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          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 1 of 13

 

                                                                                    UNITED STATES

                                                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                                                              Washington, D.C. 20549

 

                                                                                    SCHEDULE 13G

 

                                                                Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                                                                 (Amendment No. 1)*

 

                                                                            SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

                                                                                    (Name of Issuer)

 

                                                                  Class A Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value

                                                                            (Title of Class of Securities)

 

                                                                                        83545G102 

 

                                                                                    (CUSIP Number)

 

                                                                                  December 31, 2011

                                                       (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

          Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

          [X]    Rule 13d‑1(b)

          [ ]     Rule 13d‑1(c)

          [ ]     Rule 13d‑1(d)

 

          *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with

          respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which

          would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

          The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose

          of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that

          section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 


 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 2 of 13

 

          1.         NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

 

                      Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

          2.         CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

                      (a) 

                      (b)  X

 

          3.         SEC USE ONLY

 

          4.         CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      Delaware 

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

                      5.          SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                                   (See Item 4)

                      6.          SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                                   (See Item 4)

 

                      7.          SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                   (See Item 4)

 

                      8.          SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                   (See Item 4)

 

          9.          AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                        914,389  

 

          10.        CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                       CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.        PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                       2.2% 

 

          12.        TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                       HC, CO (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 3 of 13

 

          1.         NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

 

                      Charles B. Johnson

 

          2.         CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

                      (a) 

                      (b)  X

 

          3.         SEC USE ONLY

 

          4.         CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      USA 

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

                      5.         SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      6.         SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      7.         SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      8.         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

          9.         AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                       914,389  

 

          10.        CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.        PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      2.2% 

 

          12.        TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      HC, IN (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 4 of 13

 

          1.         NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

 

                      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

          2.         CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

                      (a) 

                      (b)  X

 

          3.         SEC USE ONLY

 

          4.         CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      USA 

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

                      5.         SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      6.         SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      7.         SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

 

                      8.         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                                  (See Item 4)

          9.         AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                       914,389  

 

          10.        CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.        PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      2.2% 

 

          12.        TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      HC, IN (See Item 4)

 

 


 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 5 of 13

 

          Item 1.

 

          (a)        Name of Issuer

 

                      SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

 

          (b)        Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

                       

                       4401 Colwick Road

                      Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

 

          Item 2.

 

          (a)        Name of Person Filing

 

                      (i):          Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

                      (ii):          Charles B. Johnson

 

                      (iii):         Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

          (b)        Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence

 

                      (i), (ii), and (iii):

                      One Franklin Parkway

                      San Mateo, CA 94403‑1906

 

          (c)        Citizenship

 

                      (i): Delaware

                      (ii) and (iii): USA

 

          (d)        Title of Class of Securities

 

                      Class A Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value

 

          (e)        CUSIP Number

 

                      83545G102 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 6 of 13

 

          Item 3.  If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d‑1(b) or 240.13d‑2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

                        (a)  [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

                        (b)  [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

                        (c)  [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

                        (d)  [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment

                                 Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a‑8).

                        (e)  [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

                        (f)   [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

                        (g)  [X] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

                        (h)  [ ] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit

                                Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

                        (i)   [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)

                                (14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a‑3);

                        (j)   [ ] A non‑U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(ii)(J);

                        (k)  [ ]Group, in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

 

                      If filing as a non‑U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

 

                         

          Item 4. Ownership

 

          The securities reported herein (the “Securities”) are beneficially owned by one or more open‑ or closed‑end investment

          companies or other managed accounts that are investment management clients of investment managers that are direct and

          indirect subsidiaries (each, an “Investment Management Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Investment Management

          Subsidiaries”) of Franklin Resources, Inc.(“FRI”), including the Investment Management Subsidiaries listed in Item 7. 

          Investment management contracts grant to the Investment Management Subsidiaries all investment and/or voting power

          over the securities owned by such investment management clients, unless otherwise noted in this Item 4.  Therefore, for

          purposes of Rule 13d‑3 under the Act, the Investment Management Subsidiaries may be deemed to be the beneficial

          owners of the Securities.

 

          Beneficial ownership by investment management subsidiaries and other affiliates of FRI is being reported in conformity with

          the guidelines articulated by the SEC staff in Release No. 34‑39538 (January 12, 1998) relating to organizations, such as

          FRI, where related entities exercise voting and investment powers over the securities being reported independently from

          each other. The voting and investment powers held by Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (“FMA”), an indirect wholly‑owned

          Investment Management Subsidiary, are exercised independently from FRI and from all other Investment Management

          Subsidiaries (FRI, its affiliates and the Investment Management Subsidiaries other than FMA are collectively, “FRI

          affiliates”).  Furthermore, internal policies and procedures of FMA and FRI establish informational barriers that prevent the

          flow between FMA and the FRI affiliates of information that relates to the voting and investment powers over the securities

          owned by their respective investment management clients.  Consequently, FMA and the FRI affiliates report the securities

          over which they hold investment and voting power separately from each other for purposes of Section 13 of the Act.

