Deferred restricted stock units may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred, whether vested or unvested. A director holding restricted stock will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares of restricted stock, although dividends paid in shares will be considered restricted stock. A director with deferred restricted stock units will not have voting or any other stockholder rights or ownership interest in shares of Class A common stock with respect to which the deferred restricted stock units are granted.

Except in the event of a termination of service immediately prior to or upon a “change in control” (as defined in the 2012 Formula Plan) of Sonic, if a director’s service on the Board terminates for any reason other than death or “disability” (as defined in the 2012 Formula Plan), all shares of restricted stock or, if applicable, all deferred restricted stock units not vested at the time of such termination are forfeited. If the director’s service on the Board terminates immediately prior to or upon a change in control of Sonic or due to his death or disability, the director’s restricted stock or deferred restricted stock units will become fully vested. Upon either the consummation of a tender offer or exchange offer that constitutes a change in control of Sonic or the third business day prior to the effective date of any other change in control of Sonic, all outstanding restricted stock and deferred restricted stock units will become fully vested.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

To ensure that non-employee directors become and remain meaningfully invested in Sonic Common Stock, each non-employee director is required to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock of the Company (inclusive of securities convertible into such shares) having a market value (if applicable, on an as-converted basis) equal to five times the annual cash retainer fees payable to non-employee directors. A non-employee director must meet the stock ownership requirement within five years from the later of (i) April 30, 2017 or (ii) the date on which such director joins the Board.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to Sonic’s accounting policies, reporting policies, internal controls, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the integrity of Sonic’s financial reports. The Audit Committee manages Sonic’s relationship with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, who is ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “financially literate” as determined by the Board, in its business judgment, and “independent” as such term is defined by the NYSE rules and the SEC rules.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of Sonic with management and KPMG LLP, Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm. Management has the responsibility for preparing the financial statements, certifying that Sonic’s financial statements are complete, accurate and prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and implementing and maintaining internal controls and attesting to internal control over financial reporting. The independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility for performing an independent audit of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also discussed and reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm all matters required to be discussed by generally accepted auditing standards, including those described in Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees” (AS 1301). With and without management present, the Audit Committee discussed and reviewed the results of the independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of the financial statements.

During fiscal 2017, the Audit Committee met eight times, including meetings to discuss the interim financial information contained in each quarterly earnings announcement for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017 with the Chief Financial Officer and the independent registered public accounting firm prior to public release. In addition, the Audit Committee regularly monitored the progress of management and the independent registered public accounting firm in assessing Sonic’s compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including their findings, required resources and progress throughout the year.

In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee received from the independent registered public accounting firm the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee met separately with management, internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the adequacy and effectiveness of Sonic’s internal accounting and financial controls, the internal audit function’s organization, responsibilities, budget and staffing and reviewed with both the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors their audit plans, audit scope and identification of audit risks.

Based on these reviews and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, that Sonic’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee also recommended the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and the Board concurred in such recommendation.

Robert Heller, Chairman

John W. Harris III, Vice Chairman

William I. Belk

Victor H. Doolan

PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP to serve as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018. KPMG LLP has acted in such capacity for Sonic since 2014.

The Company expects that representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, and the representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. The Company also expects that representatives will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

Stockholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise. Nevertheless, the Board is submitting the appointment of KPMG LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance and will reconsider whether to retain KPMG LLP if the stockholders fail to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment. In addition, even if the stockholders ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of Sonic and its stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”

THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP

AS SONIC’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

FOR FISCAL 2018.

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of Sonic’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP during those periods.


	Fiscal 2017 ($)		Fiscal 2016 ($)
Audit Fees ⁽¹⁾	$	2,293,150	$	2,315,738
Audit-Related Fees ⁽²⁾	$	172,224	$	54,111
Tax Fees	$	—	$	—
All Other Fees	$	—	$	—

⁽¹⁾

Audit Fees consist of fees billed for the respective year for professional services rendered in connection with or related to the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and the review of our interim consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-Qs, or services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including registration statements, and for services related to compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

⁽²⁾	Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for the respective year for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements and are not reported under the heading “Audit Fees.”

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. All such services provided in fiscal 2017 were approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee concluded that the provision of such services by KPMG LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its chairperson when necessary due to timing considerations. The chairperson in turn reports to the Audit Committee at least quarterly on any services he pre-approved since his last report.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides a detailed description of our executive compensation philosophy and programs, the compensation decisions the Compensation Committee has made under those programs and the factors considered in making those decisions. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis focuses on the compensation of our named executive officers for 2017 (“Named Executive Officers”), who were:


Name		Title
O. Bruton Smith		Executive Chairman

B. Scott Smith		Chief Executive Officer and President

David Bruton Smith ⁽¹⁾		Vice Chairman

Jeff Dyke		Executive Vice President of Operations

Heath R. Byrd		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

⁽¹⁾	Mr. David Bruton Smith was elected Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer of the Company in March 2018.

2017 Executive Officer Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee believes that its compensation philosophy continues to drive our Named Executive Officers and salaried employees to produce sustainable, positive results for the Company and our stockholders. In this regard, the policy of the Compensation Committee is to:

•

link executive compensation to Sonic’s business strategy and performance to attract, retain and reward key executive officers;

•

provide performance incentives and equity-based compensation intended to align the long-term interests of executive officers with those of Sonic’s stockholders; and

•

offer salaries, incentive performance pay opportunities and perquisites that are competitive in the marketplace.

Sonic’s executive compensation program is comprised primarily of two components: annual cash compensation, paid in the form of base salary and performance-based bonuses, and long-term equity compensation, principally in the form of performance-based equity awards with respect to our Class A common stock, such as restricted shares, restricted stock units and stock options. This compensation program is designed to place emphasis on performance-based compensation. The Compensation Committee typically reviews and adjusts base salaries and awards of cash bonuses and equity-based compensation in the first quarter of each year based on several factors, including management’s recommendations that are developed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer together with the Executive Chairman through a collaborative process involving members of Sonic’s senior management team. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and other members of senior management presented management’s written recommendations, reports and proposals on 2017 compensation to the Compensation Committee. These recommendations, reports and proposals addressed topics such as base salaries, overall structure, target levels and payout levels for the annual cash bonus program under the Incentive Compensation Plan, equity awards to executive officers and the rationale for these recommendations. The Compensation Committee considered these recommendations before determining compensation.

The Compensation Committee also weighed the affirmative stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation at the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders and at the Company’s 2016 annual meeting of stockholders as one of the many factors it considered in connection with determining executive compensation. Approximately 95.3% of the votes cast by our stockholders at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders were in favor of the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, our named executive officer compensation, and approximately 83.5% of the votes cast by our stockholders at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders were in favor of the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, our named executive officer compensation.

Considering the philosophy above, the Compensation Committee considered the recommendations developed and presented by the Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer along with aspects of our historical compensation practices and other factors, and considered all of this information together with the competitiveness of our compensation, all in order to determine executive compensation for the Named Executive Officers in 2017 in a manner that it believes best reflects individual responsibilities and contributions and provides incentives to achieve our business and financial objectives.

Use of Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, such independent consultants or other advisers it deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee engaged Willis Towers Watson in May 2017 to provide a market assessment of executive compensation, review compensation levels for its Named Executive Officers, and to review executive compensation trends in the competitive landscape, particularly within the retail sector, all with respect to base salaries, annual incentives and long-term incentives, and to present its findings to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviewed the findings presented by Willis Towers Watson in July 2017, but did not take any action at that time to increase the compensation of any Named Executive Officer.

In addition to the executive compensation consulting services provided to the Compensation Committee, Willis Towers Watson provided risk consulting and software services during 2017 to the Company at the request of management, with fees totaling $16,200. Willis Towers Watson did not provide other significant services to the Company during 2017 and had no other direct or indirect business relationships with the Company or any of its affiliates during 2017. The Compensation Committee believes that given the nature and the scope of these additional services, such services did not impair Willis Towers Watson’s ability to provide impartial and objective advice to the Compensation Committee regarding executive compensation matters.

Although Sonic qualifies as a “controlled company” for purposes of the NYSE rules and, therefore, is not required to comply with all of the requirements of those rules, the Compensation Committee has assessed Willis Towers Watson’s independence as a compensation consultant by reference to the NYSE rules.

In connection with its engagement of Willis Towers Watson, the Compensation Committee considered various factors bearing upon Willis Towers Watson’s independence including, but not limited to Willis Towers Watson’s policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest, and the existence of any business or personal relationship that could impact Willis Towers Watson’s independence. The Compensation Committee requested and received an independence letter from Willis Towers Watson assessing the independence factors that are identified in the SEC rules. After reviewing these and other factors (including the NYSE listing standards for compensation consultants), the Compensation Committee determined that Willis Towers Watson was independent of the Company’s management and that its engagement did not raise any conflicts of interest.

The Compensation Committee previously retained Willis Towers Watson in 2015 and in 2013 to provide certain analysis of the competitiveness of compensation paid by the Company to its executive officers in comparison to similarly-situated executive officers of certain publicly traded automotive retail peer companies. Willis Towers Watson also was engaged in October 2013 to advise the Compensation Committee on the design of a long-term incentive plan for EchoPark Automotive, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, and to provide related services, which engagement ended during 2014.

Annual Cash Compensation

Annual cash compensation for Sonic’s Named Executive Officers consists of a base salary and the potential for an annual performance-based cash bonus. The annual cash compensation paid by Sonic to its Named Executive Officers during 2017 was targeted to be competitive principally in relation to other automotive retailing companies (such as those included in the Peer Group Index in the performance graph appearing in our annual report to stockholders). While the Compensation Committee analyzes the competitiveness of annual cash compensation paid by Sonic to its executives in comparison to data from comparable companies, the Compensation Committee has not adopted any specific benchmarks for compensation of Sonic’s executives in comparison to other companies.

Base Salary for 2017

The base salaries of Sonic’s Named Executive Officers and adjustments to such executive officers’ base salaries are generally based upon a subjective evaluation of the executive’s performance by the Compensation Committee, executive compensation of comparable companies and management’s recommendations. The Compensation Committee’s evaluation is based upon non-quantitative factors, such as the current responsibilities of each executive officer, the compensation of similarly situated executive officers of comparable companies, and the performance of each executive officer during the prior calendar year (including subjective and objective evaluations of the performance of business units and functions under the particular executive’s supervision). Giving consideration to these factors and management’s recommendations regarding base salaries, the Compensation Committee determined not to adjust the base salaries of any of the Named Executive Officers for 2017, resulting in the base salaries for the executive officers remaining at the following amounts: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $1,262,821; Mr. B. Scott Smith, $1,090,733; Mr. David Bruton Smith, $741,829; Mr. Jeff Dyke, $973,906; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, $680,631.

