Sonic Automotive Announces Change to Virtual Annual Meeting

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonic Automotive, Inc. (“Sonic” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SAH), one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, announced today that it will host its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) virtually by means of live webcast due to the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to prioritize the health and well-being of Sonic’s stockholders, employees and other meeting participants.

The Annual Meeting, which was previously announced in Sonic’s Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2020, will continue to be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, but notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format by remote communication only.

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 9, 2020 are entitled to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SAH2020. To participate in the Annual Meeting, stockholders will need the 16-digit control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form or notice previously sent. Stockholders holding shares in the name of a broker, bank, trustee or other nominee will need to contact their broker, bank, trustee or other nominee for assistance with their 16-digit control number.

For additional information regarding how stockholders may access, vote and participate in the Annual Meeting, please refer to the Company's supplemental proxy materials filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and www.proxyvote.com. If a stockholder has already voted or submitted a proxy, no additional action is required.

Sonic has designed the format of the Annual Meeting to ensure that stockholders are afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would have at an in-person meeting, using online tools to ensure stockholder access and participation. Stockholders participating in the Annual Meeting will be able to vote their shares electronically and submit questions during the event using the directions on the meeting website that day.

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Heath R. Byrd, Chief Financial Officer (704) 566-2400

Danny Wieland, Director of Financial Reporting (704) 927-3462

Source: Sonic Automotive, Inc.