 

          Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in excess of 10% of the

          outstanding common stock of FRI and are the principal stockholders of FRI.  FRI and the Principal Shareholders may be

          deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d‑3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by persons and entities for

whom or for which FRI subsidiaries provide investment management services.  The number of shares that may be deemed to

be beneficially owned and the percentage of the class of which such shares are a part are reported in Items 9 and 11 of the

cover pages for FRI and each of the Principal Shareholders.  FRI, the Principal Shareholders and each of the

          Investment Management Subsidiaries disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of the Securities.  In addition, the filing of this

          Schedule 13G on behalf of the Principal Shareholders, FRI and FRI affiliates, as applicable, should not be construed as an

          admission that any of them is, and each disclaims that it is, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d‑3, of any of the

          Securities. 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 7 of 13

 

          FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and each of the Investment Management Subsidiaries believe that they are not a “group”

          within the meaning of Rule 13d‑5 under the Act and that they are not otherwise required to attribute to each other the

          beneficial ownership of the Securities held by any of them or by any persons or entities for whom or for which the

          Investment Management Subsidiaries provide investment management services.

 

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

 

 

 

 

 

914,389

 

 

 

 

(b)

Percent of class:

 

 

 

 

 

2.2%

 

 

 

 

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

 

 

 

 

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

 

 

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

 

 

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.:

914,389

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

 

 

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

 

 

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.:

914,389

 

 

 

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

0

 

 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 8 of 13

 

          Item 5.        Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

 

                            If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has

                            ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the

                            following [X].

 

          Item 6.        Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

 

                            The clients of the Investment Management Subsidiaries, including investment companies registered under

                            the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or power to

                            direct the receipt of dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the Securities.

 

          Item 7.        Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By

                            the Parent Holding Company

 

                            See Attached Exhibit C

 

          Item 8.        Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

 

                            Not Applicable

 

          Item 9.        Notice of Dissolution of Group

 

                            Not Applicable

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 9 of 13

 

          Item 10.      Certification

 

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were

          acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose

          of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and

          are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

          Exhibits 

 

          Exhibit A ‑ Joint Filing Agreement

          Exhibit B ‑ Limited Powers of Attorney for Section 13 Reporting Obligations

          Exhibit C ‑ Item 7 Identification and Classification of Subsidiaries

 

                                                                                  SIGNATURE 

 

          After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this

          statement is true, complete and correct.

          Dated:       January 30, 2012

 

          Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

          Charles B. Johnson

 

          Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

          By:           /s/ ROBERT C. ROSSELOT

                        ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

 

                        Robert C. Rosselot

                        Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

                        Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

                        Schedule 13G

 

                        Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

                        Schedule 13G

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 10 of 13

 

          EXHIBIT A

 

          JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

          In accordance with Rule 13d‑1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby

          agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13G and to all amendments to such

          statement and that such statement and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of them.

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on

          January 30, 2012.

 

          Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

          Charles B. Johnson

 

          Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

           By:            /s/ ROBERT C. ROSSELOT

                          ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

 

                          Robert C. Rosselot

                          Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

                          Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

                          Schedule 13G

 

                          Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney attached to this

                          Schedule 13G

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 11 of 13

 

          EXHIBIT B

 

                                                                       LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

                                                                                             FOR 

                                                                  SECTION 13 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

 

                   Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Robert Rosselot

          and Maria Gray, each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney‑in‑fact, with full power and authority

          as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

 

          (1)    prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Schedules 13D and 13G (including any amendments thereto or any

          related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchanges

          and Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under

          Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended

          from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

          (2)    perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney‑in‑fact are necessary or desirable for and on

          behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

 

                   The undersigned acknowledges that:

 

          (1)  this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney‑in‑fact to act in their discretion on

          information provided to such attorney‑in‑fact without independent verification of such information;

 

          (2)  any documents prepared and/or executed by either such attorney‑in‑fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this

          Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney‑in‑fact, in

          his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

 

          (3)  neither the Reporting Entity nor either of such attorneys‑in‑fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s

          responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act or (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to

          comply with such requirements; and

 

          (4)  this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the

          undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under Section 13

          of the Exchange Act.

 

                The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys‑in‑fact full power and authority to do and

          perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing

          matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each

          such attorney‑in‑fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited

          Power of Attorney.

 

                This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing

          delivered to each such attorney‑in‑fact.

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of

          this          30th              day of            April        ,  2007

 

                                                                                                                      /s/Charles B. Johnson

                                                                                                                      Signature 

 

                                                                                                                      Charles B. Johnson

                                                                                                                      Print Name

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 12 of 13

 

                                                                       LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

                                                                                             FOR 

                                                                  SECTION 13 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

                   Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Robert Rosselot

          and Maria Gray, each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney‑in‑fact, with full power and authority

          as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

 

          (1)    prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Schedules 13D and 13G (including any amendments thereto or any

          related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchanges

          and Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under

          Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended

          from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

          (2)    perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney‑in‑fact are necessary or desirable for and on

          behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

 

                   The undersigned acknowledges that:

 

          (1)  this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney‑in‑fact to act in their discretion on

          information provided to such attorney‑in‑fact without independent verification of such information;

 

          (2)  any documents prepared and/or executed by either such attorney‑in‑fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this

          Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney‑in‑fact, in

          his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

 

          (3)  neither the Reporting Entity nor either of such attorneys‑in‑fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s

          responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act or (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to

          comply with such requirements; and

 

          (4)  this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the

          undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under Section 13

          of the Exchange Act.

 

                The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys‑in‑fact full power and authority to do and

          perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing

          matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each

          such attorney‑in‑fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited

          Power of Attorney.

 

                This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing

          delivered to each such attorney‑in‑fact.

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as

          of this         25th          day of      April          , 2007

 

                                                                                                                      /s/ Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

                                                                                                                      Signature 

 

                                                                                                                      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

                                                                                                                      Print Name

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

          CUSIP NO.   83545G102                                         13G                                                              Page 13 of 13

 

          EXHIBIT C

 

          Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.                                           Item 3 Classification: 3(e)