Performance-Based Cash Bonuses for 2017

During 2017, Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith, Jeff Dyke and Heath R. Byrd participated in the Incentive Compensation Plan. Compensation under the Incentive Compensation Plan is intended to provide highly-qualified executives and other key employees with an incentive to devote their best efforts to Sonic and enhance the value of Sonic for the benefit of stockholders. After consideration of management’s recommendations, on February 13, 2017, the Compensation Committee established a two-tiered approach to determine potential incentive cash bonus awards for Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith, David Bruton Smith, Jeff Dyke and Heath R. Byrd for the performance period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017. The first tier was an objective threshold achievement level of defined adjusted earnings per share (“EPS” as described below) for Sonic for the 2017 calendar year of at least 75% of the adjusted EPS target objective for the second tier. No bonuses were payable under the Incentive Compensation Plan for 2017 if such threshold performance goal was not achieved. If the threshold adjusted EPS goal was achieved, then each Named Executive Officer was eligible for a bonus of $3,000,000 (the “maximum bonus amount”). Adjusted EPS was selected as the primary performance goal under the 2017 bonus program in order to align the Named Executive Officers’ cash bonuses with profitability realized by the Company during 2017. The second tier of the bonus program established additional performance criteria that the Compensation Committee intended to also use to guide its determination of bonus amounts payable to the Named Executive Officers. These performance goals included additional achievement levels related to adjusted EPS goals and also customer satisfaction index (“CSI” as described below) performance goals based on the percentage of Sonic’s dealerships that meet or exceed specified objectives, as reported by the respective manufacturers for such brands. Although each of the Named Executive Officers was eligible for the maximum bonus amount if the first tier performance requirement was achieved, the Compensation Committee could, in its determination, exercise negative discretion to reduce the dollar amount of a Named Executive Officer’s actual bonus to less than the maximum bonus amount. The Compensation Committee could reduce such bonus amounts for reasons determined in its discretion, including the extent to which the adjusted EPS and CSI goals under the second tier of the bonus program were achieved, along with other factors the Compensation Committee determined relevant, such as its subjective assessment of

financial, operational, strategic, corporate and individual performance, and unanticipated contingencies and events. A Named Executive Officer’s bonus amount under the Incentive Compensation Plan may be less than (but not more than) the maximum bonus amount, with annual cash bonuses (if any) to be paid as soon as administratively practicable following the Compensation Committee’s determination of the extent to which the specified performance goals were achieved.

Under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program, the potential performance-based cash bonuses for the Named Executive Officers were based on a percentage of their respective annual base salary during the performance period. The Compensation Committee established two categories of performance goals for each of the Named Executive Officers: defined adjusted EPS levels and CSI performance for Sonic’s dealerships. In establishing the potential bonus award guidelines under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program, the Compensation Committee chose to more heavily weight the EPS component to more closely tie the executive’s bonus to the profitability of the Company.

For purposes of the Incentive Compensation Plan performance goals in 2017, adjusted EPS was defined as (A) Sonic’s net income from continuing operations determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to fix the income tax rate on net income at 39.25% and to take into account the timing of the disposition of dealerships during 2017 such that the budget and actual performance of dealerships disposed of during 2017 are included in the calculation of adjusted EPS performance objective levels and adjusted EPS only for the period up to the date of such disposition, and excluding the effects of (i) any gain or loss recognized by Sonic on the disposition of dealerships (including asset or lease impairment charges related to a decision to sell a specific dealership), (ii) asset write-downs and impairment charges, (iii) debt restructuring charges and costs, (iv) litigation judgments or settlements attributable to certain identified lawsuits in which Sonic or a subsidiary of Sonic is a party, (v) any assessed withdrawal liability or settlement against Sonic and/or any of Sonic’s subsidiaries with respect to any of Sonic’s dealership subsidiaries that participate in or have participated in a specified multiemployer pension plan, (vi) property loss and replacement expense attributable to acts of God or nature, which loss or expense would have been covered under Sonic’s property loss insurance policies but for an applicable deductible, and (vii) the cumulative effect of any changes in GAAP during 2017, divided by (B) a diluted weighted average share count of 45,750,000 shares.

Under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program, the minimum, interim, target and maximum objective levels for 2017 based on achievement of adjusted EPS and potential corresponding bonus levels for the Named Executive Officers were established as follows (subject to adjustment as described below):


2017 Adjusted EPS	Bonus as Percentage of Base Salary
Less Than $1.64		0%
Minimum Objective: $1.64		50%
Interim Objective: $1.85		90%
Target Objective: $2.05		100%
Maximum Objective: $2.26 or more		150%

The above dollar amounts specified for the minimum, interim, target and maximum objectives were subject to proportionate adjustment to reflect the budgeted performance of dealerships disposed of during 2017 only for the period up to the date of such disposition, and actual adjusted EPS considers actual performance of such dealerships only for the period up to the date of such disposition. Taking into account relevant dispositions during 2017, there was an adjustment to the adjusted EPS objectives, so the minimum objective was $1.63, the interim objective was $1.84, the target objective was $2.04, and the maximum objective was $2.25. For performance falling between two objective levels described above, the corresponding bonus amount would be prorated based on the performance achieved between the two objective levels.

CSI performance was selected as the other performance goal under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program since it aligns with two other important company goals: (i) meeting the expectations of our dealership

customers, and (ii) meeting the expectations of our manufacturers. The CSI performance objective was based on the percentage of Sonic’s dealerships, as reported by the applicable manufacturer, that for the performance period met or exceeded their applicable manufacturer’s objective CSI standard applicable to the particular dealership as of December 31, 2017. Only dealerships owned by Sonic for the entire 2017 fiscal year would be included in determining achievement of the CSI performance goals.

Under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program, the Compensation Committee included specific minimum, target and maximum objective levels based upon achievement of the CSI-based performance objectives and corresponding bonus amounts for the Named Executive Officers as follows:


Dealerships Achieving Manufacturer’s CSI Performance Standard as of 12/31/17	Bonus as Percentage of Base Salary
Less than 70%		0%
Minimum Objective: 70%		5%
Target Objective: 75%		15%
Maximum Objective: 80% or more		25%

For performance falling between two objective levels described above, the corresponding bonus amount would be prorated based on the performance achieved between the two objective levels.

On February 23, 2018, based on management’s report regarding Sonic’s performance against the performance-based goals, the Compensation Committee certified that the objective threshold achievement level of adjusted EPS for Sonic for the 2017 calendar year under the first tier of the 2017 bonus program had been met because Sonic achieved a defined EPS of $1.77 (more than 75% of the adjusted EPS target objective for the second tier). Considering this achievement level, and also guided by the parameters that the Compensation Committee established under the second tier of the 2017 bonus program, including the Company’s achievement of the CSI performance goal at the maximum objective level, but also considering other factors, including unanticipated events, the Compensation Committee determined to exercise its negative discretion and award less than the maximum bonus amount under the 2017 bonus program. The Compensation Committee authorized award amounts for each of the Named Executive Officers in the following amounts: $1,416,303 for Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $1,223,299 for Mr. B. Scott Smith, $831,989 for Mr. David Bruton Smith, $1,092,273 for Mr. Jeff Dyke and $763,354 for Mr. Heath R. Byrd. This exercise of discretion was not intended to be a negative reflection on the performance of our Named Executive Officers, since they performed beyond our target expectations. Rather, the reduction is a function of the Compensation Committee’s decision to inform its determination of bonus amounts based on pre-determined performance objectives and its assessment of the individual’s achievements and other factors, and our intent to comply with Section 162(m)’s performance-based compensation exception. The Compensation Committee approved payment of the Incentive Compensation Plan cash bonuses to the Named Executive Officers in late February 2018 or as soon as administratively practicable.

Long-Term Equity Compensation

Named Executive Officer Grants for 2017

The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation is an effective means of aligning the long-term interests of Sonic’s key officers and employees with those of its stockholders, to provide incentives to, and to attract and retain and to encourage equity ownership by, key officers and employees providing services to Sonic and its subsidiaries upon whose efforts Sonic’s success and future growth depends. Sonic’s long-term equity compensation program is based principally upon awards under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (and previously the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan) of (i) performance-based restricted shares of Class A common stock, (ii) performance-based restricted stock units convertible into shares of Class A common stock, and/or (iii) options to purchase Class A common stock. The size of awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock options are based generally upon a subjective evaluation of the executive’s performance by the Compensation Committee, executive compensation of comparable companies and management’s

recommendations submitted to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee’s evaluation considers a number of non-quantitative factors, including the responsibilities of the individual officers for and contribution to Sonic’s operating results (in relation to other recipients of Sonic equity awards), and their expected future contributions, as well as prior awards to the particular executive officer.

On February 13, 2017, the Compensation Committee determined it was in the best interests of Sonic’s stockholders to grant performance-based restricted stock units to the Named Executive Officers of Sonic for the 2017 calendar year under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan in the following amounts: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, 95,195 restricted stock units; Mr. B. Scott Smith, 82,222 restricted stock units; Mr. David Bruton Smith, 55,921 restricted stock units; Mr. Jeff Dyke, 73,416 restricted stock units; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, 51,308 restricted stock units.

These restricted stock units were subject to forfeiture based upon Sonic’s achievement of defined EPS levels for the 2017 calendar year, using the same parameters for determining adjusted EPS as established by the Compensation Committee for the executive officers’ Incentive Compensation Plan cash bonus terms for 2017 (see “— Annual Cash Compensation — Performance-Based Cash Bonuses” above). The Compensation Committee chose the adjusted EPS performance criteria for the restricted stock units for the same reasons as it was chosen to be the primary performance criteria for performance-based cash bonuses, as set forth above. Subject to meeting the adjusted EPS performance condition, the performance-based restricted stock unit awards vest in three annual installments, with 25% vesting on March 31, 2018, 30% vesting on February 13, 2019 and 45% vesting on February 13, 2020. The Compensation Committee chose to establish a one-year defined EPS performance condition primarily because of the difficulty of providing an accurate forecast for Sonic’s EPS for a three-year future period. Depending on the extent to which Sonic met the specified adjusted EPS performance objectives, the restricted stock units granted to the Named Executive Officers were subject to performance-based forfeiture as follows:


2017 Adjusted EPS		Percentage of Restricted Stock Unit Grant to Remain Outstanding
110% of Target Objective		100% (No forfeiture)
100% of Target Objective		71.43% (28.57% forfeiture)
75% of Target Objective		42.86% (57.14% forfeiture)
Less than 75% of Target Objective		0% (100% forfeiture)

For adjusted EPS performance below 75% of the adjusted EPS target objective, the restricted stock unit grants would be forfeited in their entirety. For adjusted EPS performance from 75% to 100% of the adjusted EPS target objective or between 100% and 110% of the adjusted EPS target objective, the percentage of restricted stock unit grants that would remain outstanding would be determined on a pro rata basis between the two applicable levels.

As a result of the Company’s adjusted EPS achievement for fiscal year 2017 of 86.9% of the adjusted EPS target objective as certified by the Compensation Committee, the performance-based restricted stock unit awards described above were reduced to the following amounts: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, 53,852 restricted stock units; Mr. B. Scott Smith, 46,513 restricted stock units; Mr. David Bruton Smith, 31,635 restricted stock units; Mr. Jeff Dyke, 41,531 restricted stock units; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, 29,025 restricted stock units.

For additional details concerning the restricted stock units and stock options granted to and held by the executive officers during the 2017 calendar year, see “— Summary Compensation Table,” “— Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017,” “— Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017 Year-End” and “— Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2017.”

Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations

Effective May 6, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a special retention grant to Mr. Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations, in the form of 1,000,000 performance-based restricted stock units (the “Retention Units”). The Compensation Committee views Mr. Dyke as a key employee to the success of the Company and believed it to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to provide him with a significant long-term incentive intended to encourage him to continue his employment with the Company. The Retention Units also were granted in consideration of Mr. Dyke’s agreement to certain restrictive covenants, including non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure restrictions. In accordance with the award agreement (the “RSU Agreement”), vesting of the Retention Units was subject first to the Company’s achievement of at least one of two performance goals for fiscal year 2016 — a designated net income performance goal of at least $75 million or a designated revenue performance goal of at least $8.5 billion from both continuing and discontinued operations, each to be determined according to GAAP. If neither of the 2016 performance goals was achieved, then the Retention Units would not vest and would be forfeited in their entirety. If either 2016 performance goal was met, then the Retention Units would be scheduled to vest over a 15-year period in three equal installments on May 6, 2020, May 6, 2025 and May 6, 2030, respectively, subject to Mr. Dyke’s continued employment with Sonic.

As a result of the Company’s net income of more than $93.0 million and revenue performance of more than $9.7 billion for fiscal year 2016 as certified by the Compensation Committee, the performance goal for the Retention Units granted to Mr. Dyke was met and therefore the Retention Units remain outstanding and subject to vesting based on his continued service as described above. The Retention Units are subject to forfeiture to the extent unvested if Mr. Dyke’s employment with the Company terminates, except under certain circumstances, or he violates the restrictive covenants that are incorporated in the RSU Agreement or in any other agreement he has with the Company. For more information about the restrictive covenants in the RSU Agreement, see “— Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements — Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations.”

If prior to May 6, 2030, Mr. Dyke’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” (as defined in the RSU Agreement) or his employment ends due to his death or “disability” (as defined in the RSU Agreement), he will vest in a pro rata portion of the Retention Units. In the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the RSU Agreement), any unvested Retention Units will become fully vested. For more information about the Retention Units in the event of Mr. Dyke’s termination of employment or a change in control, see “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Upon vesting, the Retention Units will be settled in the form of an equivalent number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. The Retention Units are not eligible for dividend equivalents or voting rights.

Deferred Compensation Plan and Other Benefits

The Named Executive Officers of Sonic (including the Chief Executive Officer) were also eligible to participate in the Deferred Plan during the 2017 calendar year. For 2017, executive officers could elect to defer a portion of their annual cash compensation, up to 75% of base salary and up to 100% of eligible incentive bonus amounts. Sonic does not currently make matching contributions with respect to employee deferrals, but Sonic can choose to credit eligible employees with additional contributions to make up for matching contributions the employees would have received under Sonic’s 401(k) plan but for the legal limitations on the amount of compensation that can be considered for 401(k) plan purposes (e.g., $270,000 for 2017). Sonic’s contributions generally vest based on an employee’s full years of Deferred Plan participation with 20% vesting for each year so that an employee is fully vested after five years of participation. Participation in the Deferred Plan is offered annually to a select group of our management and highly compensated employees. Contributions by participants in the Deferred Plan, including any participating executive officers, are credited with a rate of return (positive or negative) based on deemed investments selected by a participant from among several different investment funds,

with such deemed earnings determined by the actual market performance of the investment funds selected by the participant. No Named Executive Officer elected to participate in or received any Company contributions under the Deferred Plan during 2017.

Each of the Named Executive Officers of Sonic was also afforded the use of company demonstrator vehicles for personal use during 2017. Personal use of company vehicles is a common competitive perquisite afforded to executives in the automobile dealership industry with both publicly-held and privately-owned dealership companies. The imputed value for the personal use of company demonstrator vehicles during 2017 by the Named Executive Officers was as follows: $122,773 for Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $82,713 for Mr. B. Scott Smith, $54,900 for Mr. David Bruton Smith, $38,675 for Mr. Jeff Dyke and $45,586 for Mr. Heath R. Byrd, each as reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the particular executive officer.

The Named Executive Officers of Sonic (including the Chief Executive Officer) were also eligible in 2017 to participate in various benefit plans on similar terms to those provided to other employees of Sonic, including matching contributions under Sonic’s 401(k) plan. These benefit plans provided to employees of Sonic, including the Named Executive Officers, are intended to provide a safety net of coverage against various events, such as death, disability and retirement. Mr. Jeff Dyke and Mr. Heath R. Byrd received matching contributions under Sonic’s 401(k) plan for 2017, the amounts of which are reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the particular executive officer.

Each of the Named Executive Officers of Sonic (including the Chief Executive Officer) was also offered the opportunity to participate in an executive wellness program during 2017. Mr. B. Scott Smith, Mr. Jeff Dyke and Mr. Heath R. Byrd elected to participate in the program and the benefit amount attributable to such participation is reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the particular executive officer. Each of the Named Executive Officers is covered by Company-provided group term life insurance that provides a death benefit of one times earnings, up to a maximum of $750,000. The Company also pays the premiums for additional term life insurance policies for Mr. O. Bruton Smith and Mr. B. Scott Smith. Imputed income attributable to the Company-provided group term life insurance and the premium amounts for the additional term life insurance policies are reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the particular executive officer.

Sonic also may from time to time authorize the personal use of corporate aircraft by the Named Executive Officers and their family members, subject to certain rules and limitations set forth in the corporate aircraft use policy approved by the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to this policy, the Compensation Committee has authorized up to 40 non-business flight hours annually for the Chief Executive Officer. During 2017, the Named Executive Officers used corporate aircraft for personal travel on a limited basis, the aggregate incremental cost of which to Sonic was $0 with respect to Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $89,997 with respect to Mr. B. Scott Smith, $1,272 with respect to Mr. David Bruton Smith, $5,517 with respect to Mr. Jeff Dyke and $13,755 with respect to Mr. Heath R. Byrd. This aggregate incremental cost is reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table, along with a description of how the aggregate incremental cost is calculated in a corresponding footnote.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The SERP was adopted effective as of January 1, 2010. The SERP is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that is considered unfunded for federal tax purposes and intended for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The Compensation Committee adopted the SERP in order to attract and retain key employees by providing a retirement benefit in addition to the benefits provided by Sonic’s tax-qualified and other nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Compensation Committee selects the employees who will become SERP participants and designates each such employee as a Tier 1 participant, Tier 2 participant or Tier 3 participant. Mr. Jeff Dyke was designated as a Tier 1 participant in the SERP effective as of

January 1, 2010. Mr. Heath R. Byrd originally was designated as a Tier 3 participant effective May 1, 2010 but was redesignated as a Tier 1 participant in the SERP effective as of April 1, 2013 in connection with his promotion to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at such time. Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith and David Bruton Smith are not participants in the SERP.

Subject to a specified vesting schedule, the SERP generally provides a retirement benefit in the form of an annual payment for a period of 15 years, with the annual payment based on a specified percentage of the participant’s “final average salary.” The annual payment for a Tier 1 participant is based on 50% of final average salary. The annual payment for a Tier 2 participant is based on 40% of final average salary. The annual payment for a Tier 3 participant is based on 35% of final average salary. “Final average salary” generally means the average of the participant’s highest three annual base salaries during the last five plan years prior to the participant’s separation from service with Sonic. A participant is generally eligible for the vested portion of his or her SERP benefit upon normal retirement after reaching age 65 or age 55 with at least 10 years of employment with Sonic. If a participant leaves Sonic before qualifying for normal retirement, the participant’s SERP benefit generally is reduced for early retirement (in addition to application of the vesting schedule). The vested benefit is reduced by 10% for each year the participant’s payment commencement date precedes the earliest date the participant would have been eligible for normal retirement. However, the early retirement reduction does not apply to eligible participants following a change in control of Sonic. Please see the discussion under “— Pension Benefits for 2017” below for further information about the SERP.

Change in Control Agreements

Effective May 6, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved, and the Company entered into, a Change in Control Agreement with each of Mr. Jeff Dyke and Mr. Heath R. Byrd (each, a “Change in Control Agreement”). The Compensation Committee determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to take steps intended to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a change in control of the Company. The Change in Control Agreements provide that if Mr. Dyke or Mr. Byrd were to incur an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code as a result of parachute payments or benefits to be provided in connection with a change in control of the Company, the Company will pay him a “gross-up” amount sufficient to put him in the same after-tax position in which he would have been had he not incurred any excise tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code. The Compensation Committee believes in its judgment that it is imperative to take efforts to diminish the inevitable distraction to Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd that would be created by a pending or threatened change in control by mitigating the personal tax consequences he may face in such circumstance, and to encourage his full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any pending or threatened change in control.

For more information about the Change in Control Agreements and potential payments thereunder, see “— Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements” and “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Federal Income Tax Considerations

As noted above, the compensation paid to Sonic’s Named Executive Officers is based primarily on the performance of Sonic. The Compensation Committee historically has considered the potential effect of Section 162(m) of the Code in designing our executive compensation program, along with other factors in the context of our overall approach to executive compensation. Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits Sonic’s annual federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain covered employees (generally, the Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers subject to Section 162(m) of the Code) to $1.0 million with respect to each such executive officer. Prior to the recent enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”), compensation meeting the various technical requirements for “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code was excluded from the $1.0 million deduction limit. Executive officer compensation

attributable to stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan, the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, awards of performance-based restricted stock or performance-based restricted stock units pursuant to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, and annual cash bonuses paid under the Incentive Compensation Plan generally have been intended to meet the requirements for deductible performance-based compensation. Regardless of Sonic’s intent, there is no guarantee that incentive bonuses or awards, equity-based compensation or other compensation intended to be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code will ultimately be determined as such by the IRS. In addition, the Company always reserved the right to pay compensation that did not qualify as “performance-based” from time to time in order to reward Sonic’s executive officers appropriately in the Committee’s judgment, even if resulting in certain compensation that would not be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Pursuant to the Tax Act, subject to certain transition rules, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the performance-based compensation exception to the deduction limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code has been repealed and the $1 million deduction limit now applies to anyone serving as the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer at any time during the taxable year and the three other most highly compensated executive officers. The new rules generally apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, but do not apply to remuneration provided pursuant to a written binding contract in effect on November 2, 2017 that is not modified in any material respect after that date.

While the Company will monitor guidance regarding these tax considerations, the Compensation Committee intends to continue to approach executive compensation in a manner intended to attract, motivate, reward and retain the executive talent who are key to our success. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee will evaluate performance and compensate Sonic’s executive officers as it deems appropriate in the Committee’s judgment, even if it may result in certain compensation that may not be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Compensation Committee believes that the discretion and flexibility to award such compensation serves the interests of Sonic and its stockholders by allowing the Compensation Committee to compensate executive officers appropriately in its discretion as circumstances warrant and in furtherance of its compensation philosophy and objectives.

In addition, changes in applicable tax laws and regulations, and interpretations of such laws and regulations, as well as other factors beyond Sonic’s control may affect the deductibility of executive compensation.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of SEC Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in Sonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and this Proxy Statement.

R. Eugene Taylor, Chairman

John W. Harris III, Vice Chairman

William I. Belk

Robert Heller

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth compensation paid by or on behalf of Sonic to the Named Executive Officers for services rendered during Sonic’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2017:


Name and Principal Position(s)	Year		Salary ($)		Bonus ($)		Stock Awards ($) ⁽¹⁾			Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)		Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) ⁽²⁾		All Other Compensation ($)			Total ($)
O. Bruton Smith		2017	$	1,262,821	$	—	$	1,568,709		$	1,416,303	$	—	$	134,706	⁽³⁾	$	4,382,539
Executive Chairman and Director		2016	$	1,256,691	$	—	$	1,520,448		$	1,913,703	$	—	$	143,721	⁽³⁾	$	4,834,563
		2015	$	1,222,033	$	—	$	1,209,062		$	1,913,703	$	—	$	125,540	⁽³⁾	$	4,470,338

B. Scott Smith		2017	$	1,090,733	$	—	$	1,354,928		$	1,223,299	$	—	$	184,253	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,853,213
Chief Executive Officer,		2016	$	1,085,438	$	—	$	1,313,260		$	1,652,918	$	—	$	156,146	⁽⁴⁾	$	4,207,762
President and Director		2015	$	1,055,503	$	—	$	1,044,313		$	1,652,918	$	—	$	103,247	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,855,981
(Principal Executive Officer)

David Bruton Smith		2017	$	741,829	$	—	$	921,517		$	831,989	$	—	$	57,012	⁽⁶⁾	$	2,552,347
Vice Chairman and Director ⁽⁵⁾		2016	$	738,228	$	—	$	893,165		$	1,124,181	$	—	$	63,304	⁽⁶⁾	$	2,818,878
		2015	$	717,868	$	—	$	710,252		$	1,124,181	$	—	$	37,638	⁽⁶⁾	$	2,589,939

Jeff Dyke		2017	$	973,906	$	—	$	1,209,815		$	1,092,273	$	522,259	$	66,659	⁽⁷⁾	$	3,864,912
Executive Vice President of Operations		2016	$	969,179	$	—	$	1,172,600		$	1,475,877	$	366,294	$	75,857	⁽⁷⁾	$	4,059,807
		2015	$	942,450	$	—	$	23,812,450	⁽⁸⁾	$	1,475,877	$	210,627	$	44,099	⁽⁷⁾	$	26,485,503

Heath R. Byrd		2017	$	680,631	$	—	$	845,499		$	763,354	$	362,494	$	80,015	⁽⁹⁾	$	2,731,993
Executive Vice President and		2016	$	677,327	$	—	$	819,488		$	1,031,443	$	277,658	$	91,246	⁽⁹⁾	$	2,897,162
Chief Financial Officer		2015	$	658,648	$	—	$	651,671		$	1,031,443	$	571,615	$	78,192	⁽⁹⁾	$	2,991,569
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

⁽¹⁾

Stock awards are valued based on the grant date fair value as calculated under the provisions of “Stock Compensation” in the ASC. The stock awards vest in various increments over a three-year period, with the exception of the stock award to Mr. Jeff Dyke described in Footnote 7 below which vests over a 15-year period. See Note 10 to Sonic’s consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for the valuation assumptions used in determining the fair value of the awards. The initial grant date maximum fair value of the 2017 stock awards were as follows: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $2,196,149; Mr. B. Scott Smith, $1,896,862; Mr. David Bruton Smith, $1,290,097; Mr. Jeff Dyke, $1,693,707; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, $1,183,676.

⁽²⁾

The amount shown for 2017 represents the change in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits under the SERP from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017. The amount shown for 2016 represents the change in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits under the SERP from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016. The amount shown for 2015 represents the change in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits under the SERP from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015. The amounts shown for Mr. Jeff Dyke and Mr. Heath R. Byrd assume retirement at the earliest age at which unreduced benefits could be paid. As of December 31, 2017, both Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd were fully vested in their respective SERP benefits, but their SERP benefits remain subject to reduction for early retirement. See “— Pension Benefits for 2017” for further information about the SERP, including the assumptions used for these calculations.

⁽³⁾

The amount shown for Mr. O. Bruton Smith includes the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The imputed value of the demonstrator vehicles was $122,773, $136,001, and $122,449 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the IRS. The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the executive by our dealership subsidiaries. The

amount shown also includes cash dividend equivalents paid with respect to non-vested restricted stock units of $0, $0, and $3,091 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amount shown also includes $3,821 for personal use of the Company aircraft in 2016. The amount reported for personal use of the Company aircraft by Mr. O. Bruton Smith is calculated by reference to the aggregate incremental cost to the Company and based on the actual cost of fuel, landing fees, pilot meal and lodging expenses, aircraft cleaning, on-board catering and other similar variable costs. Fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as pilot salaries, home hanger expenses and general taxes and insurance, are excluded from the incremental cost calculation. If the aircraft flies empty before picking up or dropping off a passenger flying for personal reasons, this segment is included in the incremental cost of the personal use. When the aircraft is already flying to a destination for business purposes, costs associated with the additional passenger are negligible and are not included in determining the aggregate incremental cost to the Company. The amount shown also includes imputed income attributable to group term life insurance under the Company’s group life insurance plan and premiums paid by the Company for an additional life insurance policy for Mr. O. Bruton Smith.

⁽⁴⁾

The amount shown for Mr. B. Scott Smith includes the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The imputed value of the demonstrator vehicles was $82,713, $64,613, and $63,099 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the IRS. The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the executive by our dealership subsidiaries. The amount shown also includes cash dividend equivalents paid with respect to non-vested restricted stock units of $0, $0, and $2,670 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively; and Company contributions for the executive wellness program of $8,947, $3,813, and $13,472 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amount shown also includes $89,997, $82,078, and $24,006 for personal use of the Company aircraft in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, calculated as described above in Footnote 3. The amount shown also includes imputed income attributable to group term life insurance under the Company’s group life insurance plan and premiums paid by the Company for an additional life insurance policy for Mr. B. Scott Smith.

⁽⁵⁾	Mr. David Bruton Smith was elected Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic Officer of the Company in March 2018.

⁽⁶⁾

The amount shown for Mr. David Bruton Smith includes the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The imputed value of the demonstrator vehicles was $54,900, $52,805, and $35,938 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the IRS. The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the executive by our dealership subsidiaries. The amount shown also includes cash dividend equivalents paid with respect to non-vested restricted stock units of $0, $0, and $1,700 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amount shown also includes $1,272 and $8,517 for personal use of the Company aircraft in 2017 and 2016, respectively, calculated as described above in Footnote 3, and imputed income attributable to group term life insurance under the Company’s group life insurance plan.

⁽⁷⁾

The amount shown for Mr. Jeff Dyke includes the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The imputed value of the demonstrator vehicles was $38,675, $39,020, and $18,456 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the IRS. The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the executive by our dealership subsidiaries. The amount shown also includes cash dividends paid with respect to non-vested restricted stock awards of $0, $0, and $474 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively; Company contributions for the executive wellness program of $15,135, $15,875 and $19,869 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively; and Company matching contributions under the 401(k) plan of $5,400, $5,300, and $5,300 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amount shown also includes $5,517 and $12,015 for personal use of the Company aircraft in 2017 and 2016, respectively, calculated as described above in Footnote 3, and imputed income attributable to group term life insurance under the Company’s group life insurance plan.

⁽⁸⁾

Includes a special retention grant of 1,000,000 performance-based restricted stock units on May 6, 2015, the vesting of which was subject first to the Company’s achievement of a designated net income goal or a designated revenue goal for fiscal 2016. Since the performance goal has now been met, the restricted stock units are scheduled to vest over a 15-year period with 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2020, 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2025 and 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2030, subject to Mr. Dyke’s continued employment (with certain exceptions). Mr. Dyke received this special retention grant in order to provide him with a significant long-term incentive to continue his employment with the Company and in consideration of Mr. Dyke’s agreement to certain restrictive covenants. For more information, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long-Term Equity Compensation — Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations.”

⁽⁹⁾

The amount shown for Mr. Heath R. Byrd includes the imputed value of demonstrator vehicles provided by the Company. The imputed value of the demonstrator vehicles was $45,586, $42,860, and $41,558 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The value assigned to the demonstrator vehicles was calculated under rules established by the IRS. The incremental cost of demonstrator vehicles is not calculable because those vehicles are provided to the executive by our dealership subsidiaries. The amount shown also includes cash dividends paid with respect to non-vested restricted stock awards of $0, $0, and $67 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively; Company contributions for the executive wellness program of $13,342, $13,360, and $23,688 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively; and Company matching contributions under the 401(k) plan of $5,400, $5,300, and $5,300 in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amount shown also includes $13,755, $27,142, and $7,579 for personal use of the Company aircraft in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The amounts reported for the personal use of the Company aircraft by Mr. Byrd are calculated as described above in Footnote 3. The amount shown also includes imputed income attributable to group term life insurance under the Company’s group life insurance plan.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017

The following table sets forth information regarding all grants of awards made to the Named Executive Officers during 2017 under any plan.


						Estimated Possible Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards ⁽¹⁾
Name	Grant Date			Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards Maximum ($) ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾		Threshold (#)		Target (#)		Maximum (#)		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards ($)
O. Bruton Smith		2/13/2017	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,000,000		—		—		—	$	—
		2/13/2017	⁽⁵⁾	$	—		40,801		67,998		95,195	$	1,568,709	⁽⁶⁾
B. Scott Smith		2/13/2017	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,000,000		—		—		—	$	—
		2/13/2017	⁽⁵⁾	$	—		35,240		58,731		82,222	$	1,354,928	⁽⁶⁾
David Bruton Smith		2/13/2017	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,000,000		—		—		—	$	—
		2/13/2017	⁽⁵⁾	$	—		23,968		39,944		55,921	$	921,517	⁽⁶⁾
Jeff Dyke		2/13/2017	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,000,000		—		—		—	$	—
		2/13/2017	⁽⁵⁾	$	—		31,466		52,441		73,416	$	1,209,815	⁽⁶⁾
Heath R. Byrd		2/13/2017	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,000,000		—		—		—	$	—
		2/13/2017	⁽⁵⁾	$	—		21,991		36,649		51,308	$	845,499	⁽⁶⁾

⁽¹⁾

The amounts of the awards granted on February 13, 2017 were adjusted following final certification of performance targets for each of the Named Executive Officers in the following amounts: Mr. O. Bruton Smith from 95,195 to 53,852; Mr. B. Scott Smith from 82,222 to 46,513; Mr. David Bruton Smith from 55,921 to 31,635; Mr. Jeff Dyke from 73,416 to 41,531; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd from 51,308 to 29,025.

⁽²⁾	Amounts earned in 2017 are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

⁽³⁾

This amount represents the maximum amount payable for 2017 under the Incentive Compensation Plan if the first tier adjusted EPS performance objective is achieved, subject to the Compensation Committee’s ability, in its sole discretion, to reduce the amount actually paid. The Compensation Committee was guided in its determination of the actual amounts payable for 2017 under the Incentive Compensation Plan by additional performance criteria that it established as a second tier under the 2017 annual incentive program. The 2017 annual incentive program included specific minimum, interim, target and maximum objective levels based upon achievement of adjusted EPS and CSI goals. See “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2017 Executive Officer Compensation Program — Annual Cash Compensation — Performance-Based Cash Bonuses” for further description regarding the 2017 annual incentive program. The minimum, interim, target and maximum payments under the second tier of the 2017 annual incentive program were based upon a specified percentage of each Named Executive Officer’s base salary. The following table shows the minimum, interim, target and maximum payments that the Compensation Committee used along with additional factors to inform its determination of the actual bonus payments for 2017 to our Named Executive Officers:


	Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
Name	Minimum ($)		Interim ($)		Target ($)		Maximum ($)
O. Bruton Smith	$	694,552	$	1,262,821	$	1,452,244	$	2,209,937
B. Scott Smith	$	599,903	$	1,090,733	$	1,254,343	$	1,908,783
David Bruton Smith	$	408,006	$	741,829	$	853,103	$	1,298,201
Jeff Dyke	$	535,648	$	973,906	$	1,119,992	$	1,704,336
Heath R. Byrd	$	374,347	$	680,631	$	782,726	$	1,191,104

⁽⁴⁾	Awards granted pursuant to the Incentive Compensation Plan.

⁽⁵⁾	Grants issued pursuant to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. These grants will vest in annual installments over a three-year period, vesting 25% on March 31, 2018, 30% on February 13, 2019 and 45% on February 13, 2020.

⁽⁶⁾	Stock Awards are valued based on the grant date fair value as calculated under the provisions of “Stock Compensation” in the ASC.

For a description of additional terms of the compensation and grants disclosed in the tables above, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements

Employment Agreement with Heath R. Byrd, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Sonic has an employment agreement with Mr. Heath R. Byrd (the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement sets forth the basic terms of employment for Mr. Byrd, including provisions for annual base salary, annual performance-based cash bonus and eligibility to participate in Sonic’s equity compensation plans and benefit programs. It also contains a restrictive covenant that prohibits the disclosure or use in an unauthorized manner of any of Sonic’s confidential or proprietary information. For a description of additional terms of the Employment Agreement, see “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations

Effective May 6, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a special retention grant to Mr. Jeff Dyke in the form of 1,000,000 performance-based restricted stock units (the “Retention Units”). The Compensation Committee views Mr. Dyke as a key employee to the success of the Company and believed it to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to provide him with a significant long-term incentive intended to encourage him to continue his employment with the Company. The grant of Retention Units was made pursuant

to the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Retention Grant (the “RSU Agreement”), dated May 6, 2015, between the Company and Mr. Dyke. The RSU Agreement includes restrictive covenants such as (i) a non-competition restriction for two years following termination of employment in the event that Mr. Dyke is terminated for “cause” (as defined in the RSU Agreement) or he resigns his employment with the Company, (ii) a non-solicitation restriction for two years following Mr. Dyke’s termination of employment for any reason, and (iii) prohibitions on the disclosure or use in an unauthorized manner of any of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information. The RSU Agreement includes forfeiture and recoupment provisions that would apply in the event the restricted covenants are violated. For more information about the Retention Units and the terms of the RSU Agreement, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long-Term Equity Compensation —Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations” and “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Change in Control Agreements with Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd

Effective May 6, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved, and the Company entered into, a Change in Control Agreement with each of Mr. Jeff Dyke and Mr. Heath R. Byrd to provide them with protection against excise taxes they could face in connection with a change in control of the Company. Section 280G of the Code denies a tax deduction with respect to excess parachute payments to certain executives of companies that experience a change in control. In addition, Section 4999 of the Code imposes a 20% excise tax on the recipient of the excess parachute payment. Parachute payments are compensation that is contingent in whole or in part upon a change in control and include, for example, bonuses, severance pay, accelerated vesting of equity-based compensation, accelerated vesting of deferred compensation and certain fringe benefits. Excess parachute payments are parachute payments that exceed a specific threshold under Section 280G of the Code, with the threshold determined based on the executive’s average compensation for the prior five years.

Under the Change in Control Agreements, if any of the payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Company or its affiliates to Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd in connection with a change in control of the Company constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code that will be subject to the 20% excise tax or any related interest or penalties, then the Company will pay to each of Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd an additional “gross-up” amount equal to the excise tax, plus any related interest and penalties, plus the amount necessary to put him in the same after-tax position (taking into account all applicable federal, state, and local income, employment and excise taxes) in which he would have been if he had not been subject to the excise tax.

We provide this protection to Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd in an effort to diminish the inevitable distraction to Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd that would be created by a pending or threatened change in control by mitigating the personal tax consequences they may face in such circumstance, and to encourage their full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any pending or threatened change in control. For more information about potential payments under the Change in Control Agreements, see “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2017 Year-End

The following table sets forth information regarding unearned or unvested option and stock awards held by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2017.


				Option Awards ⁽¹⁾						Stock Awards
Name	Award Grant Date			Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)			Market Value of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) ⁽²⁾		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) ⁽²⁾
O. Bruton Smith		3/30/2009	⁽¹⁾		183,333	$	1.81		3/30/2019		—		$	—		—		$	—
		2/12/2015			—	$	—		—		27,498	⁽³⁾	$	507,338		—		$	—
		2/16/2016			—	$	—		—		70,176	⁽⁴⁾	$	1,294,747		—	⁽⁵⁾	$	—
		2/13/2017			—	$	—		—		—		$	—		95,195	⁽⁵⁾	$	1,756,348
B. Scott Smith		2/12/2015			—	$	—		—		23,752	⁽³⁾	$	438,224		—		$	—
		2/16/2016			—	$	—		—		60,612	⁽⁴⁾	$	1,118,291		—		$	—
		2/13/2017			—	$	—		—		—		$	—		82,222	⁽⁵⁾	$	1,516,996
David Bruton Smith		2/12/2015			—	$	—		—		16,154	⁽³⁾	$	298,041		—		$	—
		2/16/2016			—	$	—		—		41,223	⁽⁴⁾	$	760,564		—		$	—
		2/13/2017			—	$	—		—		—		$	—		55,921	⁽⁵⁾	$	1,031,742
Jeff Dyke		2/12/2015			—	$	—		—		21,208	⁽³⁾	$	391,288		—		$	—
		5/6/2015			—	$	—		—		1,000,000	⁽⁶⁾	$	18,450,000		—		$	—
		2/16/2016			—	$	—		—		54,120	⁽⁴⁾	$	998,514		—		$	—
		2/13/2017			—	$	—		—		—		$	—		73,416	⁽⁵⁾	$	1,354,525
Heath R. Byrd		2/12/2015			—	$	—		—		14,822	⁽³⁾	$	273,466		—		$	—
		2/16/2016			—	$	—		—		37,824	⁽⁴⁾	$	697,853		—		$	—
		2/13/2017			—	$	—		—		—		$	—		51,308	⁽⁵⁾	$	946,633

⁽¹⁾	Options granted on March 30, 2009 vested in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

⁽²⁾	Market value based on the December 29, 2017 closing price of our Class A common stock of $18.45 per share.

⁽³⁾	The remaining non-vested equity incentive plan award units granted on February 12, 2015 vested on February 12, 2018.

⁽⁴⁾

The remaining non-vested equity incentive plan award units granted on February 16, 2016 vested or vest as follows on February 16, 2018 and February 16, 2019, respectively: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, 28,070 and 42,106; Mr. B. Scott Smith, 24,245 and 36,367; Mr. David Bruton Smith, 16,489 and 24,734; Mr. Jeff Dyke, 21,648 and 32,472; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, 15,129 and 22,695.

⁽⁵⁾	Following certification of the applicable performance condition by the Compensation Committee, the unearned, non-vested equity incentive plan award units granted on February 13, 2017 were adjusted and vest 25% on March 31, 2018, 30% on February 13, 2019 and 45% on February 13, 2020.

⁽⁶⁾	The non-vested equity incentive plan award units granted on May 6, 2015 vest over a 15-year period with 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2020, 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2025 and 1/3 vesting on May 6, 2030.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2017

The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of stock options and each vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units during 2017 for each of the Named Executive Officers on an aggregated basis.


	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized on Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)		Value Realized on Vesting ($)
O. Bruton Smith		—	$	—		22,676	$	539,689	⁽¹⁾
						18,333	$	436,325	⁽¹⁾
						23,391	$	468,990	⁽²⁾

B. Scott Smith		—	$	—		19,586	$	466,147	⁽¹⁾
						15,834	$	376,849	⁽¹⁾
						20,204	$	405,090	⁽²⁾

David Bruton Smith		—	$	—		13,321	$	317,040	⁽¹⁾
						10,769	$	256,302	⁽¹⁾
						13,741	$	275,507	⁽²⁾

Jeff Dyke		—	$	—		17,488	$	416,214	⁽¹⁾
						14,138	$	336,484	⁽¹⁾
						18,040	$	361,702	⁽²⁾

Heath R. Byrd		—	$	—		11,990	$	285,362	⁽¹⁾
						9,880	$	235,144	⁽¹⁾
						12,607	$	252,770	⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾	Represents aggregate dollar amount realized upon vesting of restricted stock units based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on February 12, 2017 of $23.80 per share.

⁽²⁾	Represents aggregate dollar amount realized upon vesting of restricted stock units based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on March 31, 2017 of $20.05 per share.

Pension Benefits for 2017

The following table sets forth information regarding pension benefits for the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2017.


Name	Plan Name	Number of Years of Credited Service (#) ⁽¹⁾	Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($) ⁽²⁾			Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($)
O. Bruton Smith ⁽³⁾	N/A	—	$	—		$	—
B. Scott Smith ⁽³⁾	N/A	—	$	—		$	—
David Bruton Smith ⁽³ ⁾	N/A	—	$	—		$	—
Jeff Dyke	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan	N/A	$	4,938,083	⁽⁴⁾	$	—
Heath R. Byrd	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan	N/A	$	3,531,135	⁽⁴⁾	$	—

⁽¹⁾	Benefits under the SERP are based on a percentage of “final average salary” and the percentage does not increase based on years of credited service. Vesting under the SERP is based on years of participation in

the SERP. Mr. Dyke has 8 years of participation in the SERP, and Mr. Byrd has 7 2/3 years of participation in the SERP. Normal retirement under the SERP is age 65 or age 55 with at least 10 years of service with Sonic. Vested benefits are reduced for early retirement. As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Dyke had 12 1/4 years of service with Sonic and Mr. Byrd had 10 1/6 years of service with Sonic.

⁽²⁾

The accumulated benefit is based on salary considered by the SERP for the period through December 31, 2017. The present value of the accumulated benefit for Messrs. Dyke and Byrd has been calculated assuming that the Named Executive Officers remain in service through the earliest date as of which they could receive unreduced benefits and that the benefit will be payable in the form of an annual payment for 15 years. Other assumptions used to determine the present value of accumulated benefits are described in the summary below.

⁽³⁾	Messrs. O. Bruton Smith, B. Scott Smith and David Bruton Smith are not participants in the SERP.

⁽⁴⁾

As of December 31, 2017, both Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd were fully vested in their respective SERP benefits, but their SERP benefits remain subject to reduction for early retirement. Actual benefits will be determined at termination of employment based on actual salary, years of SERP participation and years of service with Sonic.

On December 7, 2009, the Compensation Committee adopted the SERP to be effective as of January 1, 2010. In connection with the adoption of the SERP, the Compensation Committee authorized the establishment of an irrevocable grantor trust known as a “rabbi trust” for the purpose of accumulating assets from which SERP liabilities may be paid. The following is a brief description of certain material terms of the SERP.

The SERP is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that is considered unfunded for federal tax purposes and intended for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The SERP is subject to Section 409A of the Code. The purpose of the SERP is to attract and retain key employees by providing a retirement benefit in addition to the benefits provided by Sonic’s tax-qualified and other nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Compensation Committee selects the employees who will become SERP participants and designates each such employee as a Tier 1 participant, Tier 2 participant or Tier 3 participant.

Mr. Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations, was designated as a Tier 1 participant in the SERP effective as of January 1, 2010, subject to execution of a participation agreement. Mr. Heath R. Byrd, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was previously designated as a Tier 3 participant in the SERP effective as of May 1, 2010, subject to execution of a participation agreement, but was redesignated as a Tier 1 participant effective as of April 1, 2013 in connection with his promotion at that time. Amounts reported in the Pension Benefits table above as the actuarial present value of accumulated benefit under the SERP are calculated assuming that the benefit is in the form of an annual payment for 15 years and assuming that Messrs. Dyke and Byrd remain in service with Sonic until the earliest age at which unreduced benefits would be payable, which is age 55 for both Messrs. Dyke and Byrd. The present value of accumulated benefit is calculated using the discount rate assumption that Sonic also uses for its financial statement disclosures, which at December 31, 2017 was 3.50%. Messrs. Dyke’s and Byrd’s actual years of participation in the SERP and actual years of service with Sonic are indicated in a footnote to the Pension Benefits table above. No additional years of service have been credited to the Named Executive Officers under the SERP.

Subject to the vesting schedule described below, the SERP generally provides a retirement benefit in the form of an annual payment for a period of 15 years, with the annual payment based on a specified percentage of the participant’s “final average salary.” The annual payment for a Tier 1 participant is based on 50% of final average salary. The annual payment for a Tier 2 participant is based on 40% of final average salary. The annual payment for a Tier 3 participant is based on 35% of final average salary. Final average salary generally means the average of the participant’s highest three annual base salaries during the last five plan years prior to the participant’s separation from service with Sonic. A participant is generally eligible for the vested portion of his or her SERP benefit upon normal retirement after reaching age 65 or age 55 with at least 10 years of employment with Sonic.

As noted above, participants are subject to a vesting schedule for their SERP benefits based on their “Years of Plan Service” (i.e., a 365-day period of employment beginning on the effective date of SERP participation and each anniversary thereof). Unless otherwise specified by the Compensation Committee, participants vest in their SERP benefits as follows:


Years of Plan Service	Percent Vested
Less than 1		0%
At least 1 but less than 2		20%
At least 2 but less than 3		40%
At least 3 but less than 4		60%
At least 4 but less than 5		80%
5 or more		100%

Participants also become 100% vested if they die or become “disabled” (as defined in the SERP) while employed with Sonic, or if a “change in control” (as defined in the SERP) occurs while employed with Sonic.

If a participant leaves Sonic before qualifying for normal retirement, the participant’s SERP benefit generally is reduced for early retirement (in addition to application of the vesting schedule). The vested benefit is reduced by 10% for each year the participant’s payment commencement date precedes the earliest date the participant would have been eligible for normal retirement. As amended in February 2015, the SERP provides that the early retirement reduction does not apply to participants who were employees of Sonic immediately prior to a change in control, regardless of whether or not such participants remain employees upon or following the change in control.

A participant earns his or her SERP benefit over a period from the later of age 45 or the participant’s effective date of SERP participation, to the later of the participant’s normal retirement date or the date he or she becomes 100% vested in his or her SERP benefit.

If a participant terminates employment with Sonic within two years after a change in control, the participant will receive the vested portion of his normal retirement benefit or reduced early retirement benefit, as applicable, in a lump sum payment based on the present value of his unpaid, vested accrued benefit.

Generally, benefit payments begin the first of the month following the month in which normal or early retirement occurs. If the participant is a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Code, the first payment following normal or early retirement generally must be postponed for six months following termination. Subsequent annual payments will be made on the anniversary of the date the initial installment otherwise would have been made.

If a participant dies during the 15-year payment period, payments continue to the participant’s surviving spouse (if any). If a participant dies before terminating employment with Sonic, the lump sum value of his or her accrued benefit (calculated as if the date of death were the date of normal retirement) will be paid to his or her designated beneficiary. If a participant becomes disabled while employed with Sonic, the participant will be entitled to a regular SERP benefit payable for 15 years (calculated as if the date of disability were the date of normal retirement).

If a participant is terminated for “cause” (as defined in the SERP) or it is discovered after termination that the participant could have been terminated for certain reasons constituting “cause,” the participant will forfeit all benefits under the SERP, including any remaining unpaid benefits if already in pay status. Under the SERP, reasons constituting “cause” include material breach of the participant’s obligations in any employment agreement that is not timely remedied, the participant’s breach of any applicable restrictive covenants, conviction of a felony, actions involving moral turpitude, willful failure to comply with reasonable and lawful directives of the Board of Directors or the participant’s superiors, chronic absenteeism, willful or material misconduct, illegal

use of controlled substances and, if applicable, the final and non-appealable determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that the participant willfully and knowingly filed a fraudulent certification under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

In addition, the SERP provides that benefits are forfeited if a participant fails to comply with certain restrictive covenants related to Sonic and its business, including any remaining unpaid benefits if already in pay status. Subject to limited exceptions, these restrictive covenants generally prohibit (i) disclosing or using in any unauthorized manner any of Sonic’s confidential or proprietary information, (ii) employing or soliciting employees of Sonic, its affiliates or subsidiaries, (iii) interfering with Sonic’s relationships with its vendors, (iv) competing with Sonic within any Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (determined as described in the SERP) or county in which Sonic or any of its subsidiaries has a place of business and (v) disparaging Sonic, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, business or products. These restrictive covenants generally apply while a participant in the SERP and, if later, during the two-year period following separation from service with Sonic (except that the confidentiality and non-disparagement restrictions do not expire).

In the case of either termination for “cause” or failure to comply with the restrictive covenants, the SERP also provides that the participant must repay Sonic all benefit amounts previously received.

If a rabbi trust exists when a change in control of Sonic occurs, the SERP requires that Sonic contribute, at the time of the change in control and then on each anniversary thereof, cash or liquid securities sufficient so that the value of assets in the rabbi trust at least equals the total value of all accrued benefits under the SERP. The assets of the rabbi trust are available to satisfy claims of the general creditors of Sonic in the event of its insolvency. Participants are unsecured general creditors of Sonic with respect to their SERP benefits and do not have an ownership interest in rabbi trust assets or in any other specific assets of Sonic with respect to such benefits.

CEO Pay Ratio

Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we have prepared a comparison of the annual total compensation of Mr. B. Scott Smith, our Chief Executive Officer and President, for fiscal year 2017 to the median of annual total compensation of all other Company employees for the same period.

We identified the median employee for this review by examining the 2017 annual total compensation for all employees, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, who were employed by us on December 31, 2017 since it allowed us to make the identification in a reasonably efficient manner. We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis. We did not make any assumptions, adjustments, or estimates with respect to annual total compensation, and we did not annualize the compensation for any full-time employees that were not employed by us for all of 2017. For this purpose and using reasonable estimates, the calculation of annual total compensation of all employees, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, was determined by using the wages and compensation reported in Box 1 of Form W-2 for 2017. We selected W-2 compensation as our compensation measure because it is readily available in our existing payroll system, it is determined on a consistent basis for each employee, and because we believe it is a reasonable proxy for total compensation for purposes of determining the median employee. For the total annual compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, we used the “Total Compensation” shown for Mr. B. Scott Smith in the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 34 of this Proxy Statement.

Following our review, we have determined that for 2017:

•

the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (other than our Chief Executive Officer) was $52,400; and

•

the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table on page 34 of this Proxy Statement, was $3,853,213.

Based on this information, for 2017, the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. B. Scott Smith, our Chief Executive Officer and President, to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was 73.5 to 1.0. This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules and methods for disclosure. Due to estimates and assumptions as well as adjustments and statistical sampling permitted under the SEC rules, pay ratio disclosures may involve a degree of imprecision and our approach may not be consistent with the methodologies used by other companies.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The Named Executive Officers would receive certain payments and/or benefits upon termination from Sonic that would vary in amount depending on the reason for termination of employment. The Named Executive Officers also would receive certain payments and/or benefits in connection with a change in control of Sonic (including a termination of employment due to a change in control). The information below generally describes these payments and benefits. Payments and benefits under other plans and arrangements that are generally available to Sonic’s salaried employees on similar terms are not described.

Payments Upon Termination

Based on the compensation arrangements described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement and the terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, the estimated present value of the salary, bonus and stock award payments the Named Executive Officers could have received upon termination without cause as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:


Name	Salary and Bonus ($)			Stock Awards ($) ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾
O. Bruton Smith	$	—		$	3,558,433
B. Scott Smith	$	—		$	3,073,512
David Bruton Smith	$	—		$	2,090,348
Jeff Dyke	$	—		$	5,921,823
Heath R. Byrd	$	340,316	⁽³⁾	$	1,917,951

⁽¹⁾

Represents the value of restricted stock units that would have vested upon termination without cause based on the closing price of Sonic’s Class A common stock on December 29, 2017 of $18.45 per share. For annual restricted stock unit awards granted in 2017, this value assumes there were no forfeitures related to the applicable performance conditions. For Mr. Dyke, this value also assumes that he became vested in a pro rata portion of the Retention Units determined in accordance with the RSU Agreement. Termination without cause has the meaning given to such term in applicable agreements and plans, including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, Mr. Dyke’s RSU Agreement and Mr. Byrd’s Employment Agreement. For more information about Mr. Dyke’s Retention Units and the RSU Agreement, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long-Term Equity Compensation — Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations.”

⁽²⁾

For termination due to death or disability, the value of the restricted stock units would have been as follows: Mr. O. Bruton Smith, $3,558,433; Mr. B. Scott Smith, $3,073,512; Mr. David Bruton Smith, $2,090,348; Mr. Jeff Dyke, $5,921,823; and Mr. Heath R. Byrd, $1,917,951. For Mr. Dyke, this value in connection with termination due to death or disability assumes that he became vested in a pro rata portion of the Retention Units determined in accordance with his RSU Agreement. For more information about the Retention Units and the RSU Agreement, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long-Term Equity Compensation — Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations.”

⁽³⁾	Mr. Byrd’s Employment Agreement provides for the payment of severance in the event of a termination of his employment by Sonic, other than for “cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement). Under

the terms of the Employment Agreement, the amount of any such severance would be 1/2 of Mr. Byrd’s then-current annual base salary to be paid in two equal installments, with the first installment payable within 15 days following termination and the second installment payable on the last day of the sixth full calendar month following such termination. For more information about Mr. Byrd’s Employment Agreement, see “— Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements.”

Each of the Named Executive Officers also are covered by Company-provided group term life insurance with a death benefit of one times earnings, up to a maximum of $750,000. If any of the Named Executive Officers had terminated employment due to death on December 31, 2017, the Named Executive Officer’s beneficiary under the life insurance policy would have been due a $750,000 benefit from the insurance carrier. In addition, the Company also pays the premiums for additional term life insurance policies for Mr. O. Bruton Smith and Mr. B. Scott Smith. These policies provide a death benefit for Mr. O. Bruton Smith of $80,000 and Mr. B. Scott Smith of $200,000 (also with $200,000 for accidental death) that would have been payable to the beneficiary by the insurance carrier upon termination of employment due to death.

In addition, a participant in the SERP who terminates employment due to death becomes entitled to fully vested SERP benefits (calculated as if the date of death were the date of normal retirement) and such benefits are payable to his beneficiary the first of the next month in a lump sum equal to the present value of the otherwise applicable 15 annual payments. If Mr. Dyke’s death had occurred on December 31, 2017, the estimated lump sum payment under the SERP would have been $5,748,377 (with the present value determined assuming a 3.50% discount rate). If Mr. Byrd’s death had occurred on December 31, 2017, the estimated lump sum payment under the SERP would have been $4,017,352 (with the present value determined assuming a 3.50% discount rate).

A participant in the SERP who terminates employment due to “disability” (as defined in the SERP) becomes entitled to fully vested SERP benefits (calculated as if the date of disability were the date of normal retirement) and the annual payments begin the month following disability. If Mr. Dyke had terminated employment on December 31, 2017 due to disability, he would have received annual payments of $482,225 for 15 years. If Mr. Byrd had terminated employment on December 31, 2017 due to disability, he would have received annual payments of $337,012 for 15 years. If termination occurred on December 31, 2017 for any reason other than death, disability or change in control, Mr. Dyke would have been entitled to estimated annual SERP payments of $269,241 for 15 years and Mr. Byrd would have been entitled to estimated annual SERP payments of $210,632 for 15 years. For more information about payments under the SERP upon a termination of employment, see “— Pension Benefits for 2017.”

Payments Upon a Change in Control

Stock options and stock awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan held by our Named Executive Officers would immediately vest (subject to pro rata adjustment in the case of certain performance awards under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan) and become exercisable upon a change in control. The estimated present value of the stock options and other stock awards in the event of a change in control on December 31, 2017 is as follows.


Name	Stock Awards ($) ⁽¹⁾
O. Bruton Smith	$	3,558,433
B. Scott Smith	$	3,073,512
David Bruton Smith	$	2,090,348
Jeff Dyke	$	21,194,327
Heath R. Byrd	$	1,917,951

⁽¹⁾	Represents the value of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, as applicable, that would have vested upon a change in control based on the closing price of Sonic’s Class A common stock on

December 29, 2017 of $18.45 per share. Change in control has the meaning given to such term in applicable agreements and plans, including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, and Mr. Dyke’s RSU Agreement. For annual restricted stock unit awards granted in 2017, this value assumes there were no forfeitures related to the applicable performance conditions. For Mr. Dyke, this value also assumes that he became fully vested in his Retention Units in accordance with his RSU Agreement. For more information about the Retention Units and the RSU Agreement, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long-Term Equity Compensation — Special Retention Grant for Jeff Dyke, Executive Vice President of Operations” and “— Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements.”

A participant in the SERP becomes fully vested in his SERP benefit in the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the SERP). See “— Pension Benefits for 2017” for the present value of accumulated SERP benefits as of December 31, 2017. In addition, if a participant separates from service with the Company within 24 months following a change in control, the SERP benefit will be paid in the form of a lump sum equal to the present value of the otherwise applicable 15 annual payments. See “— Pension Benefits for 2017” for a discussion of the SERP. Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd were fully vested in their SERP benefits as of December 31, 2017. As amended in February 2015, the SERP provides that the early retirement reduction otherwise applicable under the SERP does not apply to participants who were employees immediately prior to a change in control, regardless of whether or not such participants remain employees upon or following the change in control. If Mr. Dyke had terminated employment immediately following a change in control on December 31, 2017, the estimated present value of the lump sum payable to Mr. Dyke would have been $5,748,373 (with the present value determined assuming a 3.50% discount rate). If Mr. Byrd had terminated employment immediately following a change in control on December 31, 2017, the estimated present value of the lump sum payable to Mr. Byrd would have been $4,017,358 (with the present value determined assuming a 3.50% discount rate).

Upon a change in control of the Company, certain payments and benefits provided or to be provided to Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd could be subject to the excise tax imposed on excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code, including the accelerated vesting of equity awards and waiver of the early retirement reduction provisions under the SERP. Pursuant to their Change in Control Agreements with the Company, Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd are each entitled to a “gross-up” payment equal to the excise tax, plus any related interest or penalties, plus the amount necessary to put him in the same after-tax position (taking into account all applicable federal, state, and local income, employment and excise taxes) in which he would have been if he had not been subject to the excise tax. Determining the value of excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code and any related 20% excise tax and, in turn, any applicable gross-up payment, involves very complicated calculations and depends on the facts and circumstances that exist at the time of a change in control and whether a termination of employment also occurs. Therefore, in estimating any gross-up payments to which Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd may have become entitled, we have assumed that a change in control occurred on December 31, 2017 and that Mr. Dyke and Mr. Byrd also terminated employment at that time. In such case, our estimated gross-up payment to Mr. Dyke would be $10,924,637, and no gross-up payment would be necessary for Mr. Byrd. For purposes of this review, we also assumed that all performance conditions for equity awards had been met, and considered Mr. Dyke’s and Mr. Byrd’s average W-2 compensation from 2012 through 2016 (in accordance with Section 280G of the Code which considers average compensation for the five years prior to the year in which the change in control occurs). We also assumed an excise tax rate of 20%, a statutory federal income tax rate of 35%, a Medicare tax rate of 1.45% and a state income tax rate of 5.75% and, where applicable, appropriate discount rates. For valuing stock awards, we referenced the closing price of Sonic’s Class A common stock on December 29, 2017 of $18.45 per share. For more information about the Change in Control Agreements, see “— Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Change in Control Agreements” and “— Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements.”

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017 with respect to shares of our Class A common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.


Plan Category	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (#) (a)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights ($) (b)			Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) (#) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders ⁽¹⁾		2,386,409	⁽²⁾	$	1.81	⁽³⁾		3,159,127	⁽⁴⁾
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders ⁽⁵⁾		—		$	—	⁽⁶⁾		210,364

Total		2,386,409	⁽²⁾	$	1.81	⁽³⁾⁽⁶⁾		3,369,491	⁽⁴⁾

⁽¹⁾	Includes the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2012 Formula Plan and the Employee Plan. Grants under the Employee Plan have been suspended since December 31, 2005.

⁽²⁾

Includes 227,588 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Also includes 2,158,821 shares issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units granted under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The weighted-average exercise price information in column (b) does not take outstanding restricted stock units into account because they do not have an exercise price.

⁽³⁾	Does not include the exercise price of options granted under the Employee Plan because no such options are outstanding.

⁽⁴⁾

Includes 1,458,515 shares available for future issuance under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan through grants of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock awards. Also includes 348,924 shares available for future issuance under the 2012 Formula Plan through grants of restricted stock or restricted stock units. Also includes 1,351,688 shares available for future issuance under the Employee Plan. As noted above, grants under the Employee Plan have been suspended since December 31, 2005.

⁽⁵⁾	Represents the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Nonqualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Nonqualified ESPP”). Grants under the Nonqualified ESPP have been suspended since December 31, 2005.

⁽⁶⁾	Does not include the exercise price of options granted under the Nonqualified ESPP because no such options are outstanding.

Nonqualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Nonqualified ESPP was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1998. The Nonqualified ESPP has not been approved by Sonic’s stockholders. The purpose of the Nonqualified ESPP is to provide employees of certain of Sonic’s subsidiaries that are not able to participate in the Employee Plan with a similar opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in Sonic. Both the Nonqualified ESPP and the Employee Plan permit eligible employees to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a discount from the market price. The terms of the Nonqualified ESPP are substantially similar to the terms of the Employee Plan, which has been approved by Sonic’s stockholders. Grants under the Nonqualified ESPP and the Employee Plan have been suspended since December 31, 2005.

The total number of shares of Class A common stock that were reserved for issuance under the Nonqualified ESPP is 300,000. Approximately 210,364 additional shares remain available for future option grants under the Nonqualified ESPP.

Employees of participating subsidiaries generally are eligible for the Nonqualified ESPP if they work for Sonic and its subsidiaries on a full-time or part-time basis, are regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours per week, are customarily employed more than five months in a calendar year and have completed one year of continuous service. Employees who are officers or directors of Sonic or any participating employer are not eligible to participate in the Nonqualified ESPP. In addition, employees who own or hold options to purchase (or who are treated under certain tax rules as owning or holding options to purchase) 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of Sonic or any subsidiary also are not eligible to participate in the Nonqualified ESPP.

Options generally are granted under the Nonqualified ESPP as of each January 1 to all eligible employees who elect to participate. However, grants under the Nonqualified ESPP have been suspended and no grants have been made since 2005. The Compensation Committee designates the number of shares of Class A common stock that can be purchased under each option, which number will be the same for each option granted on the same date and which also will be the same number of shares available under an option granted on the same date pursuant to the Employee Plan. The options have an exercise price per share equal to the lesser of (i) 85% of the fair market value per share of the Class A common stock on the date of grant or (ii) 85% of such fair market value on the date of exercise. No option can be granted that would permit a participant to purchase more than $25,000 worth of Class A common stock under the Nonqualified ESPP during the calendar year.

A participant can make contributions to the Nonqualified ESPP by after-tax payroll deduction or direct payment. To the extent that a participant has made contributions to the Nonqualified ESPP, his or her option will be exercised automatically to purchase Class A common stock on each exercise date during the calendar year in which the option is granted. The exercise dates generally are the last business day of March, June, September and December on which the NYSE is open for trading. The participant’s accumulated contributions as of each exercise date will be used to purchase whole shares of Class A common stock at the applicable option price, limited to the number of shares available for purchase under the option. The exercisability of options may accelerate in the event of a change in control of Sonic.

Options granted under the Nonqualified ESPP expire on the last exercise date of the calendar year in which granted. However, if a participant withdraws from the Nonqualified ESPP or terminates employment, the option may expire earlier.

In the event of certain changes in the capital stock of Sonic due to a reorganization, stock split, stock dividend, merger or other similar event, appropriate adjustments generally will be made to the shares of Class A common stock available for issuance under the Nonqualified ESPP, the shares of Class A common stock covered by outstanding options and the exercise price per share.

The Board of Directors of Sonic generally can amend, suspend or terminate the Nonqualified ESPP at any time. However, no amendment, suspension or termination may adversely affect the rights of the participant under an outstanding option without the participant’s consent. The Board of Directors suspended the Nonqualified ESPP effective December 31, 2005.

PROPOSAL 3

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are requesting stockholder approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement on pages 24 to 46.

Our compensation policies and procedures are competitive, are focused primarily on pay for performance principles and are intended to align with the long-term interests of our stockholders. We encourage you to carefully review the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section beginning on page 24 of this Proxy Statement for additional details on Sonic’s executive compensation, including Sonic’s compensation philosophy and objectives, as well as the processes our Compensation Committee used to determine the compensation of our Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2017.

At our annual meeting of stockholders in 2017, we provided stockholders with an opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (commonly known as a “say-on-pay” vote), and stockholders approved the Company’s executive compensation with approximately 95.3% of the votes cast in favor. At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2017, we also asked stockholders to indicate whether a “say-on-pay” vote should occur every one, two or three years, with the Board recommending an annual advisory vote. Because the Board views it as a good corporate governance practice, and because at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders a majority of the votes cast were in favor of an annual advisory vote, you will have the opportunity at the Annual Meeting to provide feedback to the Compensation Committee on the Company’s executive compensation program by endorsing or not endorsing the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

We are asking you to indicate your support for the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this Proxy Statement. This vote is not intended to address any specific item or element of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices used to determine compensation, as described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we are asking you to vote, on an advisory basis, “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to Sonic Automotive, Inc.’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and related narrative discussion set forth on pages 24 to 46 of this Proxy Statement, is hereby approved.”

This vote is advisory, which means that the stockholder vote on this proposal will not be binding on Sonic, the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions of the Company’s stockholders and will carefully consider the outcome of the vote in deciding whether to take any action as a result of the vote and when making future compensation decisions for Sonic’s Named Executive Officers.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”

THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

ADDITIONAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND OTHER INFORMATION

Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Committee Charters

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, along with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Categorical Standards and the charters for the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee, are available on our website, www.sonicautomotive.com . Copies of these documents are also available without charge upon written request to Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211.

We will disclose information regarding amendments to, or waivers from, provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that apply to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relate to any element of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics enumerated in the SEC rules by posting this information on our website, www.sonicautomotive.com . The information on our website is not a part of this Proxy Statement.

Other Matters that May Be Considered at the Annual Meeting

In the event that any matters other than those referred to in the accompanying Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should properly come before and be considered at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form will be voted thereon in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons voting such proxies.

Stockholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Any stockholder proposal intended to be included in Sonic’s proxy statement and form of proxy for its 2019 annual meeting of stockholders must be received by Sonic not later than November 6, 2018. Any such stockholder proposal must also comply with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, which lists the requirements for the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Stockholder proposals should be addressed to the attention of Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, or faxed to his attention at (704) 973-9304. Pursuant to the SEC rules, submitting a proposal will not guarantee that it will be included in the Company’s proxy materials.

In addition, any stockholder proposal intended to be presented at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, but that will not be included in Sonic’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2019 annual meeting, must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, Sonic’s principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the Annual Meeting. As a result, any proposals submitted by a stockholder pursuant to the provisions of Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (other than proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8) must be delivered, or mailed and received, no earlier than December 26, 2018 and no later than January 25, 2019. However, if the date of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after April 25, 2019, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered or received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. Stockholder proposals (including proxy access director nominations) must include the specified information concerning the proposal and the stockholder submitting the proposal as set forth in Sonic’s Amended and Restated Bylaws. A copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws may be obtained by writing to the Company’s Secretary at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211.

Expenses of Solicitation

Sonic will pay the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including the cost of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, the proxy and any additional soliciting materials sent by Sonic to stockholders. Further, Sonic may reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for sending proxy materials to stockholders and obtaining their votes. In addition to solicitations by mail and the Internet, certain of Sonic’s directors, officers and employees, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile and e-mail.

Delivery of Proxy Materials

As permitted by the SEC rules, only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the annual report, or notice letter, as applicable, is being delivered to stockholders residing at the same address, unless one or more of such stockholders have notified Sonic of their desire to receive multiple copies of proxy statements, annual reports or notice letters.

Sonic will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of this Proxy Statement and the annual report, or notice letter, as applicable, to any stockholder residing at a shared address to which only one copy was mailed. Requests for additional copies of this Proxy Statement, the annual report or the notice letter, requests to receive multiple copies of future proxy statements, annual reports or notice letters, and requests to receive only one copy of future proxy statements, annual reports or notice letters should be directed to Mr. Stephen K. Coss, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 or by telephone at (704) 566-2400.

LOGO

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. P R O X Y Charlotte, North Carolina THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Mr. Heath R. Byrd and Mr. Stephen K. Coss, and each of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all shares of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Sonic Automotive, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on February 27, 2018, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the corporate headquarters of Sonic Automotive, Inc. located at 4401 Colwick Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as specified by the undersigned. If no choice is specified, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for director listed in proposal 1, FOR proposals 2 and 3 and in the discretion of the proxy holders with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

LOGO

SONIC ANNUAL MEETING AUTOMOTIVE, OF STOCKHOLDERS INC. OF April 25, 2018 instructions or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page. TELEPHONE - Call toll-free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) in the United States or 1-718-921-8500 from foreign countries from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call. Vote online/phone until 11:59 p.m.,Eastern Time, on April 24, 2018. MAIL - Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. IN PERSON - You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting. GO GREEN - e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy materials, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access. NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS: The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/SAH PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE EACH OF PROPOSALS 1-3 HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for director listed in proposal 1 and FOR proposals 2 and 3 unless otherwise indicated. Class A common stock shares: Class B common stock shares: To indicate changes change your to the the new address registered address on name(s) your in the account, address on the please account space check above. may not the Please be box submitted at note right and that via this method. Sonic’snominees Board listed inof proposal Directors 1. recommends you vote FOR each of the 1. Election of the nine nominees as directors. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 1A O. Bruton Smith 1B B. Scott Smith 1C David Bruton Smith 1D William I. Belk 1E William R. Brooks 1F Victor H. Doolan 1G John W. Harris III 1H Robert Heller 1I R. Eugene Taylor Sonic’s Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3. 2. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Sonic’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018. 3. Advisory vote to approve Sonic’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017. Please check the box if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. You may obtain directions to the Annual Meeting, where you may vote in person, by calling (704) 566-2400. Signature of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date: Please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If the signer is a partnership, please sign in full partnership name by authorized person.

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